Will LSU unleash Shepard? Can Nesbitt take the pounding again?
Five burning questions as we head into the weekend:
1. Is LSU going to finally take the wraps off Russell Shepard? LSU (4-0) is one of only 17 undefeated teams in Division I-A but you wouldn’t believe it to hear the Tiger fans complain. That’s because statistically, it is a shaky 4-0 at best. LSU is ranked No. 105 in total offense (310.0 yards per game). One of the theories has been that head coach Les Miles and offensive coordinator Gary Crowton have been waiting until the Georgia game to unleash freshman phenom Russell Shepard. Shepard, from Houston, has carried the ball 11 times for 74 yards in four games. He is clearly talented but at the same time he is greener than grass. There is no question that LSU wants to establish the run against Georgia. Could Saturday in Sanford Stadium become Shepard’s coming out party?
2. Can Josh Nesbitt bounce back after last week’s pounding? One of the reasons I like Josh Nesbitt is that he went to my old high school (Greene County). But the main reason I like the guy is that he’s a warrior. He ran the ball 32 times and took a pounding against a very good, very physical North Carolina defense. Now he must come back and play against a Mississippi State defense that held LSU to only 30 yards rushing last week. Can he play at that level two weeks in a row?
3. Will Alabama have a letdown at Kentucky? Alabama has gotten better with each game and right now I think the Crimson Tide is the best team in the country. But every team has a letdown. After four impressive games and, with a big trip to Ole Miss coming up next week, does the Crimson Tide struggle at Kentucky? Another factor in this game is the absence of linebacker Dont’a Hightower, who was lost for the season after suffering a knee injury against Arkansas. My gut tells me that Alabama is just too physical for Kentucky to make this a game. But my gut has already been wrong a bunch of times this season.
4. How will the quarterbacks play in the Oklahoma-Miami game? With Sam Bradford, the 2008 Heisman Trophy winner, still out with a sprained shoulder, there is no question that Oklahoma is doing everything it can to build confidence in backup Landry Jones. Jones set an Oklahoma record on Sept. 19 when he threw for six touchdown passes against Tulsa. And understand there is a possibility that Bradford could be ready to play by Saturday. Coach Bob Stoops said a decision on Bradford’s status may not be made until Saturday. Miami quarterback Jacory Harris blamed himself for last week’s 31-7 thumping by Virginia Tech in Blacksburg and vowed to play better at home. The Hokies’ defensive front took Harris out of his comfort zone. Oklahoma’s defensive front is even better.
5. Can Auburn work its magic on the road? Auburn is third in the nation in total offense (526.25 ypg) and third in scoring offense (45.25 ppg). But note that Gus Malzahn’s offense has put up those totals in four straight home games. Auburn takes its high-flying offense to Tennessee on Saturday night and it will be interesting to see what Volunteer defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin has cooked up for the Tigers. Tennessee gave up over 300 yards passing to Ohio U. last week. This is going to be a very interesting game.
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191 comments Add your comment
Motown Hound
October 1st, 2009
6:55 am
You would think that LSU would have unleashed him last week when they alsmost got their A$$ handed to them. What are they thinking?
Dawgs put it all together and make Vegas look like geniuses.
You heard it hear first.
Motown Hound
October 1st, 2009
6:57 am
Second!!!!!
JB
October 1st, 2009
7:08 am
The bigger question, and most probably the deciding factor, is can UGA limit the TO’s??? If they don’t have any they could win by 10 to 14. If they have their usual 3…
HBTD!!!
Kid Ray
October 1st, 2009
7:12 am
From an unniased Rutgers fan…
Bama, Auburn are underrated
LSU overrated
Kiffinisatosser
October 1st, 2009
7:17 am
Aubs will show off their chizique on Saturday.
m
October 1st, 2009
7:18 am
Miss St held #4 (what a crock) lswho to 30 yards rushing…30 yards!!! Tech will get at least 10 times that many yards rushing against these pitiful sec defenses.
lswho hasn’t held anybody back….they are one of the 10 dwarfs in the sec…you know…alabammer and floriduh and the 10 dwarfs. This is the weakest the sec has EVER been.
