LSU is off this week, but there was good news surrounding the No. 3-ranked Tigers: Quarterback Matt Flynn was named SEC offensive player of the week, defensive tackle should be able to play against Alabama on Nov. 3, and the game will be televised on CBS.
Flynn had career highs in passing with 22 of 34 attempts and yards with 319 and tied a career high with three touchdown throws in the Tigers' 30-24 victory over Auburn last Saturday.
Flynn entered the Auburn game as the No. 93rd ranked quarterback in the country in passing efficiency with a 110.3 rating. Flynn this week has risen to 71st with a figure of 120.4. He has completed 106 of 190 passes for 1,266 yards and 11 touchdowns with 5 interceptions.
The LSU-Alabama game at Tuscaloosa carries a 4 p.m. kickoff hour. The Tigers bring a 7-1 record and a 4-1 SEC mark into the game, while the Crimson Tide stand at 6-2 and 4-1. The winner will take over sole possession of first place in the SEC West.
"Glenn Dorsey has some injury, but hopefully we can get him back soon," said coach Les Miles. "We are optimistic that it is a minimal injury." The coach doesn't divulge the extent of injuries, but reports are that Dorsey will play against Alabama. He suffered a cheap shot against Auburn when an illegal chop block sent him to the sidelines.
With an open date this week, Miles used Monday to conduct a briefing with the media and answers their questions. Excerpts from the session:
Q: Have you reviewed the film on the play where Dorsey was injured?
A: I reviewed the film and watched the play. Before I wanted to react, I wanted to see if it happened a lot in the game, and it had not. It was a penalty and not an ethical block. It's important that the officials do a great job protecting our players, particularly the quarterback and defensive linemen. I talked to (Auburn head coach) Tommy Tuberville today and he assured me that the players responsible were sick over it. It may have been an intentional block by two players, but it was not thought out together and certainly not coached. He said after the team meeting on Sunday that the players felt terrible about what happened.
It is important that everybody understands that kind of thing is immoral. I remember when I was an offensive lineman in the 70s, it was coached routinely. It was shortly there after that that was changed. The description for why it was changed was very evident. It has been years since that has had a place in football. I think coach Tuberville sees it that way and it appears the league sees it that way. We are all on the same page.
Q: Do you think one Auburn offensive lineman was 'posting' Dorsey on the play?
A: I think one guy was uncovered and was looking for some place to help. I can't tell you what is going on inside the helmets of those players. But having been on the offensive line before, you aren't necessarily at a deposition to see when somebody is being posted. There was just an offensive guard that comes clean and looks left and sees an imposing figure and maybe he doesn't he doesn't want to take this man on high so he goes for the chop or cut. The cut, in itself, is a legal block. It does not focus on the post issue. I can't tell you that they were innocent and I can't tell you that they had prearranged it and orchestrated it. I can tell you that their coach is coaching against it and understands the rule. He expressed to me how unfortunate it was and how both participants were sorry that it happened, however it happened.
Q: How is the health of the Tigers?
A: It was a very hard-hitting game. There are a bunch of bumps and bruises right now. With eight straight weeks of playing, the bye week hits us pretty well. We need some time to rehabilitate and get healthy.
Q: Do the players think they have a lot of luck on their side?
A: I don't want to encourage that thought process. I want to take care of business long before the last play of the game or on a fourth down. I don;t want them to focus on that aspect. I think there is a piece with any championship team that says, 'when it's time to make a play and the game is on the line, we will have a number of guys who step up and make those plays.' We don't rely on faith or destiny. Those things are made. They are not looked to or hoped for.
Q: Have Matt Flynn and Early Doucet picked up where they left off?
A: We run the same offense. It's not like Matt hasn't been practicing it. When Early came back, he fell right in the same practice mode and was equipped to do the same things. I didn't expect them to fall off, unless somebody didn't execute. Unless somebody is not in a position he is supposed to be.
Q: Are you turning away from the running back-by-committee game plan?
A: We used the running back-by-committee in the last game. We threw the ball out to Keiland Williams for a nice big gain, Richard Murphy had some carries late in the game and had an unbelievable run for a first down. That was a huge run. Charles Scott pounded the ball in there. Jacob Hester does the things we ask him to. We didn't use Trindon Holliday as much as we normally do. We would have liked to have gotten him more touches.
Q: Why are you using different running backs for the same play?
A: It's nice to to be able to call a curve ball at times. You can put a guy in at times who is a little more shifty and quicker.
Q: Have any of the players expressed to you how they appreciate the confidence you have in them?
A: No, but I don't get in those conversations often. They would have to corner me to be able to tell me that. It's not something I look to talk about. I have confidence in them and hopefully they have the same in me. This team would go for every fourth down if they had the chance. I enjoy the style.
Q: What about that last call in the Auburn game?
A: I would have made the exact same call if I had the chance again. In the specifics that we have a quarterback who understands that we need to conserve the time on the clock. I felt really comfortable that the call was given us enough time to place it in field goal range if it was incomplete. If he brings the ball down and runs, then I had a timeout in my pocket I am ready to use. If we get to the next down. I like Colt David.
I had a mentor of mine call me to talk about that call. He said 'that corner, I coached secondary for years, that corner was ready for a position play. He was ready for us to go for a few more yards.' He still had it covered pretty well. We felt like there was nothing they could do to stop Byrd on the other end.
Q: How about the Alabama game?
A: This game is not about anything other than two storied traditions. Anybody in football knows about their tradition. I can't explain how impressed we were last time we played at Tuscaloosa. The people there are proud of their school as the people here. This is two great schools with two great teams. It is about the players not Nick Saban and me. It's going to be a great game.
Off the typewriter...
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