LSU Football: The Mad Hatter, the Gunslinger, the Weapon and the 40 Thieves

In LSU's 47-21 win over the 16th-ranked West Virginia Mountaineers, the entire nation witnessed more than a simple football game between Top 25 teams.  The nation witnessed an LSU team in the midst of evolution.

Give credit to the Mountaineers and it's fans for creating a raucous environment.  The Mountaineers have the look of a team that will win the struggling Big East Conference, and find itself in one of the illustrious BCS bowls.  WVU Head Coach Dana Holgorsen has developed an electric offense led by QB Geno Smith and an athletic group of sure-handed wide receivers.  In fact, Smith was able to pass for a monstrous 463 yards against the imposing LSU defense, but this is where the stats do not support the facts of the game.

LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis developed a bend but don't break mentality against the vaunted spread offense of the Mountaineers, sacrificing yards for opportunities for his ball-hawking secondary that could effectively only be described as "The 40 Thieves."  Every defensive back in the LSU secondary seems to have the play-making mentality, rivaled only by their mean and nasty demeanor.

These abilities are personified best by the highlight-making CB Tyrann Mathieu, who makes up for his diminutive 5'9" 175 lb. frame with abilities rarely seen.  In 16 games, Mathieu is now tied with former Tigers LB Ali Highsmith for the most forced fumbles in school history.  Before Mathieu's tenure at LSU is over, the record of seven should be shattered.

As a group though, this secondary is deep and extremely athletic.  Look to CB Mo Claiborne's beautiful 99-yard kickoff return, or look to the countless number of pass breakups seen against the Mountaineers.  This group is becoming a special unit, and as their technique develops throughout the season, look for this group to lead, not only the SEC, but possibly the nation, in turnovers.

The Mad Hatter unveiled Saturday night, that his "damn strong football team" is not only his nasty defense.  Senior QB Jarrett Lee has risen from the ashes, to make the LSU Tigers his football team.  Lee is beginning to show that the LSU Tigers offense is not only a talented group of powerful running backs, but a unit that has the ability to strike deep, as witnessed by Lee's 16-28, three-touchdown performance.

Lee is making precise throws, good decisions and showing an excellent rapport with wide receivers Reuben Randle and Odell Beckham.  Randle, aside from his one drop on a beautiful pass from Lee, is growing into a sure-handed possession receiver, and is thrusting himself into the conversation as one of the SEC's best wide receivers.

Beckham, on the other hand, is developing into the much-needed big play threat for the Tigers, one who also could grow into a star.

Lee should continue to grow, as electric wide receiver Russell Sheppard becomes more acclimated in the offense after serving a three-game suspension.

The Mad Hatter that is Les Miles has often said that his philosophy is a strong running game, good defense, and quality special teams.  

One has to ask, is there more of a weapon for the LSU Tigers than the Australian-born punter Brad Wing?  Wing continuously was able to pin the Mountaineers deep in their own territory, including three punts which were downed within the five yard line.  With Wing's ability to punt with both his right and left leg, and do so accurately, combined with a strong defense, and an ever growing offense, the 2011 Bayou Bengals have the early look of the nation's best football team.

Les Miles was asked about this very question after the game against the Mountaineers.  With the classic Les Miles smirk, Miles could only reply "We know we got some things to work on. This football team knows it must get those corrected and then we'll worry about sneaking up on number one."

The Mad Hatter knows what the rest of the nation now knows as well.  The LSU Tigers have now defeated three Top 25 teams on the road, and have done so all on prime time, in front of the entire nation. The question of who is number one should not matter for the Tigers though, for the gauntlet that is the SEC West still awaits, as well as the much anticipated matchup against arch-rival Alabama.  The answer to are the Tigers truly the nation's best team, will be answered in time.  Win the SEC, and the Tigers will have their chance to prove so.