What are all you sec mouth breathers going to say when Tech stomps Miss St team that outplayed lswho all over the field?
Tony, Josh Nesbitt is a warrior and it is about time you slow down on your illicit love affair with Teblow and recognize Nesbitt.
And it will be funny to watch Miami beat oklaHOMO.
Tony, it is no wonder why your blog sucks in exact proportion to how much the sec sucks this year.
JB
October 1st, 2009
7:23 am
The Yellow Maggots will rush for 300 yards against M St? Uh, OK.
HBTD!!!
41 38 49 38 45 24 37 41 17
October 1st, 2009
7:29 am
LSU will do two things saturday. Stomp the dawgs aZZes and their mid field copycat G logo!
hamburger lips
October 1st, 2009
7:32 am
UGA will unleash the red headed stepchild QB this Saturday. Pick 6 Galore!
ATL
October 1st, 2009
7:44 am
Hey, I like the stolen G logo. I also like the stolen bulldog mascot from Yale. I also like all the un-original things that make up uga. Like the imaginary tale they should have played for a BCS title without winning the SEC and even the SEC west.
Mikey
October 1st, 2009
7:45 am
Number man, it killed you to have to put that 17 on your list, didnt it?
Here are some numbers for you:
Coach Mark Richt in 8 seasons at Georgia:
6 10 win seasons
5 times finished in the top 10
2 times finished in the top 3
3 SEC Championship Appearances
2 SEC Titles
3 BCS Bowls
2 Sugar Bowl wins
29-5 on the road in the SEC over 8+ seasons
85-23 record over 8 seasons – 79% winning percentage
No Probations
GO DAWGS !
Rick
October 1st, 2009
7:47 am
Tony,
1. Greg Landry will not only start but play every snap. Bradford on the road at Miami coming off an injury is the wrong time. OU will beat Miami at home without Bradford.
2. I believe that LSU does want to unleash Shepard, every top program in America has a “difference maker” that they would love to unleash; problem is if the team has not already established a consistent game plan and implementation of that plan it usually does not come to fruition. If it does, it is the acception and not the “rule”; especially on the road in the SEC.
3. GT is facing a team that understands the spread option philosophy, look for a lot of busted plays and a few big plays. Nesbitt and Company may have a lot of turnovers this week.
Motown Hound
October 1st, 2009
7:51 am
M, on another blog someone wondered where you were and if you had a stroke. I think they are right.
Have your tried assisted living?
Nachos
October 1st, 2009
8:13 am
Lame Kitten and Coach “O” will expose the barners as frauds Saturday night.
36 – 0 …. barners, does it still hurt? I hope so.
m
October 1st, 2009
8:20 am
Tony,
Why do you never admit that the ACC Championship game has produced an ACC Champion the past three years?
The ACC was 6-4 against the SEC last year.
I can’t believe how stupid everyone on this blog is except me.
SimpleDawg
October 1st, 2009
8:24 am
Another high scoring Dawg victory. LSU & UGA stake claim to #3 in SEC.
College Football is becoming like basketball….most games are decided by match-ups between the 2 teams. Miss. State looks to be a bad match up for the Bugs. MSU’s problem is the same as UNC…poor QB play is their albatross.
Satan will not allow Bama to have a let down against Kentucky. Close early, turns into a butt whuppin’.
Stoops would rather Bradford play Sooner than Later. Jacory Harris looked like Tom Brady against Tech, but looked like Marcia Brady against Va. Tech. Who will he be this weekend? This game could go either way, but take the Sooners.
Awbarn vs Tennysee….can they both lose? Is Awbarn really as good as they have looked so far? Will Tennysee ever play as well in another game as they played against the Gaytors? Both teams make the other look bad…or good, who knows?
If you could take Awbarn’s stretch limo, put Kiffin’s wife in it, and go on a Road Trip to a REAL college football game, say in Athens this weekend…that would make for a heavenly weekend.
ATL
October 1st, 2009
8:27 am
Mikey, Richt is a great coach, no doubt. But where are the BCS championships? No probation, but many off field aressts. Those off field issues cost your team a run last year. Richt needs to get his program under control before he can consider a title run.
