Going long

• By GARY LANEY
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Oct 21, 2009 - Page: 1C

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When Georgia’s A.J. Green reached over LSU cornerback Chris Hawkins to catch a 16-yard jump ball touchdown pass from Joe Cox on Oct. 3, there was a bit of envy from the Tigers wide receivers.

Brandon LaFell and Terrance Toliver, the Tigers’ two starting wide receivers, possess the size and speed of players like Green that would allow them to battle cornerbacks for the ball in one-on-one situations.

But they simply haven’t had many chances to try it this season.

And make no mistake, they’d like nothing more than the chance on the deep pass.

“We say it all the time,” said Toliver, the Tigers’ 6-foot-5 junior. “Whatever the coaches call, we’re fine with it. But I wish we could get the ball like that.”

Evidently, the pair may get their wish in an effort to spark an offense that has languished at the bottom of the Southeastern Conference’s statistics.

LSU, last in the conference in total offense (295 yards per game), emphasized the deep ball during the off week and Tigers fans might see the number of bombs thrown increase in the second half of the schedule, starting with Saturday’s home game against Auburn.

“I think our ability to throw it down the field is coming,” coach Les Miles said Monday. “We spent a lot of time in the open week throwing the ball down field and our guy (quarterback Jordan Jefferson) can do that.

“I think we have talented receivers, and we’ve practiced it a bit more, and it’s been called (at times during the season), but it may be called a little more regularly.”

When Georgia’s offense struggled with LSU, a couple of heaves from Cox to the 6-foot-4 Green, the tall sophomore wide receiver, helped ignite the Bulldogs attack before LSU rallied in the last minute for a 20-13 win.

LSU’s receivers have the same kind of tools. LaFell, at 6-foot-3, is one of the top receiver prospects in next year’s NFL draft. Toliver was once the nation’s top-rated prep receiver mainly because his size.

LSU also has another big, physical target in 6-3 true freshman Rueben Randle.

And despite the lack of deep balls thrown their way this season, both have been reasonably productive with LaFell catching 27 passes for 326 yards and five touchdowns and Toliver latching on to 25 balls for 356 yards and two scores.