College Football 2011: Breakdown of LSU vs. Oregon Game on September 3

Jerry Jones has to be a happy man after landing two of the best teams in college football to play on the opening weekend of the 2011 college football season. 

Oregon, coming off of a loss in last year’s national championship, feels that they have a lot to prove and should be just as good this year as they were last year.  LSU, on the other hand, finished off last season on a high note with an easy victory of Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl. 

The Tigers and Ducks are both poised to make a run at the national title next year, and the winner of this game still has a very good chance to take home the trophy.  Each team has their own dangerous weapons, and it’ll be a matter of who outsmarts their opponent with Les Miles and Chip Kelly coaching each of their teams, respectively. 

Keys to LSU success:

• Force Darron Thomas into throwing the ball, making him prove he can beat LSU’s corners in man coverage with Oregon’s inexperienced receiving core.
• Stop LaMichael James from getting to the corner on sweeps and options and hurting their defense with his speed.
• Get Russell Sheppard involved early with space to run in front of him. He is extremely athletic.
• Find a way to win the special teams battle.
• Blitz Darron Thomas very often with their fast linebackers, and make Oregon’s young offensive line prove they are the real deal.

Keys to Oregon Success

• Feed the running back triple threat in LaMichael James, Kenyon Barner, and Lache Seastruck all night.
• Find 1^st team, 2010 PAC-10 tight end of the year David Paulson on short slants, waggles, and out routes.
• Pressure the quarterback as much as possible, forcing Jordan Jefferson to get rid of the ball earlier than he wants.
• Turn this game into a shootout since the Ducks obviously have better offensive production.
• Protect Darron Thomas from LSU’s tough defensive line in order for the Ducks to pass the ball successfully.

It is obvious where Oregon is going to be vulnerable against LSU.  The Tigers have a very big, athletic defensive line that will test the Oregon Ducks' three new additions to the offensive line. 

The Ducks need to call quick running plays in the first half to give their new offensive linemen confidence that they have the ability to hang with one of the best defensive lines in the country.

The Ducks have a young receiving core as well, but it might be the fastest and most athletic in the nation.  After Patrick Peterson decided to go pro, the LSU secondary is looking to make a statement proving that they weren’t a one man show in the secondary last season. 

Oregon must utilize their speed and size in new starters Lavasier Tuinei and Josh Huff.  Colt Lyerla, Brandon Williams and Justin Hoffman should also give the Ducks depth at the wide receiver and tight end positions.  The one returning player that will help out Darron Thomas is David Paulson at tight end. He needs to be used to keep the Tigers defense on edge. 

As for the Tigers, Jordan Jefferson needs to prove to the LSU faithful that he is their guy in 2011. 

He threw for only 1,400 yards last season, completing on 56.5 percent of his passes for only seven touchdown passes.  He needs to stand tall in the pocket and go through his reads before his happy feet kick in by tucking the ball and running.  He is a very skilled runner, but with the speed of the Oregon defense, he is going to have to use his arm to beat the Ducks defense. 

If I am the defensive coordinator for the Tigers, I would use the same game plan the Auburn Tigers' front seven used against the Ducks' run game.  It is obvious that LaMichael James is one of the best players in the nation, and the LSU faithful would take a hit to their pride if a PAC-12 team came into Texas and ran all over one of the most notorious run defenses in the nation. 

The Tigers play a very physical and rough defense, and if they want to slow down the run game of the Ducks, LaMichael James and Kenyon Barner must be contained for all four quarters.

This is the most highly anticipated game of the opening weekend and it clearly is continuing to gain notoriety as the game approaches.  If the fact that two of the Top 5 teams in the nation are playing each other at a neutral site doesn’t entice you, think that the number one scoring team in the nation will be taking on the 11^th best defense. 

There are a couple of Heisman candidate hopefuls in the game and some of the best and most unique uniforms in the nation.  This could be one of the best games of the year, and it will be on NBC at 5pm PST.  I think it is time that all football fans relax in their La-Z-Boy, and watch two of the best teams battle for the number one spot in the nation on September 3rd. 

 Outcome: Oregon 27 LSU 21