SecIsFootball
October 1st, 2009
8:29 am
LSU is not the #4 team in the country. UGA will win this one by a score or 2.
BAMA will probably do the same to UK as they have done to Arky. D is too strong and O is very balanced and rolling right now.
As much as I despise AU, I think they will beat UT pretty handily this weekend. AU has a good offense and UT has no offense which will make it hard to score on the AU D. That said, i will be cheering for the Refs in this game.
Seriously?!
October 1st, 2009
8:29 am
m- Are you REALLY trying to compare Nesbitt to Tebow?!
Nesbitt aka ReggieBall2 who throws the ball out of bounds on 4th down?!
ATL
October 1st, 2009
8:32 am
Oh, and that road record takes a hit if you play FL (the team you struggle to beat) on the road and not at a neutral site.
Uncle Leon
October 1st, 2009
8:35 am
Mikey- that’s a nice list you have there, but there’s a simpler way to put it. UGA’s talent dictates who wins the games. If Georgia has more talent than the other team, they will win. If the talent is equal or the other team has more, Georgia loses. Mark Richt has a great recruiting staff, but the coaching leaves a lot to be desired. That “road” record omits the losses in Jax, so that’s not nearly as impressive.
41 38 49 38 45 24 37 41 17
October 1st, 2009
8:36 am
Oh come now Mickey…. Sure Willie has a blemish on the numbers but I expect it will return to normal this weekend. Like they say “even a blind squirrel will find a nut every now and then”. However blind squirrels like yourself just don’t see it yet!
KR
October 1st, 2009
8:37 am
Auburn (4-0) is one of only 17 undefeated teams in Division I-A. Auburn is third in the nation in total offense (526.25 ypg) and third in scoring offense (45.25 ppg).
And yet they are still unranked. Care to comment on that Tony?
Eric
October 1st, 2009
8:38 am
What hurts is a cow chip nacho masquerading as somebody. Talk about a fraud.
LSU is obviously over rated and I hardly think Leslie has the smarts to achieve what you’re giving him credit for. If they suck without a green freshman, they’ll suck with him. Josh Nesbitt is a liability every time he throws the ball. Jacory Harris stuck his foot in his mouth when he said he refused to lose. Tim “JC” Tebow said the same thing right before Auburn beat UF for the second time in a row. This weekend, Auburn proves that it really doesn’t matter what Lane Kiffin says during the week. Auburn will be the best non ranked 5-0 team in the country. WDE!!!
BILLY JACK
October 1st, 2009
8:38 am
I hope the freshmen Shepard plays alot-throwing a true freshemen to the SEC on the road is a bad idea unless its done in small doses.If he plays a great deal on sat,something has gone terribly wrong with LSU’S offense.
Recap
October 1st, 2009
8:41 am
VA Tech lost to Alabama
Miami DESTROYED Georgia Tech
VA Tech KILLED Miami
Virginia lost to William & Mary
NC State lost to South Carolina
Maryland lost to Middle Tennessee State
Wake Forest lost to Baylor
Florida State was manhandled bt South Florida
THE ACC IS A JOKE, LMAO!
Uncle Leon
October 1st, 2009
8:41 am
KR- what impressive wins has Auburn had? Weren’t Auburn and Rocky Top ranked last year? Maybe the polls are embarrassed at how bad those schools made the polls look last year and are gun-shy about ranking them this year. Wasn’t Vandy ranked in the Top 15 last year?
Freehawk
October 1st, 2009
8:43 am
KR,
Auburn probably should be ranked. But they haven’t played anybody yet.
In response to the previous post, the main impediment to UGA winning the SEC West is that they play in the SEC East.
Dawg Fud
October 1st, 2009
8:44 am
ATL, your snide remarks really take a hit when you don’t have your facts correct – SEC West?
TrueCrimson
October 1st, 2009
8:47 am
Five soothing answers to your burning questions:
1. Is LSU going to finally take the wraps off Russell Shepard?
Les Miles is going one better. He’s gonna unwrap his Mark Richt voodoo doll. Unfortunately, even that isn’t going to help the hapless Bengals in this Dawgfight.
2. Can Josh Nesbitt bounce back after last week’s pounding?
My prediction: Josh Nesbitt will bounce back every time he encounters the MSU defensive line.
