AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2008 > December > 31
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Will Tech beat LSU with the pass?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s the last day of 2008 and nobody asked me but….
1. Can John Chavis parachute in to coach the LSU defense tonight? If not, it’s going to be a long evening for the Tigers against Georgia Tech in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. Going into this season LSU knew its defense would be going through a transition with the loss of some great talent in the secondary (CB Chevis Jackson, S Craig Steltz) and linebacker Ali Highsmith. Head coach Les Miles took a gamble and lost that he could replace defensive coordinator Bo Pelini (Nebraska) by appointing co-coordinators in Bradley Dale Peveto and Doug Mallory. It looks like Chavis, the veteran DC from Tennessee, will be named to the post when the team gets back to Baton Rouge. Don’t be surprised if these LSU players come up with a pretty good effort tonight after hearing for weeks how they are going to be shredded by Paul Johnson’s option. But also don’t be surprised if Johnson pulls out a couple of passing plays that nobody has seen this year just at a couple of key moments in the game.
2. Yet another Big 12 defense got ripped last night: Oklahoma State couldn’t seem to tackle anybody in its 42-31 loss to Oregon in the Holiday Bowl. Oregon, using its third different quarterback of the season, rolled for 565 total yards (308 rushing, 258 passing). I’ll get more in detail on this as we get closer to the BCS championship game, but it’s hard to imagine that a BCS conference has ever had a tougher year on defense than the Big 12 in 2008. But here is a nugget to think about: As good as Oklahoma was on offense this season, the average rank of the last six defenses the Sooners faced in 2008 was 92.1 out of 119 Division I-A teams. Just remember that detail.
3. Repeat after me: There are NOT too many bowl games: Here is why there are so many bowl games. They may not matter to the guys watching in the sports bars, but they matter to the players and coaches who participate in them and to the communities that host them. When Louisiana Tech beat Northern Illinois 17-10 in the Independence Bowl, it was really a big deal. Head coach Derek Dooley, son of Vince and Barbara, was carried off the field by his players after winning the first bowl game in school history against a Division I-A team. It was the first time the Bulldogs had won eight games since 1999. Dooley, who is also the school’s athletics director, enjoyed the biggest moment of his young coaching career with his parents in attendance. That is why these bowl games are important.
4. Vanderbilt has a shot today against Boston College: But it is a slim shot. The Commodores are only playing a few minutes from their campus in the Music City Bowl so there should be a comfort level for Bobby Johnson’s team. But the only way Vanderbilt wins today is if the defense forces turnovers and the offense gives up none. Vanderbilt has to confuse Boston College quarterback Dominique Davis, a freshman, and make him give up the ball. Virginia Tech was able to do it in the ACC championship game. Vanderbilt also has to hope that QB Chris Nickson, who has had a bad shoulder, can catch lightning in a bottle if he gets back on the field. Vanderbilt will only get a handful of opportunities to make big plays against a very good Boston College defense. The Commodores have to make those plays or they can’t win. All I know is that Boston College has won eight straight bowl games and is second in the nation with turnovers gained with 36 (26 interceptions, 10 fumbles). Its 26 interceptions lead the nation.
5. Pittsburgh’s LeSean McCoy is your dark horse Heisman candidate for 2009: If Tim Tebow (Florida) and Sam Bradford (Oklahoma) both come back to college, the Heisman discussion for next season will begin with them and Colt McCoy of Texas, who we know is coming back. But check out Pittsburgh RB LeSean McCoy in today’s Sun Bowl game against Oregon State. The Beavers are going to be without their great running back. Jacquizz Rodgers, who suffered a shoulder injury before the last game with Oregon. That should open the door for McCoy, the nation’s No. 10 rusher at 116.92 yards per game. In his last two games in the regular season McCoy had 183 yards against West Virginia and 99 against Connecticut. Both defenses were set up to stop him. He is just a sophomore.
