With starting halfback Spencer Ware out of the game due to an injured hamstring, former Hahnville High School standout running back Alfred Blue became the “bell cow” runner for the LSU Tigers in their 35-7 win over Kentucky.
Blue rushed for 72 yards on 16 carries and scored on a 1-yard touchdown run.
Tiger head coach Les Miles can’t talk enough about the great depth he has at the halfback slot.
“I have said this many times, but I don’t think there is a team in college football with as much talent as we have at the halfback position and today with Spencer (Ware) injured we relied on Alfred (Blue) and he did an excellent job out there,” Miles said. “That young man is one of the hardest workers we have on the team and he could start for most teams in college football. I was proud of his work today, along with Terrence Magee.”
The game also marked the return to the football field of former Destrehan High School quarterback Jordan Jefferson, who was suspended for the first four games of the 2011 season due to allegations of his participation in a bar fight in the summer.
Jefferson saw spot duty, but he was still able to get into the flow of the game. He rushed for 29 yards on 4 carries and scored on a 1-yard touchdown plunge.
Tiger defensive end Sam Montgomery said that the players on the team disregarded the boos when Jefferson entered the game and that it is all about the team and winning.
“I don’t understand the mentality sometimes of some out there, but Jordan and his presence means a lot to us,” Montgomery said. “He has won a lot of games for LSU and while Jarrett (Lee) is our starter Jordan is family and we stick up for family. It’s all about everyone on this team doing what they can to help us win.”
While most of the attention before the game was on Jefferson’s return to the lineup, Saturday’s game again showcased one of the best football players to ever wear the purple and gold.
Cornerback Tyrann Mathieu has emerged as the most dominant defensive player in college football. In just 18 games for the Tigers he has racked up 92 tackles, 12 ½ tackles for loss, 9 forced fumbles, 6 fumble recoveries, 6 quarterback sacks, 3 pass interceptions and 11 pass break-ups.
Mathieu has turned out to be a playmaker in the same range as what we have seen from former Destrehan High School and future NFL Hall of Fame safety Ed Reed with the Baltimore Ravens.
That is high praise.
While the little mighty mite Mathieu has been quite the playmaker for the Tigers we have seen the same sort of impact by another small player in New Orleans Saints all-purpose running back/return man Darren Sproles.
Sproles racked up 188 yards of total offense in the Saints 23-10 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars and he has recorded 716 yards of total offense during the season for an average of 179 yards of total offense per game.
Not bad for a 5’5, 185-pound back who many people swore could never fill the moccasins of Reggie Bush.
I bet you can’t find many today who admit that they still feel that way after watching what Sproles has brought to the table in his first four games as a Saint.
But the young man who is making everyone take notice is second-year tight end Jimmy Graham.
The 6’6, 250-pound tight end caught 10 passes for 132 yards and one score against the Jaguars and his play has caught everyone’s attention, including Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio.
“(Jimmy) Graham was awesome out there today,” Del Rio said. “He is just a football puppy, but he is so talented and smart, and he knows how to work his way open downfield. You can clearly see his basketball background in his play.
“He is a terrific ‘post-up’ receiver and then he also has the speed to get deep. He was a nightmare for us to cover today.”
Former Hahnville High School star Dawan Landry made his presence felt for the Jaguars, recording 11 tackles, 7 of them solo tackles, a pass deflection and one pass interception.
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