3. Will Alabama have a letdown at Kentucky?
Yes. But it will not matter. Kentucky had their letdown last Saturday. They will be looking for redemption as they play well over their heads in this game — but they will not find it.
4. How will the quarterbacks play in the Oklahoma-Miami game?
It really doesn’t matter how the QB’s play. This game will be won at the line of scrimmage. Miami has already been exposed as nothing more than a gimmick offense that can light up the scoreboard when they face a weak defense. Oklahoma doesn’t have a championship caliber defense, but it will be adequate to take the wind out of these Miami Hurricanes.
5. Can Auburn work its magic on the road?
Location means nothing in this game. Auburn’s ‘magic’ is not unlike that of Miami. High flying offenses crash and burn when they encounter mediocre defenses. The Vols defense is slightly better than mediocre. This game marks the end of Gene Chizik’s honeymoon. At least he should be able to find some quality moonshine on Ol’ Rocky Top to take the edge off of the beat-down. I look for Auburn to play the Vols close early, but when their ‘ones’ go to the bench, then their ‘threes’ take the field. Auburn doesn’t have any ‘twos’. Lack of depth will prevent the Tigers from taking advantage of Tennessee’s ‘inCrompetence’.
Trade School Junkie
October 1st, 2009
8:49 am
This is an absolute “MUST WIN” game for Les Miles.
In 2007, LSU went 10-2 regular season. In 2008, LSU went 7-5 regular season. Les Miles was already on the hot seat at the end of 2008.
Reamaining LSU schedule includes:
Florida, Auburn, Alabama, Ole Miss, and Ark.
LSU has very low odds against Florida or Bama.
Long odds against beating AU. More even odds vs. Ole Miss & Ark.
Consider how bad LSU looked vs. MissSt, as compared to how Auburn DESTROYED MissSt.
LSU probably escapes with a narrow win.
Trade School Junkie
October 1st, 2009
8:53 am
Auburn doesnt seem to have trouble ascoring points. Tenn does struggle to score points.
Auburn wins a close, low-scoring affair.
OK-Miami game looks like a COMPLETE mis-match.
Sooners roll…BIG.
VolsNow
October 1st, 2009
8:54 am
Monte Kiffin’s D will shut down Auburn’s offense—UT wins this game by 13. UT 30 AU 17—mark it down!
Denver Dog
October 1st, 2009
9:11 am
Bulldogs Tigers should win but won’t
Bulldogs Tech should win but won’t
Tide Close one for the Tide, bad calls win for Tide
Sooners Not even close
Tigers Kiffin crew makes offensive mistakes, Auburn D wins the game
Mutt Nonsense
October 1st, 2009
9:13 am
Mikey,
You forgot a few more from the “How to Be a UGA Fan Official Guide”
347 straight years of top 10 recruiting classes
1,366 bad calls since 2001 that cost us the game
60 straight years of winning the spring game w/ the best team in the country
19 years of pretending like the UF game is a fluke
Nat’l Championship : T-Minus 30 years and counting….wait that can’t be true…30 years?!?! Someone please confirm with the Dawg fanbase…I thought they were an “elite” program?
Pathetic…name one other program that brags about 10 win seasons or top 10 finishes….well I guess FSU bragged about their top 5 finish streak and look where that got them…at least they had a MNC squeezed in their for good measure.
T
October 1st, 2009
9:17 am
Georgia will crush LSU on Saturday… it will be similar to the last time LSU visited Athens.
TommyP
October 1st, 2009
9:20 am
I now understand the crap that Barnhart spews on here….Greene County has to have the most uneducated people in the South. Dumb as rocks.
LSU is still holding stuff back, right Tony?
North Carolina was licking their chops to face Tech a year after giving up 320+ rushing yards, right Tony?
One day away from reading Barnhart’s Friday picks! Ten favorites again tomorrow, people, from the self-anointed “Mr.College Football.”
What a crock.
Tell us stuff we don’t know, Tony. Isn’t that what you’re paid to do?
