Miles Says LSU Must Focus On Bulldogs' Dangerous Kick Returner

Monday, August 27th 2007, 5:43 pm

By: News On 6

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) _ Since Les Miles became the head coach at LSU, he's generally avoided acknowledging the fact that the Tigers are expected to thoroughly dominate certain teams on their schedule.

Instead, he highlights his opponents' best attributes as if he'd gone to work for their public relations department. Whether he's trying to keep his own players sharp or simply be respectful, he took that tack again Monday as second-ranked LSU prepared to take on unranked Mississippi State in the season opener for both teams.

Miles said LSU will face an experienced offense and a dangerous kick returner who's an All-American candidate on Thursday night in Starkville, Miss.

``It's going to be exciting to me to see where we are in the opener, because that really is the mark of where your football team is,'' Miles said. ``It is hopefully the low-water mark of the year because you would like to think that in every week that improvement will continue.''

Miles said the Bulldogs have improved since LSU dismantled them 48-17 last year at Tiger Stadium.

Mississippi State's quarterback, returning starter Michael Henig, is ``a quality guy, understands the offense, makes quality decisions,'' Miles said.

Miles also hyped up Bulldogs tailback Anthony Dixon, who rushed 169 times for 668 yards last year, an average of nearly 4 yards per carry.

Miles called Dixon ``a very quality guy that we'll have to tackle and we'll make sure our team shows up as a group.''

Returner Derek Pegues averaged 23.7 yards on kickoffs and 14 yards on punts last season, including an 81-yard touchdown run against Jacksonville.

Pegues is ``very dangerous,'' Miles said. ``So our guys on those return teams will have to go down the field with the idea that they're going to have to make a tackle on a guy that's very, very capable.''

Mississippi State finished last season 3-9 and 1-7 in the Southeastern Conference. LSU was 11-2, 6-2 in the SEC and beat Notre Dame 41-14 in the Sugar Bowl.

Turning to his own squad, Miles told reporters he's pleased with the development of senior quarterback Matt Flynn, who worked hard in the offseason with receiver Early Doucet, a returning starter.

``I think there is great chemistry between those two,'' he said. ``I think they understand the calls, I think they understand the offense, and I would expect we would have Early in a number of different places and running a number of different routes.''

Miles said he had no doubt that his defense, stocked with experience, highly regarded players up front, is ready.

``There's a strong likelihood that they'll play well and play like a veteran club,'' he said.