The LSU Tigers have now jumped up three spots to No. 9 in the AP Poll, after Saturday's convincing 37-27 win over TCU at AT&T Stadium.
The offense was especially encouraging for the Tiger faithful, some of whom are already starting to declare LSU as the dark horse candidate in this year's national championship hunt.
"I haven't seen the ranking," head coach Les Miles said. "I think that our guys understand that it's really just taking care of business. We play the style of schedule that if we handle it one game at a time and just really kind of focus on improving and winning, that we can kind of put ourselves where we need to be. I think our guys enjoy being ranked highly. I think that they aspire to finish that way, and that ranking would coincide with what is our self image."
New offensive coordinator Cam Cameron certainly seems to have developed chemistry with Quarterback Zach Mettenberger, who threw for 251 yards against TCU.
"I was pleased with Zach Mettenberger," Miles said. "I felt like his decisions were very good. He threw several balls away. He was about 80 percent in his accuracy, and those balls that might well have been caught, and those balls that were thrown away were factored in. So certainly the thing that we've got to avoid is that turnover down deep in our own territory. If we don't do that, it makes that offensive day a very strong one."
Mettenberger finished last season with an average of 200.7 yards passing a game, which was ninth in the SEC and 74th nationally.
Fans and sports journalists alike are waiting to see how Miles and Cameron work together. They've been close friends for decades: coaching together at Michigan from 1987-93, Cameron stood in Miles' wedding and Miles is a godfather to one of Cameron's children. Now, Cameron is Miles' fifth offensive coordinator during his LSU tenure and in charge of play calling. The first outing wasn't perfect, but it was promising.
"There are always awkward moments," Miles said. "We're down in our own red zone and we decided to change personnel to make the call. That was an awkward moment, okay. Those things happen. Those things are all part of it. I enjoy the working relationship as well as the personal one."
Saturday, the Tigers play their first game at home, taking on the UAB Blazers. No word yet if LSU's leading rusher from last season will play: the embattled Jeremy Hill, who was convicted of misdemeanor battery this off season.
He dressed, but did not play, for the TCU game, and Miles isn't yet saying if that's enough punishment.
"I will tell you that, as he figures in or not, really, is kind of how the week unfolds," Miles said. "We look forward to playing him just as soon as he's ready. We'll put him on the field, I guess I should say, when we're ready. I think he's coming. I think his time is in front of us."
Miles will say that, after playing eight true freshmen Saturday, he'll continue to rely on youth to replenish a team that had a school-record nine players taken in the NFL Draft.
"I think Tre'Davious White will continue to play a significant role for us," says Miles. "I can see in the future Rickey Jefferson playing significant football. Lewis Neal, Tashawn Bower, I think those guys will all be guys that you'll see on the field. So we're not done exposing our freshmen just yet. I think you can look forward to seeing Jeryl Brazil and Anthony Jennings -- Jennings should certainly have played a little bit more than one snap, we think."
Miles says his staff is taking the threat of UAB seriously, reminding this Tigers current squad of when these two teams clashed in Tiger Stadium in 2000 and the Blazers walked away victorious. UAB head coach Garrick McGee likely has a strong awareness of LSU, given his time as the offensive coordinator for the Arkansas Razorbacks.
"He's a very, very talented guy, so he'll certainly have them ready," Miles said. "They have the quarterback throw for 300 yards and three touchdowns. They play two quarterbacks, and we expect to see very good quarterback play. They have a running back that got 110 yards in their opener, and a receiver, Jamarcus Nelson who caught ten balls for 200 yards against Troy. They have a veteran defense. Eight juniors return, eight starters, and a very good scheme. They'll mix it up on you. I think his team is going to be ambitious."
UAB quarterback Austin Brown started for the Blazers in their recent 34-31 loss at Troy. He orchestrated scoring drives on the first two series, ultimately throwing for 301 yards and three touchdowns, 21-yard and 62-yard strikes to Jamarcus Nelson and a 42-yard pass to Jamari Staples.
As scripted, Jonathan Perry came in for UAB on the third and fourth series, hitting 2 of 6 passes for 38 yards.
The Tigers kick off against the Blazers at 6 p.m. Saturday.
