Miles ponders Florida loss, looks for answers

• By RANDY ROSETTA
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Oct 13, 2009

• Print
• Email
• Save
• Reprints
• Twitter
• Share

• Del.icio.us
• Digg
• Facebook
• Reddit
• 

Three days after his team’s first loss of the season, LSU coach Les Miles emerged to speak to the media for the first time this week Tuesday.

What he had to say was similar to the hot-button topics that have burned up message boards, newspaper columns and radio airwaves in the 72 hours since the end of a 13-3 loss to No. 1-ranked Florida.

Miles is well aware of the problems that pestered his team and likely cost the Tigers a shot at pulling off an upset.

“There’s some things that the coaches would like to do better,” Miles said, noting the game film was scrutinized snap-by-snap. “There’s some ways we could’ve executed in that game and won.

“We felt like we could’ve played better, and any time that happens it’s hard on us.”

The film sessions were probably hardest on the LSU offense, particularly the offensive line and quarterback Jordan Jefferson, after the Tigers’ least productive game in nearly nine years.

LSU managed only 162 total yards, its fewest since generating 149 in a 14-3 loss at Arkansas on Nov. 24, 2000.

The three points were the Tigers’ fewest at home since Nov. 16, 2002, when Alabama romped to a 31-0 triumph, the last Saturday night home loss until the Gators prevailed.

The offensive line was unable to make much room for the running game or to protect Jefferson, who was sacked five times in the second half.

Miles didn’t out-and-out say new faces would emerge in 11 days when 10th-ranked LSU (5-1, 3-1 SEC) gets back on the field against Auburn (5-1, 2-1).

But he said there would be “extensive evaluation” between now and then.

“We came to some point where we can improve,” Miles said. “Those are spots and those are positions we’re working on. Some is strategy and some is personnel and it’s an ongoing evaluation.”

Despite the abysmal offensive numbers vs. Florida, Miles said there were some positive signs up front.