Sorta Quickie: UNC Game Analysis Tarheel Offense vs. LSU Defense: ADVANTAGE LSU. The Tarheel offense was not going to be a huge threat to begin with, and now without the top 2 RBs and their best WR, they are left with an experienced but quirky QB, a third string (albeit Senior, 8 starts) RB, good but not great WRs (at least not at this point), and a relatively young OL (2 Srs, 2 So, 1 Fr). LSU, on the other hand, has a young defense loaded with talent and speed. LSU's front four is relatively young and unproven, and Kelvin Sheppard has young LBers at his flanks and backing him up. So there is an opportunity there for UNC. However, LSU's secondary is going to be the best the Tarheels see all season long - I think better than their own, highly ranked DBs. UNC will have to run the ball to beat LSU. I don't see that happening sufficiently to turn the game in UNC's favor - not with a young, inexperienced OL and a third string RB. LSU Offense vs. Tarheel Defense: ADVANTAGE LSU. North Carolina is losing 7 defensive players for this game, including 6 starters, and both Strong Safeties in the two-deep. Now, this is still a good defensive front seven - with two of the four DL starters still intact, some quality backups on the line (both Jrs), and an outstanding LBing corps. But behind that, there is carnage. Both corners, both safeties, plus the backup SS. Gone. If Jordan Jefferson was looking for a game to fine-tune his passing attack, this is it. Besides losing D. Peterson to injury, which actually is a big loss, the Tigers have 3 fantasic WRs (Toliver, Randle, Shepard), good receiving - and rushing - RBs (Murphy, Ridley), and what promises to be (dear God, please) a revamped and rejuvinated OL. After struggling initially to run against a still potent UNC front seven, I think the coaches build Jefferson's confidence early with some quick passing strikes, forcing the LBs to play soft to help the inexperienced secondary, and BAM - wide open. Special Teams: SLIGHT ADVANTAGE LSU. Both special teams units are probably going to be pretty good. UNC's punter and kicker are respectable, as are LSUs guys. I give LSU the slight advantage due almost solely to Patrick Peterson and Russell Shepard. OVERALL: UNC plays tough defense for a couple of series until the LSU coaching staff finds the weaknesses, and then (dear God, PLEASE) Jordan Jefferson starts lighting the decimated UNC secondary up, Russell Shepard goes house on a long one, and the running game opens right the hell on up. LSU 42, UNC 13. It'll be fun to read the boards after this one, y'all.
It took me a 1/2 an hr to read that. I thought you said quickie, meaning it was gonna say Tigers Win Baby!!!! lol Great post.
good analysis mobius! I think Ford shows the best at RB. If he doesn't play, Ridley or Murphy better be over 100 yds. Very interested to see Shepard get the ball in space.
We were going to win this matchup all along, I think. And our offense needs to get untracked early and play SEC football. We can't have one of those years where we don't tighten up as an offense until game 2 or 3. And the kickers, Jasper and Helton, both look to have the right stuff for memorable senior seasons. Hopefully the redshirt army will produce some impressive young headhunters on coverage. The perfect game would be for Jefferson to pass us out to a 3-score lead and then be able to run the football for long, time-consuming drives to protect the lead and deny the opponent's offense an opportunity to get back on the field. I'd like to see that all year long. In light of the UNC situation, I'm changing my prediction to LSU 38, UNC 10
Obviously the big question is the improvement is Jordan Jefferson heading into this season, but what I'm interested in is the way our offensive line matches up against a (deservedly or not, and with or without suspensions) highly vaunted defensive line. You could have Baryy Sanders back there but if you don't have protection then there won't be much in the way of offense if our running game can't get the kinks worked out in the first few drives.
