Tigers 'O' so scary, too
The LSU defense has generated so much hoopla the first half of the season that you almost forget that they do field an offense, too.
The Tigers' offense isn't just out there killing time until the defense can get back on the field, either.
It's not often that you lose a quarterback who goes No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft and get better, but Coach Rich Brooks, whose Cats play the Tigers Saturday, said they are more dangerous this year with Matt Flynn and Ryan Perrilloux under center than they were with JaMarcus Russell in 2006.
Louisiana State is fourth in the Southeastern Conference in scoring offense (37.8) and fourth in total offense (432.4), which has provided more than enough support for its vaunted defense.
"(Matt Flynn and Perrilloux) are not as good overall as the No. 1 guy in the draft, but I believe their offense is more productive this year," Brooks said. "They just have a lot of weapons and rotate a lot of people in there."
Senior running back Jacob Hester has replaced JaMarcus Russell as the high-profile member of the attack. While LSU will use as many as five backs, the 6-foot, 228-pound Hester has emerged as the go-to guy with a team-leading 433 yards and five touchdowns. He was the workhorse down the stretch in LSU's 28-24 win over Florida last week and scored the game-winning touchdown.
"He's a stud," said UK defensive coordinator Steve Brown. "He runs, he catches the ball, he pass-protects. He does a lot of good things."
While Hester has just started to blow up on the national scene (he's on this week's cover of Sports Illustrated), he's no stranger to the Kentucky defense as he scored two touchdowns in LSU's 49-0 win over the Cats last season. Hester rarely goes down on first contact, and he has carried 212 consecutive times without a fumble.
Brown said his unit will have to be solid tacklers against Hester or it could be a long afternoon.
"We've just got to try and knock his block off," Brown said. "He's a guy you've got to wrap up. He runs a 4.5 and benches 430 pounds."
When the Tigers need a change of pace, they can turn to sophomore Keiland Williams, who had a highlight-reel, 67-yard TD run against Virginia Tech, or diminutive speedster Trindon Holliday.
The 5-5, 160-pound Holliday averages 9.3 yards every time he touches the ball (352 yards on 38 carries).
Brooks said the LSU offense takes on an entirely different dimension when Holliday is in the backfield.
"They'll do things with him that they won't do with the other guys, and when he's in the game, you better assume he's going to get the ball most of the time," Brooks said.
Then there are the quarterbacks. While neither Matt Flynn nor Perrilloux is as gifted physically as JaMarcus Russell, they have provided the LSU attack with a reliable two-headed monster.
Matt Flynn is a good game manager who has thrown for 817 yards and four TDs, and he can run it a little despite battling through an injury. Perrilloux allows the Tigers to use more option looks and averages 5.4 yards per carry. And he's not one-dimensional, with six TD passes on just 38 attempts.
The LSU offense will also be bolstered by the expected return of its top receiver, senior Early Doucet, who returned to practice this week after missing four games because of an injury.
So while the Tigers offense might not have a smorgasbord of No. 1 draft picks, they have enough weaponry to test the UK defense for four quarters.
"You've got to be prepared for a lot of different things," Brooks said. "They rotate the quarterbacks, and both do some good things. And they've got a special package for the little waterbug (Holliday). It also looks like Doucet will play, but you look at their offense and they haven't missed a beat without him."
Game-time decisions on Little, Williams
Brooks said it will be a game-time decision on senior running back Rafael Little (thigh bruise) and junior strongside linebacker Johnny Williams (foot).
Couch to be guest analyst
Former UK quarterback Tim Couch will serve as guest analyst on CSTV'S weekly pre-game show, Chick Fil-A SEC Tailgate.
The show will air at noon and will be broadcast live from the Green parking lot at Commonwealth Stadium.
Couch will join CSTV's Greg Amsinger and former SEC Player of the Year David Pollack (Georgia).
Barnhart says stay off field
UK Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart sent a letter to fans yesterday asking them not to rush the field at Commonwealth Stadium if the Cats knock off top-ranked LSU on Saturday. The SEC fined the school $25,000 after fans stormed the field following UK's 40-34 win over Louisville on Sept. 15.
"When fans rush the field, it compromises the integrity of that surface and risks the health and safety of the same players that fans are intending to celebrate," Barnhart said in the letter. "Please continue to enjoy the wins from your seat."
Brooks on best-coach list
UK Coach Rich Brooks has been named to the watch list for the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award. Brooks is one of six head coaches in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) on the list, along with Jeff Tedford of California, Urban Meyer of Florida, Joe Tiller of Purdue, Jim Leavitt of South Florida and Bret Bielema of Wisconsin.
Brooks has guided Kentucky to a 5-1 start, the team's best opening in 23 years.
See more at www.kentucky.com