Denver Dog
October 1st, 2009
9:20 am
Mutt peson,
What are you talking about. The last I heard from your type was that UGA bet you becuase Tebow had a sore shoulder. Relish your moments of greatness, nobody is taking anything away from UF. UGA has a great program, period. UF now has a great program. Forget all the other stuff. Just pull for your team and what they accomplish
Tom
October 1st, 2009
9:21 am
UGA-LSU?
To borry an oft-used cliché, I wouldn’t bet that game with your money.
gdawginkalamazoo
October 1st, 2009
9:22 am
KR, Auburn not ranked because of fans sitting on the tarmac booing their new head coach as his plane arrived. A coach who has won almost as many games at Auburn in his first year than he did in two years at Iowa State.
robodawg
October 1st, 2009
9:25 am
It was our G logo first. Look it up.
B
October 1st, 2009
9:25 am
Well, I see M the festering gob of excretement in denial is still as dilusional as ever about the ACC. The name should be changed to BOC for blow out conference cause they get blown out so much. I doubt that we see his ugly face after Miss St. puts one on yeck. We’re gonna light up that 3 person yeck blog when it happens too.
Hey, I heard yeck sent back all the tickets they were allotted because the few fans that actually pull for yeck didn’t want to be embarrassed again by an SEC team again. This is going to be another ugly weekend for the Almost Competent Conference.
Stinger and Yellow Fuzz… you two sux buddies sux on that 45 to 42 all you can cause it is a rare thing. 15 times since 1960. yeck is UGA bitch.
aj green is les miles baby daddy
October 1st, 2009
9:30 am
oh how quickly the haters forget
http:/blog.nola.com/lsusports/2008/12/lsu_vs_georgia_tech_live_blog.html
aj green is les miles baby daddy
October 1st, 2009
9:32 am
http://blog.nola.com/lsusports/2008/12/lsu_vs_georgia_tech_live_blog.html
try again
im4bama
October 1st, 2009
9:33 am
1. Yes, LSU will pull out all the stops against UGA. Somethings got to give though, either UGA’s luck runs out or another, ahem, top 5 goes down again.
2. Nope, MSU stuffs him.
3. No let down for Bama. Consistency and finishing are the name of the game.
4. All the QB’s should play well. I expect Harris to show up in this one at home.
5. Yes. Auburn can work some magic; enough to outscore Lame Kiffin’s offense.
Man, I love Fall Saturdays. Roll Tide!
Joey
October 1st, 2009
9:36 am
M, you trying to say LSU is overated with your “what a croc”? Considering what happened 9 short months ago, what does that make Tech?
Gen Neyland
October 1st, 2009
9:36 am
Auburn fans have something to crow about. 4-0 means 4-0. The test for Auburn will be plugging holes in their defensive line on Tennessee’s run game. After Saturday, they’ll be brought back down to planet Earth. 4-1 still ain’t bad.
Mutt Nonsense
October 1st, 2009
9:37 am
Denver Dog,
“The last I heard from your type was that UGA bet you becuase Tebow had a sore shoulder.”
- No actually the last you actually heard from a Gator fan was the goodbye song as you filed out of the stadium after the 3rd quarter.
“UGA has a great program, period. UF now has a great program.”
- Nice try with the backhanded compliment. It’s been 20 years. There’s no “now UF has a great program”. That’s like claiming UGA has a ‘recent’ national title. Are Clemson, BYU, Georgia Tech, Colorado, and Washington great programs as well? That’s the list of programs you mutts probably look down on even though they’ve actually won a Nat’l title since 1980. There are a few other teams that should be on the list, but you already know them. They’re the true great programs. You guys are regional.
DawginLex
October 1st, 2009
9:38 am
General,
There is a “General Neyland” on 104.5 the zone in Nashville during the week talking college football.
Are you one in the same?
Mikey
October 1st, 2009
9:45 am
Mutt,
I’m not denying it’s been close to 30 years since we won the NC- but I am proud of what the program has accomplised in CMR’s tenure.
I grudgingly admit are not going to win a NC unless he replaces both coordinators.
Having said that I am still proud of our program and you haters can kiss off.
Here’s another nugget for you-
Records of the last 8+ seasons:
LSU 86-22
Georgia 85-23
Florida 81-27
Auburn 76-30
Tennessee 71-35