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No matter that he's had more minor league bus rides than pass attempts -- the Tigers are counting on QB Matt Mauck to guide them to the SEC championship. Hey, he did it last year, right? Mauck, a 23-year-old former Cubs farmhand, came off the bench to earn MVP honors in the SEC title game by rallying LSU past Tennessee, 31-20. The game-saving performance gave Tigers fans hope for life after Rohan Davey. Mauck runs much better than Davey, but he needs to be more consistent throwing the ball. "How our quarterback develops will be a huge factor in the overall success of our team," says Nick Saban. "Hopefully, some good things will happen to him early in the year, and his overall development will be smooth." The best thing to happen to Mauck so far is the return of RBs LaBrandon Toefield and Domanick Davis, who accounted for 76% of the Tigers' rushing attack last season. Toefield (six feet, 224) tore his left ACL in the SEC title game, but he looks as explosive as he did last season, when he tied a conference record with 19 rushing TDs. LSU is 8–0 when Toefield starts -- and finishes -- a game. Add star receivers Michael Clayton and Reggie Robinson, and the LSU offense rivals any other in the SEC. Of course, it all comes back to Mauck. With little depth behind him at QB, the Tigers have no choice but to ride along as he drives the bus.
Domanick Davis will play offense, defense, special teams, whatever. He just wants to play. Subbing for Toefield, Davis rushed for 122 yards and four TDs in the Sugar Bowl, and he gives the Tigers insurance should something happen to their feature back. Davis, who's rewriting LSU's record book for kickoff, punt return and all-purpose yards, is the kind of role player who helps teams win championships.
TRIP WIRE
LSU defenders have made numerous highlight reels the past two years -- only on the wrong end of the clips, with the secondary being burned for big play after big play. The defensive backs showed promise with seven INTs in the spring game, but the SEC is a wee bit tougher than a scrimmage.
WIRE TAP
"You've got to be able to control the ball against them. And you cannot turn it over. Saban's defense is always going to play
an aggressive style. Last year you could throw against them, but I'm sure Saban will improve the secondary, have them playing man-to-man. Even if you can throw, you've got to be balanced, got to be able to run it, too."
BRISTOL WIRE
Bill Curry: "QB Matt Mauck will be gobbled up in the opener, and there is no replacement on the scene. TB Toefield, WR Clayton and MLB Bradie James must be dominant for this team to contend."
This article appears in the September 2 issue of ESPN The Magazine. |
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