By SCOTT RABALAIS
Advocate sportswriter
Published: Aug 31, 2007

Win aside, Tigers not impressive

STARKVILLE, Miss. — If you were hoping No. 2-ranked LSU was going to open the 2007 season with an exclamation point Thursday against Mississippi State, you were still left with question marks.

If you were expecting explosions, the Tigers’ powder got wet on a soggy Mississippi night. If you hoped LSU would have all the answers, then you are the kind of person who flips straight to the last page to see how the novel turns out.

The grade on the Tigers after one game: incomplete. They are a work in progress, their 45-0 domination of the Bulldogs besides.

If that seems like a harsh judgment after such a lopsided victory, perhaps so. The Tigers have created an environment of Rocky Mountain high expectations, so when their play dips into the valley of disappointment on occasion, it leaves reason for doubt.

LSU at times was creaky on offense, driving the field for a score only once. Of course, the fact State kept handing LSU prime Starkville real estate with turnover after turnover tilted that field considerably. There were no LSU turn-overs, but eight penalties, making LSU have to work extra hard for its yards.

In short, LSU looked like a team with a retooled offensive line. And a new starting quarterback. And a mostly new fleet of receivers. And no dominant tailback. And three new offensive coaches.

The game plan seemed pretty darned conservative first time out under new coordinator Gary Crowton, running the ball on 27 of 32 first-down plays. Some of those, of course, came close to the goal line or late in the game after the matter was well decided. But aside from some new wrinkles — four wide receivers to block for one, misdirection plays and option, option, option — vanilla was the featured flavor of the night.

All of the gum in LSU’s gears wasn’t put there by the Tigers themselves. Mississippi State has a strong defense and running game. If the Bulldogs didn’t have to settle for Michael Henig, quite probably the SEC’s worst starting quarterback, State might be dangerous.

Instead, the Bulldogs only hurt themselves. LSU scored 38 points off State turnovers. If the Tigers had difficulty mounting multiple sustained scoring drives born on their end of the field, at least you have to credit them for being opportunistic. An outclassed team like Mississippi State hands you a knife, you have to drive it home. LSU did.

It’s unlikely that any LSU opponent will be so generous again this season. Certainly not Virginia Tech, a formidable top-10 opponent many times better than State.

As tests go, the Hokies will be quantitative business analysis. Beating the Bulldogs was 1 plus 2. There was nothing really to set off alarm bells for the Tigers. Also nothing to make an LSU fan want to rip a cowbell from a State fan and start clanging away in delight.

The Tigers were good enough. But LSU’s continued reign in the rain over State didn’t prove anything except that two Saturdays from now, the Tigers will have to be better than this.

2theadvocate.com | LSU Sports | Rabalais: Tigers not impressive -- Baton Rouge, LA