Sports
Friday, September 20, 2013
page 5
Speed Trap
Getting to know the foe
SOCCER
68.3 PPG
PLAYS PER GAME PLAYER TO WATCH
61 PPG
LSU’s PREVIOUS OPPONENTS
Auburn University
QUICK HITS · RUNNING BACK · JUNIOR · 5’10”
· 1,002 YARDS AND 8 TD IN 2012 · 205 lbs.
AUBURN TIGERS’ STATISTICS 2013 STATS PASSING · Nick Marshall: 43-70, 585 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT
RUSHING · Tre Mason: 206 yards, 39 carries, 2 TD · Corey Grant: 230 yards, 24 carries, 2 TD
RECEIVING · Sammie Coates: 167 yards, 7 catches, 1 TD · Quan Bray: 108 yards, 6 catches, 1 TD
TEAM STAT COMPARISON 2012 - 2013 STATS TOTAL AND SCORING OFFENSE AUB: 93 points, 31.0 points per game LSU: 138 points, 46.0 points per game
Rushing offense AUB: 716 yards, 238.7 yards per game, 5 TD LSU: 656 yards, 218.7 YPG, 8 TD
Passing offense AUB: 605 yards, 201.7 YPG, 4 TD LSU: 808 yards, 269.3 YPG, 9 TD
TOTAL AND SCORING DEFENSE AUB: 53 points, 17.7 points per game LSU: 57 points, 19.0 points per game
Rushing defense AUB: 472 yards, 157.3 YPG, 5 TD LSU: 332 yards, 110.7 YPG, 4 TD
Passing defense AUB: 829 yards, 276.3 YPG, 1 TD LSU: 471 yards, 157.0 YPG, 1 TD MARCUS RODRIGUE / The Daily Reveille
There’s speed, and then there’s Southeastern Conference speed. LSU (3-0) is no stranger to this phenomenon and the effects are only exacerbated in the hurryup offense. The tempo of the game combined with the quickness of the individual players wreaks havoc on
an imposing defense. Defensive coordinators have mere seconds to get their players into position and ready for the onslaught of football plays headed their way. “If you don’t get that little bit of communication, if that one person doesn’t know the call, then that’s detrimental,” said junior defensive end Jordan Allen. “It leaves
Sports Contributor
OPENER, see page 6
AUBURN TIGERS
UP-TEMPO, see page 7
Auburn’s up-tempo offense poses threat for Tigers Mike Gegenheimer
Marcus Rodrigue
a man wide open and it leaves a man out to dry.” LSU opens conference play this week against SEC West rival Auburn (3-0), who has fully embraced the culture of a fast-paced attack under the tutelage of coach Gus Malzahn. Malzahn is known for his
DAVE MARTIN / The Associated Press
Auburn wide receiver Quan Bray (4) scores on a 61-yard touchdown reception Sept. 14 as Mississippi State defensive back Nickoe Whitley (1) pursues him during the Tigers’ game against the Bulldogs in Auburn, Ala.
Sports Contributor
Tigers aim to improve on record After posting a losing record in the Southeastern Conference and missing out on an NCAA bid last season, the LSU soccer team will kick off its conference campaign Saturday night at Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tenn. The Tigers (4-3-1) grabbed five SEC victories in 2012, a step down from their eight conference wins and SEC West title in 2011. Vanderbilt (3-3-2) is also aiming to improve, as the Commodores found themselves at the bottom of the eastern division with only two SEC wins last season. “If you can go get three points in the opening weekend, especially on the road, that’s a good kick start to the season,” said LSU coach Brian Lee. “The SEC is – top to bottom – probably the strongest it’s ever been, and every game is going to be a dogfight.” The most recent matchup between LSU and Vanderbilt was a dogfight indeed, as the Tigers eked out a double-overtime victory, 1-0, in Baton Rouge last season. Then-freshman midfielder Haley
2013 TRE MASON
LSU travels to Vanderbilt for opener
Quit giving the Heisman to quarterbacks HUTCHDOWN DANCING SPENCER HUTCHINSON Deputy Sports Editor Who’s winning the Heisman Trophy this season? Though it isn’t certain, it will probably be a quarterback. After all, only one non-quarterback has claimed the honor since 1999. That number used to be two, but Reggie Bush happened. Here’s hoping that trend breaks this season, because it’s getting pretty ridiculous at this point. It’s boring going into each season with a shortlist of quarterbacks from the best teams in the nation and just waiting around to see which one doesn’t blow it enough so he can be handed the trophy.
Sure, sometimes there are wrinkles like Johnny Manziel bursting onto the scene last year and Mark Ingram hoisting in 2009, but for the most part, isn’t the Heisman pretty useless? If defensive players don’t even get a legitimate chance unless they have a fake dead girlfriend, is it really an award for the best collegiate football player, or can it just be renamed the best offensive player award? But wait, that wouldn’t work either, because unless a receiver logs the most special teams stats anyone has ever seen, he probably won’t be considered. Oh look, I didn’t even mention offensive linemen, but since when is that new? I’ll probably be let down again this season with Manziel’s name still being thrown around. He lost a tough game against Alabama last week, but if he mimics his numbers from last season, it
ANGELA MAJOR / The Daily Reveille
LSU junior wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (3) returns a kickoff Sept. 14 HEISMAN, see page 11 during the Tigers’ 45-13 victory against Kent State.