What we learned
LSU: Nick Saban needs to settle on one quarterback. Far be it from us to question the renowned $2 million coach, but after Marcus Randall marches your team down the field on a clockwork, 14-play, 80-yard drive to begin the game, what would possibly motivate you to replace him with JaMarcus Russell on the very next series? The two QBs looked slightly more comfortable overall than in their trouble-filled opener against Oregon State but still leave much to be desired, finishing a combined 12-of-28 passing for 168 yards and an interception. Russell looked better throwing downfield, but Randall seems like the better decision-maker and is capable of turning busted plays into big gains with his feet. The Tigers are solid defensively, and their running game is coming along. Quarterback will continue to be their Achilles' heel until Saban brings some sort of closure to the issue.
Auburn: The Tigers' defense is pretty darn good. For a unit that lost a whole bunch of big names over the offseason (linebackers Dontarrious Thomas and Karlos Dansby, defensive tackle DeMarco McNeil), they sure play like a veteran unit. Safeties Junior Rosegreen and Will Herring were all over the field, with Rosegreen intercepting Russell's last-second pass to clinch the outcome. The defensive line got great pressure on LSU's quarterbacks, with tackle Tommy Jackson and ends Stanley McClover and Bret Eddins -- all first-year starters -- each making a sack. And linebackers Travis Williams and Antarrious Williams did a good job plugging the middle of the field. "We play together a lot more than last year," veteran cornerback Carlos Rogers said. "We're playing tough, and we're playing smart."
Player who impressed me
Alley Broussard, RB, LSU: With last year's freshman sensation, Justin Vincent, struggling to find the hole (12 carries for just 34 yards), his largely overshadowed classmate came off the bench and provided a brief spark for the Tigers, carrying 10 times for 84 yards. Broussard kicked off LSU's first drive of the third quarter by sprinting to the outside for 15 yards (the series ended prematurely when Randall fumbled on a McClover sack), and on the next series, carried on the first three plays, breaking a magnificent 38-yard gain on a run where he changed direction and leapfrogged an Auburn defender in the open field. Only sophomores, Vincent and Broussard could well become LSU's version of Carnell Williams and Ronnie Brown in the years to come.
Locker room confidential
A new penalty in college football this year cost LSU dearly. Auburn missed its first attempt at the game-winning extra point following a bad snap by redshirt freshman Pete Compton, but LSU's Ronnie Prude, going for the block, garnered a personal foul for leaping over the line and landing on Compton -- a personal foul. The Tigers converted their second try despite another bad snap. "Corey Webster is usually our guy [who makes the jump], but he was hurt," Saban said. "It was a cheap penalty to end up losing the game on." ... After the first drive, in which LSU moved the ball at will, Auburn decided to curtail its blitzing and instead drop into a zone. "I think [blitzing] is the worst thing we could have done with the athletic abilities of their quarterbacks," Tuberville said. "The first touchdown was a play-action pass that froze our safety and enabled their receiver to get behind him. After the first drive, we decided to go zone and play things in front of us." ... The win was an excellent present for Tuberville, who was celebrating his 50th birthday Saturday. ... Auburn's Courtney Taylor, who caught the game-winning touchdown, couldn't believe how open he was in the end zone. "It came fast, but it was slow motion for me," Taylor said. "It couldn't get there soon enough." ... QB Jason Campbell didn't get to see his crucial 4th-and-12 conversion, getting drilled just after he released by multiple blitzers. The last thing he saw was Taylor breaking free on his curl route. "But I heard the crowd," Campbell said. "First and 10, move the chains."
The Big Picture
In theory, LSU's hopes of a repeat national championship are hardly over. The Tigers will drop in the polls, but not so far that they wouldn't be able to climb back up if enough teams ahead of them lose. Remember, their lone loss last season came in mid-October. However, it's probably unrealistic to think they can make it through their remaining schedule unscathed. In just two weeks, Saban's Tigers play at Georgia, followed the very next week by a trip to Florida. This is a team that's likely to be a lot better by the end of the season than it is now as its quarterbacks become more comfortable, but unfortunately the meat of the schedule comes early. And just to make a return trip to Atlanta, LSU is now dependent on Auburn losing at least two conference games.
Speaking of which, Auburn obviously controls its own destiny in the SEC West and must be considered the team to beat. The Tigers haven't reached the conference title game since 2000 and haven't won the conference championship since 1989. At a school that's no stranger to delusions of grandeur, talk of an even bigger prize -- the national title -- will likely spring up this week as well. Is it legitimate? Auburn is a very good team, no question. Williams and Brown are as good as it gets -- Williams, in particular, is running like an NFL veteran -- and if Campbell continues to flourish in Al Borges' system, the offense will be very successful. The defense, though inexperienced, is fairly solid, though it has yet to be tested by a truly dynamic offense. The problem for Auburn is it plays in the SEC. With remaining games at Tennessee, Ole Miss and Alabama, as well as a home game with Georgia and a possible date in the SEC title game, it's hard to imagine Tuberville's team not slipping up at some point. It could still be a very good year, though.
