Sunday Soapbox - Tuesday Version

The Va Tech game has garnered a lot of national respect for the Tigers. And it should've. Only time will tell how good VT really is (or isn't), but no matter. LSU looked very, very good. Anytime you can rack up 600 yards of offense on a #1 ranked defense for two years running with lots of returning talent, you're doing things right.

Since it's already Tuesday, I'll resist the urge to recap and gush over the offense and the defense. It's all been said, very well, and there's no use me piling on. Instead, I have two topics for this version of the Soapbox - Matt Flynn and the tightends - that I don't think are getting quite enough coverage yet.

Flynn looks awesome. Of course, he's not putting up numbers like some of the current Heisman Trophy watchlist, but let's put it all in perspective. Flynn is solid at 63%, 2 TDs, no picks, and 54 yards rushing. Now, go back and look at both games if you have them on DVR. Fast forward through to the passing plays and watch Flynn. Count how many of his incomplete passes were either well thrown and dropped or intentionally thrown away to avoid a sack or interception. It's impressive. I guarantee that Flynn is turning a lot of pro scouts heads right now. I predict that, like last year, the leading QB Heismann candidate will be a flashy passer with big numbers but Flynn will go before that QB in the draft. He's mature, he's big and strong, he's got a very good arm and a very good sense for the game, he's versatile, and he's fast. By the end of the year, if he stays healthy, I think Flynn will begin to generate some Heisman talk and the nation (like Herbie from ESPN) will take note.

While I think we've seen Flynn and K. Williams and Lafell break out, we still haven't seen the tightends figure into the offense. OK, I mean in teh sense that they haven't directly produced yardage. According to SI's stats page, they have yet to catch a pass. THIS IS ACTUALLY GOOD NEWS. If we can crush VT and still have a weapon in our arsenal that hasn't been revealed yet, I think that's a good thing. I look forward to Dickson and Zinger becoming big factors as the season matures.

So...that's all I'll say. Everyone else has said plenty. The BCS championship game is the Tigers' to lose at this point. The remainder of the season will require focus and discipline, as talk intensifies about Miles' future and a matchup with USC in New Orleans.

I'm going to try to do my part by focusing on the next game. Which is South Carolina - no wait, damn it, Middle Tennessee....

Pre-Game Prediction - Tigers By a Nose 17-10

With a point spread that's been hovering around 12 all week, and the Hokies players, coaches and fans basically saying they don't expect to win, it would be easy to fall into overconfidence tonight.

I don't think LSU's players and coaches are taking this game for granted. VT's defense is not MSU's defense, and Glennon is not Henig. This game will be a test.

Chances are good that the field will be wet, may even rain tonight against all common wisdom and the mythology of Tiger Stadium.

If LSU's offense were able to open it up tonight and protect Flynn and open some holes for The Committee, then I think the score could be something like LSU-31, VT-6.

However, it's still early in the season. The O-line is still finding it's way, Doucet's still the only proven performer at receiver, the tight-ends are still invisible, and it's probably going to be a wet game. We'll turn the ball over tonight at least once against a good Hokie Defense.

The DEFENSE will carry us through tonight, with outstanding play and a couple of key turnovers. They may even score a touchdown for us. Solid special teams play will also be hugely important against a Hokie team that prides itself on blocking kicks and punts.

We'll be too much for VT, and if the field is dry we'll be FAR too much. But I'll go with a wet night and an exciting and respectable 17-10 win for the Tigers. VT won't get more than 250 yards total offense. And I will have dreams of crystal footballs and a sweet New Orleans showdown with the Trojans....until I wake up and begin worrying about MTSU and their 500+ yards of offense on Louisville...

Matt Flynn on having the patience to wait for his chance at QB behind Russell:

A lot of stuff creeped in my head, and there were some times that were pretty tough. But I grew up a lot. I felt like I didn't want to go anywhere else, and if I kept working hard, good things will happen.

He'll get his first real test tonight, in what promises to be a muggy, wet, insanely loud Tiger Stadium. Dandy Don's for the WP article

Dandy Don is sticking to the safe, low scoring scenario. He's not buying the idea that VT's D is overrated. Well....I disagree, but we'll know for sure in a few days.

