Running on empty

• By RANDY ROSETTA
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Oct 12, 2009 - Page: 1C

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There was confusion and discontent on the field all night long for LSU’s offense during a 13-3 loss to top-ranked Florida.

Fitting then that those same elements popped up in the postgame news conference.

The Tigers’ season-long offensive struggles reached a new low against the tough-as-nails Gators defense, and afterward there was a palpable sense of frustration.

LSU (5-1, 3-1 Southeastern Conference), which on Sunday fell from fourth to 10th in the latest Associated Press rankings, managed only 162 total yards, its lowest output since a dismal 149-yard day in a 14-3 loss at Arkansas on Nov. 24, 2000.

With Florida (5-0, 3-0) refusing to give up anything deep, the Tigers tried to chip away underneath and never settled into a rhythm. The second half was particularly troublesome when LSU produced only 44 yards on 22 snaps.

“Tiger faithful, I apologize,” LSU coach Les Miles said. “I wish we were better. We’ll work hard at it and we’ll do what we can.

“We’ve got to play better. It’s just that simple.”

Maybe not that simple. There may be some philosophical adjustments that need to be looked at on offense.

Returning to a common refrain, Miles expressed concern about the Tigers’ problems running the ball and wondered if there should have been more of an emphasis on that part of the offense.

LSU ran 25 times for 97 yards and lost 31 yards on five second-half sacks.

Charles Scott again showed flashes of providing a steady presence as a power runner with 53 yards on 15 attempts. Trindon Holliday gave a change-of-pace look and had a 10-yard burst, one of only two carries in the game.

“If you look at some of the yards per carry, Charles Scott had 4 yards per carry and Trindon Holliday had 6,” Miles said. “You think to yourself that maybe we should’ve handed those guys the ball a little more.”

A series late in the third quarter typified how erratic the offense was.