Tigers' Ground&Pound Offense Unique in "Modern" College Football

In the age of college football with complicated spread offenses, teams that average 50 points per game, and some that would rather outscore their opponents and not play defense at all (Oregon) the 2011 LSU Tigers have figured out a different way to stand out from the rest of college football, and so far has led to a 5-0 start.

The Tigers have only averaged 38 points a game, which in this day and age of college football seems pedestrian at best. Yet, the Tigers are still 5-0 and ranked No.1 in the AP for the first time since 2007. How are the Tigers playing so well with numbers that seem underwhelming? 

"It starts up front" - Literally, the Offensive Line has been the story of the offense this whole season. LSU utilizes a powerful run-first type offense that subtly buries opposing defensive lines into the field as the game wears on.  Then, you have big, bruising running backs like Spencer Ware and Michael Ford who just love to lower the shoulders and bring the boom to linebackers, corners, and safeties. 

Next, we have Jarrett Lee who has done nothing but positive things since he was thrown into the starting role due to Jordan Jefferson's legal issues, (which by now, all of us in Tiger-Town are tired of hearing about), and has been a masterful manager of the game. Frankly, "manager of the game" doesn't even give Lee enough credit for what he has done for the offense this season. Lee hasn't thrown for 1,000 yards or double digit TDs like other QB's around the country have (Robert Griffin III, Geno Smith, or Andrew Luck) ... but then again, he doesn't have too. 

Lee leads an offense that does not live or die by his throwing ability, but on his understanding of the game, and the strength of his offensive line and the legs of his running backs. When it does come down to Lee hurling the ball around the gridiron, he has emerged as one of the best Play-Action executors I have ever seen. (West Virginia found out as well on the 58 yard touchdown strike to ODB Jr.)

The Tigers are not "flashy" on offense by any means, even with all the speed this team has. They won't score on 80 yard runs from a Wild-Cat formation or they won't run a play with 5 wide receivers and throw it 80 yards down field. What the Tigers will do is, they will run you into the ground, and wear you out on defense. Then, when you think you've stopped the hand off up the middle, its only too late that you realize that the ball is sailing over your head and heading into the endzone in the hands of an LSU receiver.

So the Tigers have no spread offense, no flashy 500+ total yard games, and no multiple big plays. What they do have is a consistent offense, led by a veteran QB that is obliterating talented defenses, and leading them ever closer to a little January bowl-game in the Louisiana Superdome known as the BCS National Championship.

Geaux Tigers!!