Beamer, speaking of his discomfort with making significant adjustments to his offensive line:

"But you've got to do what you've got to do right now."

Sounds like a man dealing with a significant problem. I hope he's right. It'd be nice to hold VT to under 100 yards on the ground.

David Gladow writing in the Advocate about LSU: "The offense, on the other hand, resembled John Candy flailing about in his mud pit in Stripes: Slow, sloppy and inept. "

Hunh?

45 points in the rain and on the road! Biggest week one win margin of all of last year's BCS teams! Hello!?

I'm worried about the line like everyone else, but is the offense slow and inept? I think not.

Tidbits from a read-through of the Hokies' 2007 LSU-VT Game Notes.

1. VT blocked two kicks in their 2002 win over the Tigers (26-8 at Lane Stadium).
2. Tech is 0-4 on the road when the Game Day boyz are visiting.
3. Frank Beamer Hokie teams are 19-55 when they're outrushed, which doesn't happen often (only 74 out of 241 games).
4. Tech have won 30 straight games when they scored first.
5. Vince Hall and Xavier Adibi - the "best LB duo in the country" according to ESPN's Chris Spielman.
6. VT scored 5 touchdowns on returns last year (2 Interceptions, 2 fumbles, 1 punt).
7. VT blocked 5 kicks last year - 3 punts and 2 FGs.

It NEVER rains in Tiger Stadium on Saturday nights...well, maybe not NEVER, but definitely SELDOM?

70% of TigerDroppings' 2200+ poll participants think LSU will win by more than 10 points.

Dandy Don agrees with me, so I've got that goin' for me - which is nice.

I thought that Jacob Hester was outstanding at running back against MSU, but I believe LSU's offense is better with Hester in the game at fullback when Hester is allowed to carry the football several times per game from the full back position and also as receive a few passes out of the backfield.

Pregame activities honoring VT's loss:

LSU's band will play Virginia Tech's alma mater after three skydivers land on the field, one bearing a Virginia Tech school flag, one with an LSU flag and the third with a U.S. flag. After the parachutists arrive, with the band on the field, there will be a moment of silence before the alma mater.

Then, the butt kicking is on....

Scott Rabalais gives advice on how to view the game and the VT fans.

But also offer a bit of tailgate food, a hug, a well wish. There is a game
to play and LSU and its fans should not be ashamed of wanting to win it.
But there’s nothing to say LSU fans shouldn’t show VT fans hospitality and
compassion in this their first visit to Baton Rouge and remember — what happened
there can happen anywhere.

I hope our fans do us proud.

Beamer: "They’re a scary football team... They really are very, very good.”

Chris Warner from TigerDroppings on the VT game:

Tech will be unsure of itself and timid in its offensive approach as a result of
the unrelenting cacophony and LSU defensive pressure. After a failed running
game forces errant passes, the sticky LSU secondary will take over. This one
should be in hand by the start of the fourth quarter. In short, Tiger Stadium
will be too much for Mr. Glennon, who will struggle all night long to run his
offense. The score: LSU 35, VT 6

Highsmith, Hester and Doucet will be team captains against VT. Miles quote:

These are picked by the coaches, and they are designed to reflect a broader
range of leadership.

VT kickoff moved back again to 8:22. Are they hoping everyone will be so blitzed by then that it'll be quiet in Death Valley? C'mon....Tiger Fans are professionals at this.

VT at LSU Game Notes - 20 pages, lots to go thru.

MadJay at TechSuperfans! is calling for a shuffle on VT's offensive line, among other things. He's not confident anyone is listening.

The offensive line performance was so incredibly bad that I think drastic
changes are in order.

Let's hope they're hurting as bad as MadJay says they are. His post is worth reading.

TigerDroppings has a poll up - so far, it's the Tigers by 10-19 points. 700+ voters at last count. Of course, they're all unbiased and unemotional about the game....

Dandy Don thinks VT is the best team on the Tigers' schedule this year and that Saturday will be a low scoring game. As long as the Tigers have 50.1% or greater of the total score, I'm fine with that.



For the record, I disagree - I think Florida will prove to ultimately be the best team on the schedule, and I think LSU will score more than 20 points on Saturday night. But Don's an expert, so I wouldn't bet on my guess over his.