Miles calm before Alabama storm

Written by Ben Love, Editor Tiger Rag

Monday, 31 October 2011 14:25

If the LSU team takes on the demeanor of Head Coach Les Miles, it’ll be a pretty loose bunch entering Alabama week. Miles, at his weekly press luncheon Monday, was as relaxed and full of good-natured ribbing as he’s been all season. Case in point: When asked if his ‘correspondence’ with current Crimson Tide headman Nick Saban has improved since Saban first took over in Tuscaloosa in 2007, Miles was ready to set the record straight … and send the room into laughter. “Correspondence would imply a letter,” Miles explained. “I don’t know that we send a lot of letters back and forth.” Then informed that today is Saban’s birthday, a shrugging Miles responded simply: “I don’t know about his birthday.” One thing LSU’s seventh-year coach does know is how beneficial the bye week has been for his Tigers, who look to get back starting center P.J. Lonergan (ankle) and starting defensive end Ken Adams (minor MCL sprain) after both missed the Auburn game. “The open week kinda hit us just right. I felt like the team needed a little bit of a break,” said Miles. “They got fresh and did a little bit of work on rehabilitation and weight-strength development.” Miles also spoke to the mental approach his team will carry into the nationally televised showdown between the two SEC superpowers. He, for one, isn’t worried about his players being too amped up for the highly hyped primetime affair. “I want our guys to play with emotion and passion. Frankly, I don’t know how high ‘too jacked up’ is,” Miles said, replying to a question using that terminology. “I just have not seen it. I have not seen where our guys have not been able to play a thinking man’s game with the excitement and the passion of [being] jacked up, to use your words.” Getting into on-the-field questions, Miles fielded several about his expected usage of quarterbacks Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee in this Saturday’s game. One inquiry in particular wandered if he’d play Jefferson more because of his success against Alabama a year ago. “We have a different starting quarterback,” Miles said. “Certainly the things that he [Lee] will do we’re kinda really focused on first and foremost. But Jordan Jefferson will play a very key role in Saturday’s contest. How much he’ll play, I’m not certain. I can tell you that the things that he does and does well will be oiled up and ready to play.” Miles then talked about his personnel at linebacker and how critical that group will be going up against a Tide team that ranks first in the SEC in rushing, averaging 229.3 yards per game on the ground. “I see our linebackers really coming of age and playing better. I think the good news is we have a number of guys that are ready to take the field of play and give us quality reps,” Miles continued. “They have to play well in this game. This is a game where our linebacking corps is going to have to step in there and plug some gaps and be great tacklers.” On that same thread, Miles touched on the fact that his defense, under coordinator John Chavis, has recently trended to be smaller, but faster. He doesn’t see that as a problem against the bigger offensive line of Alabama. In fact, Miles feels the Tigers’ mix of speed and athleticism gives them certain advantages. “I think there’s a great deal of speed and want in our defense, all 11 guys,” Miles responded. “The advantage, at times, is the ability to maneuver into the spot to make a tackle. I think there’s some advantages to strength and quickness, not necessarily size.” Finally, Miles addressed the hype surrounding the game, particularly as it relates to the pair of outstanding defenses which will be in play in Bryant Denny Stadium. “I like the defenses in this game,” said Miles. “I think both are quality, well-coached and well-prepared with guys that can tackle. There’s been some teams that have lined up that have had quality defenses as well [since I've been here], but I just think that both of these defenses might match the best that I’ve seen.” Kick-off Saturday between No. 1 LSU and No. 2 Alabama is set for 7:11 p.m. CBS will have the broadcast.