The Perfect Storm

These things happen.

A confluence of events creates what can best be described as a devastating football tsunami.

LSU got swept away by such a storm in the “Swamp” in Gainesville.

A few observations:

* LSU’s defense couldn’t get a stop. A harbinger of the night was Florida’s first third down. Gators are at their own 30 with a third and 12, next thing you know, Percy Harvin is in the endzone. Later in the first quarter, Florida had a third and goal at the LSU seven, and the Tiger secondary let Harvin run free underneath for an EASY TD catch.

*Where are the safeties? None of these guys are in the same league as LaRon Landry or Craig Steltz. After five games LSU has three picks. Last season the Tigers nabbed 23.

*Both lines got dominated. I know a few weeks ago I gushed about the O-line. But they did absolutely NOTHING. Scott had nowhere to run and Lee was under duress for much of the night. The defensive line was awful. The Gators ran for 280 yards while the front four failed to generate any sort of pass rush.

*I thought Lee did well. He is currently third in the SEC in passing efficiency. I know amongst the fans there is some grumbling but let’s be reasonable. Lee has started TWO games. TWO!! Considering LSU generated nothing on the ground, Lee was able to make a few plays after shaking off a slow start. He’s learning. Be patient. The guy can play.

*I liked how LSU fought back from 20 points down to get within six early in the third quarter. Florida took back control, but it is obvious LSU didn’t quit.

*The BIG question bubbling to the surface for me is in regards to the defense. Is it the players, or is it the absence of Bo Pelini? LSU has been giving up way to many yards and points this season. I don’t see any creativity in our blitz packages. Plus some of the match-ups we have defensively are curious to say the least. On Harvin’s TD’s, he was matched up on McCray and Beckwith respectively. Why not put a corner on him? He’s the Gator’s best player outside of Tebow and a definite go to guy. Les better figure it out fast or the Tigers will be in for a few more losses this season. Looking at the big picture, Miles has done very well with his coordinators thus far. I would like to think that he would look to bring someone in on the defensive side at the end of the year IF LSU does not improve as the season goes along.

*Florida came out and played their best game of the season on Saturday. The Gators are just as talented as LSU and are extremely tough at home. Meyer is 22-2 in the “Swamp.” (The two losses were by a combined four points.) The game had to be circled on the Gator’s calendar after last year’s heartbreaker in Tiger Stadium. Tebow has even said publicly that the loss at LSU last season was the toughest of his career. And just for a little perspective, Saban was only 2-3 versus Florida with the first two of the games in 2000 and 2001, ending in 32 and 29 point beat downs respectively. (Remember the “brook trout look” game?) Florida is only two years removed from a National Championship, has the defending Heisman Trophy winner, and with one loss already, in a must win situation.

And there you have a perfect storm, or in LSU’s case – a giant ass whipping.

On to next week.

The Tigers have not lost back-to-back games since the end of the 2002 season. (Arkansas to end the regular season and Texas in the Cotton Bowl) With Saturday’s loss, the Tigers are now 60-11 since 2003. What I am getting at is there is no reason to panic. Everyone needs to be patient and look for improvement. LSU lost a championship caliber core of leaders from last year’s squad, including Steltz, Dorsey, Flynn and Hester. Guys like that are not easily replaced.

South Carolina is every bit as good on defense as Florida, currently ranking third in the nation in total defense. But the Gamecocks offense is not even on the same planet as the Gators, currently ranking 74th in total offense. South Carolina has turned the ball over 20 times this season, nearly three a game. The LSU defense needs to keep that trend going and make a few big plays to help out the offense. Lee needs to take better care of the ball while the offensive line needs to open up a few running lanes. If LSU can run the ball, they will win. If they struggle on the ground as they did last week, no telling what will happen.

In 2003, the Tigers followed up a home loss to the Gators with a resounding thumping of the Gamecocks in Columbia. The Tigers reeled off eight straight and won it all that season. I doubt LSU duplicates that feat. But with games against Georgia and Alabama still to play, this is a must win if LSU hopes to make a return trip to Atlanta and a possible rematch against Saturday’s perfect storm.

LSU 27 – South Carolina 23