GeauxTo
09-21-2006, 07:11 PM
BATON ROUGE "" Craig Davis wants more passing out of the LSU offense, but then he is a wide receiver.
"I can't comment on what should be called. I have no say with the offense," Davis said. "But I mean, I am a wide receiver. I'd like to see us throw 60 balls a game."
In a 7-3 loss at Auburn Saturday, LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell threw it 35 times, completing 20 for 57 percent and 267 yards. LSU rushed 23 times for 42 yards.
It was not until LSU's last drive that began with 71 seconds to play, however, that the coaches went totally with the pass. Russell threw on seven of the eight plays with a 1-yard sack. Before that drive, LSU had 22 runs to 28 passes.
On that last drive when LSU went into its two-minute offense without huddles because it had no timeouts, Russell was 5-of-7 for 87 yards, counting a spiked ball. Davis caught three passes on that drive for 61 yards. At the end of the third quarter, Davis had only two catches for 19 yards. He finished with seven receptions for 94 yards to lead the team.
The Tigers moved from their 20-yard line to the Auburn 19 in 57 seconds on the final drive.
"But in the end, once the game got like that, we had to throw," said LSU offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher, who calls LSU's plays.
In all, LSU went 74 yards in eight plays on the ill-fated, 71-second drive that was LSU's best of the day by 19 yards. LSU went 55 yards in 13 plays for its only points of the game on a 42-yard field goal as the first half ended. That was also in a hurry-up offense.
Davis was asked why LSU doesn't go to the two-minute offense before there is only two minutes or less left to play.
"I think that's a good thought," Davis said. "The two minute opens things up for the four great receivers we have."
LSU has four quality receivers in Davis, fellow senior Dwayne Bowe, junior Early Doucet and red-shirt freshman Brandon LaFell. Davis, Bowe and Doucet are proven over multiple seasons. LaFell caught a 58-yard touchdown pass on his first collegiate play against Louisiana-Lafayette in the season opener, but he has caught only one pass since.
Davis leads LSU in receptions with 13 for 207 yards. Tailback Jacob Hester is second with 12 catches for 81 yards. Bowe leads the Tigers in yards per catch at 19 with 11 catches for 209 yards. He caught four passes for 56 yards against Auburn.
"Coach (Fisher) called what he called," Bowe said. "He felt good calling it."
LSU coach Les Miles, who has veto power over Fisher's calls, was asked about running the two-minute offense in other parts of the game as many teams do.
"Two minute has its purpose," Miles said. "The percentage play is to make your opponent defend both run and pass on as many downs and distances as you can. That allows you to have a numbers advantage when you choose to run or pass."
Davis pointed out that a two-minute, or spread offense tends to attract speedy substitutions from the defense.
"It can open up things for the offensive line, because teams will go to nickel and dime packages with extra defensive backs and smaller defenders," he said. "And they're not looking for the run, so that opens up the run, too. But, like I said, I'm a wide receiver."
The loss marked the first time LSU was held without a touchdown since a 31-0 loss to Alabama in 2002. Davis, Bowe, Doucet, LaFell and Russell were not at LSU yet.
"I really didn't believe it that we only scored three points," Davis said. "We're a lot better offense than that."
Fisher said the mere field goal surprised him, too.
"We'll evaluate it," Fisher said. "We'll see whether it was scheme or technique or whatever."
"I can't comment on what should be called. I have no say with the offense," Davis said. "But I mean, I am a wide receiver. I'd like to see us throw 60 balls a game."
In a 7-3 loss at Auburn Saturday, LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell threw it 35 times, completing 20 for 57 percent and 267 yards. LSU rushed 23 times for 42 yards.
It was not until LSU's last drive that began with 71 seconds to play, however, that the coaches went totally with the pass. Russell threw on seven of the eight plays with a 1-yard sack. Before that drive, LSU had 22 runs to 28 passes.
On that last drive when LSU went into its two-minute offense without huddles because it had no timeouts, Russell was 5-of-7 for 87 yards, counting a spiked ball. Davis caught three passes on that drive for 61 yards. At the end of the third quarter, Davis had only two catches for 19 yards. He finished with seven receptions for 94 yards to lead the team.
The Tigers moved from their 20-yard line to the Auburn 19 in 57 seconds on the final drive.
"But in the end, once the game got like that, we had to throw," said LSU offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher, who calls LSU's plays.
In all, LSU went 74 yards in eight plays on the ill-fated, 71-second drive that was LSU's best of the day by 19 yards. LSU went 55 yards in 13 plays for its only points of the game on a 42-yard field goal as the first half ended. That was also in a hurry-up offense.
Davis was asked why LSU doesn't go to the two-minute offense before there is only two minutes or less left to play.
"I think that's a good thought," Davis said. "The two minute opens things up for the four great receivers we have."
LSU has four quality receivers in Davis, fellow senior Dwayne Bowe, junior Early Doucet and red-shirt freshman Brandon LaFell. Davis, Bowe and Doucet are proven over multiple seasons. LaFell caught a 58-yard touchdown pass on his first collegiate play against Louisiana-Lafayette in the season opener, but he has caught only one pass since.
Davis leads LSU in receptions with 13 for 207 yards. Tailback Jacob Hester is second with 12 catches for 81 yards. Bowe leads the Tigers in yards per catch at 19 with 11 catches for 209 yards. He caught four passes for 56 yards against Auburn.
"Coach (Fisher) called what he called," Bowe said. "He felt good calling it."
LSU coach Les Miles, who has veto power over Fisher's calls, was asked about running the two-minute offense in other parts of the game as many teams do.
"Two minute has its purpose," Miles said. "The percentage play is to make your opponent defend both run and pass on as many downs and distances as you can. That allows you to have a numbers advantage when you choose to run or pass."
Davis pointed out that a two-minute, or spread offense tends to attract speedy substitutions from the defense.
"It can open up things for the offensive line, because teams will go to nickel and dime packages with extra defensive backs and smaller defenders," he said. "And they're not looking for the run, so that opens up the run, too. But, like I said, I'm a wide receiver."
The loss marked the first time LSU was held without a touchdown since a 31-0 loss to Alabama in 2002. Davis, Bowe, Doucet, LaFell and Russell were not at LSU yet.
"I really didn't believe it that we only scored three points," Davis said. "We're a lot better offense than that."
Fisher said the mere field goal surprised him, too.
"We'll evaluate it," Fisher said. "We'll see whether it was scheme or technique or whatever."