BATON ROUGE, La. -- LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson repeatedly spoke about how the Tigers took the bye week after losing to Florida to work on things that weren't working.
When asked to expound on what exactly these things were, he rattled off a laundry list for the LSU offense.
"Protection. Some of our protection on run plays, we needed to work on that," Jefferson said. "Me stepping up into the pocket, reading coverages better. Receivers getting open on certain routes at times. Just different things we had to change on the offense to be more efficient."
Put what Jefferson said in Average Joe speak: The Tigers needed to work on every aspect of the offense after their discouraging 13-3 loss to No. 1 Florida nearly a month ago.
Their inefficiency on offense didn't simply sprout up over night, though. It's been a national championship-threatening storm hovering above LSU's head all season.
"We had never really been clicking," center T-Bob Hebert said. "[The lack of offense against Florida] was the ultimate low point, kind of, for us. I never felt as sick after a game as I did after that game. It may be one of those things that may not be mental, but almost unseen how it's changed us. Everybody came back from the bye week ready to improve even more and not let that happen again. I think that's what we're striving toward."
LSU rebounded off the dreadful 162-yard output against the Gators with its two best offensive displays of the season, as the Tigers racked up 376 yards against Auburn and 455 yards against Tulane. Just to show how far down in the dumps the LSU offense was, the two solid performances improved the Tigers to No. 100 in the nation in total offense.
It begs the questions: How can LSU control its own Southeastern Conference title -- and possible national title -- aspirations going into Saturday's colossal grudge match against Nick Saban and No. 3 Alabama with such an anemic offense?
The Tigers offense can thank the team's improved defense, for starters. With defensive coordinator John Chavis at the helm, LSU has reverted back to its old habits, much like when Saban was in Baton Rouge. The unit ranks seventh in the nation in scoring defense and 15th in total defense.
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Dennis Dodd
Simulation: LSU has the talent on offense to muster enough points just about every week when the defense is only surrendering 12.1 points per game. That cushion has allowed LSU the luxury of offensive ineptitude through much of its first eight games this season.
Head coach Les Miles has noticed a difference in the offense since the loss to Florida in Tiger Stadium. It's hard not to, considering the struggles against the Gators.
"I just think there is greater focus on their personal role," Miles said. "I think our guys are putting it together and understanding how important it is that all 11 operate at the same time in unison and irrespective of the play call. ... It's got to be done by 11 guys, and I think we are using our personnel maybe a little bit better. But I think our football team, certainly on that side of the ball, is improving."
Jefferson still hasn't played an entire season and his progress is moving slowly. It may not be his fault, though. LSU seemed stubborn by calling for Jefferson to run the option, and the Tigers have finally pulled more away from that. Jefferson admits he is now more comfortable in the pocket.
"My vision is getting wider," he said. "I'm starting to notice a lot of things now. I'm just being comfortable and it's starting to come a little easier for us now."
With comfort comes confidence.
"When we're out there, we feel the momentum on our side," Jefferson said. "We feel that every play that we call is always a gain for us. It's always successful. When you feel like that, we're able to put up a lot of points on the board. Every time we get in the red zone we can score. It's just having that confidence."
It also appears the Tigers have learned from their mistake of not giving heralded freshman quarterback Russell Shepard a single touch against the Gators. Since the Florida game, Shepard has rushed a combined 11 times for 119 yards, including a 69-yard scoring burst against Auburn.
"I think it's time," Miles said. "You have to get him on the field. You have to call plays. You have to let him have reps. You have to toss him one that doesn't get him any. You have to let him get smashed. You got to get him in a hole that he can run through, and I just think it's a comfort that's coming to him, knowing that his number is going to be called, and he's going to be in the game."
Let's not kid ourselves into thinking Auburn and Tulane are in the same hemisphere as the Crimson Tide. Possessions could be limited for both teams and that could almost be an advantage for the Tigers.
Even though LSU is coming off its two best offensive outings, to think the Tigers believe they're a finished product would be foolish. From the sound of it, the Tigers aren't willing to let themselves think that way.
Especially not with so much on the line and in LSU's grasps for the taking.
"For us to sit on our laurels right now would be pretty crazy," Hebert said. "We had a couple of pretty good games. We've got to be more consistent. We've got to be more consistent running the ball. We've got to pick up blitzes better.
"I'm glad to see we're improving, but we've got to continue to improve. You can never be satisfied and I don't think we're satisfied. We're going to come out and we're going to execute 100 percent like we do every game."
DILF 
