Many offensive weapons

• By RANDY ROSETTA
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Sep 20, 2009

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

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

No matter what direction quarterback Jordan Jefferson looks when he’s trying to make things happen for LSU’s offense, he finds somebody with a lot of experience.

So unless Jefferson keeps the ball himself or gives it away to Russell Shepard, he always knows somebody who has been there and done that is about to get the ball in his hands.

Saturday’s 31-3 victory against Louisiana-Lafayette was a testament to the tools at Jefferson’s disposal.

When No. 7-ranked LSU (3-0, 1-0 SEC) plays at Mississippi State (2-1, 1-1) at 11:21 a.m. Saturday (on WAFB), it will be the next chance for Jefferson to reach into the offensive toolbox and see if he and LSU can be a little more productive.

The Tigers are generating a respectable 325.7 total yards per game and have topped 320 yards in each game this season.

Veterans are at the heart of LSU’s production. Senior running backs accounted for 118 of the Tigers’ 164 rushing yards against the Cajuns – Charles Scott  with 63 yards, Keiland Williams with 41 and Trindon Holliday with 14. Scott also caught a 1-yard TD pass and Holliday dashed 11 yards into the end zone on a run.

Upper classmen combined for 13 of the 14 receptions by receivers and tight ends: Terrance Toliver (6 catches for 68 yards), Brandon LaFell (3-57, 2 TDs), Richard Dickson (3-27) and Chris Mitchell (1-4)

“It’s a really good feeling having all of those guys around me,” Jefferson said after hitting 16 of 25 passes for 165 yards. “I know those guys are going to get the yards and catch the ball for me. I’m going to keep feeding them the ball, and they’re going to keep doing good things with it.”

Nobody can question whether Jefferson is learning on the job.

There was more evidence of that Saturday as Jefferson made sure he got the ball to his most veteran playmakers at the right time.

Of LSU’s seven third-down conversions (in 12 chances), five came on pass plays to Dickson, LaFell and Toliver. The other two were on running plays: Williams’ 12-yard scamper on an option and Scott’s 2-yard blast from the fullback position in the third quarter.

After three games, it seems like Toliver has emerged as Jefferson’s top choice on third downs. On a drive that led to a 52-yard Josh Jasper field goal on the last play of the first half, Tolliver caught three third-down passes to keep the chains moving.

The lanky junior receiver repeatedly faced man coverage Saturday, and time after time he ran crisp curl patterns ranging from 10-15 yards, usually standing wide open with no defender close enough to make a difference.