Tigers Skewer Hogs Late

Tigers bring home "The Boot" for the fifth year in a row.

Coach O is now 12-0 coming off a loss as LSU's head coach.  He is also 5-0 versus Arkansas since taking over in 2016.  LSU really needed this win.  While this season will be remembered for COVID-19 more than anything else, LSU needed to steady the ship with a win at Arkansas and show this next recruiting class that LSU is only in rebuild mode, not meltdown mode (See: Penn State, FSU, Michigan and Tennessee) LSU can still secure another top 5 recruiting class in the early signing period next month.  The Tigers may end the season with a losing record, but better days, and better players wearing the purple and gold are ahead.

Offense

*TJ Finley led his first 4th quarter comeback throwing a game winning TD to Jaray Jenkins with 3:59 left.

* Finley played very well for only his third start.  He finished with 271 yards, two TD's and most importantly ZERO turnovers.

*Davis-Price needs to be the #1 back.  He's powerful and always falling forward.  He just gets better as the game goes along.

* Arik Gilbert has really stepped up as the season has gone along.  He has 27 receptions (3 more than UF's excellent Kyle Pitts) for 314 yards.

*LSU is 4th in the SEC and 28th nationally in total offense.  Given all the new faces and ineffective offensive line, the coaching staff and skill guys have done a good job.

Defense

I sat down today thinking I was going to have nice things to say about the defense.  But then I looked at the stats and realized the problems plaguing this team are just as frustrating as ever.  I never downplay winning, but this team is still a mess defensively.

* LSU ranks 124 out of 127 in the country in yards given up per play (7.35).  Against Arkansas, the Tigers gave up 8.36 yards per play.

* On Arkansas' first seven drives, the Hogs had five punts, one INT and one TD. Very good...except for the 65 yard TD pass by Franks.  On the next six drives, Arkansas had two TD's, two FGA's and two punts.

* Arkansas had three TD drives for the game.  On those three drives they ran 13 plays for 262 yards (20 yards a play).  On Arkansas' other 40 offensive plays, they averaged only 4.52 yards per play.

* Safety play has been poor all year and one of the big reasons for giving up so many big plays.  LSU has the #1 and #2 nationally ranked safeties in the 2021 class committed to play for the Tigers.  Let's hope we can hang on to them.

*On a positive note, the defense did force Arkansas into two FG attempts the last two drives of the 4th quarter.  They made enough plays to win the game.  Barely.

Special Teams

*You could argue Zach Von Rosenberg was the man of the match.  He consistently pinned the Hogs deep.  Von Rosenberg ranks fifth nationally at 47.48 yards per punt.

*Cade York is just plain excellent.

*Jay Ward blocked the final FG attempt to seal the victory of the Tigers.

Odds & Ends

*As I referenced earlier, a number of big name programs are in complete meltdown mode.  Penn State, FSU, Michigan and Tennessee are a combined 5-19 this season.  2020 LSU football is not a good team, but the program is still on a solid foundation.  Fans just need to keep the faith and stay patient. (I know, it's hard to do!)

*The TV announcers for the LSU game were awful.  I had to mute them by the 4th quarter.

*The playoffs should be a lot of fun.  None of the top teams have anything near an elite defense so we should see some shootouts.

*LSU looks to be in line for a bowl game.  I have seen predictions for the Texas Bowl (vs. Texas) or Outback Bowl.  Doesn't matter which one, these young LSU players need ALL the practice they can get.

* All stats provided via: http://www.cfbstats.com/

Halloween Horror Show

 

Jordan-Hare Stadium has been a House of Horrors for LSU in the past.  The 2020 visit was just another nightmare to join the list.

1994: The Interception Game - Jamie Howard throws 3 pick-6's and LSU goes down 30-26.

2002: The only thing more miserable than LSU's play were the weather conditions.  Auburn 31 - LSU 7

2004: Auburn scored let yet misses the extra point leaving the score 9-9.  But a flag is throw on LSU for leaping over another player and AU makes the PAT redo. Final 10-9.

2014: Leonard Fournette's freshman season.  The game was over by half-time.  Final score: Auburn 41 - LSU 7

2020: The most points Auburn has ever scored against LSU. Auburn 48 - LSU 11

Since the inception of divisional play in 1992, LSU is only 5-10 when playing at Auburn, the wins coming in 1996, 1998, 2008, 2012 and 2018.  The average margin of victory in those five games was 4.8 points.  Since 2000, LSU has managed only 12.8 points per game on the Plains. 

Offense

* TJ Finley looked like a freshman. This is not a criticism, just an observation.  He was not as accurate as last week and the pressure started getting to him as the game wore on.  He has a very bright future, but the learning curve in the SEC is very steep.

* The reason the pressure built up on Finley stems from the offensive line's inability to block Auburn's front. This is not a strong defensive line for Auburn.  Coming into the game they were giving up 4.08 yards per carry, only 9th in the SEC.  LSU averaged 1.19 yards per carry.  Abysmal. 

* I had no problem with LSU's play calling.  The players just didn't execute on many occasions.

Defense

* The defense played well for about 20 minutes but then went in the tank.

* Many of the same issues remain.  LSU cannot set the edge on outside runs.  Guys were running free because of coverage busts.  Safety play has been atrocious.  Todd Harris and Maurice Hampton have been very disappointing.  Freshman Jordan Toles comes in at safety and is promptly beaten deep for a 91 yard TD pass.  On the play he looked totally clueless as to what he was supposed to do.

* LSU has played five games.  In four of those games, the opposing QB's had their best statistical game of the season.

LSU is 2-3 and will be 2-4 in a few weeks after the Alabama beat down.  I feel pretty confident in saying LSU will have a losing record this season.  The offense will struggle against better teams and the defense is helpless.  Going forward, I would like to see the coaches identify the guys that are willing to play hard and take instruction, no matter how little game experience they have.  Any malcontents or guys loafing should be marginalized.  Take some chances on the young guys and see how they perform.

I know the more radical fringe of the Tiger Droppings crowd is ready to blow up the program and fire everyone.  I will freely admit this season has been a mess.  But we must keep the circumstances of this season in context.  LSU lost 32 players from last years team.  That is unheard of.  COVID forced the cancellation of Spring practice which was a huge blow to a team replacing an unprecedented number of players.  Aranda's departure as defensive coordinator was another set back.  Orgeron completely whiffed in hiring Pelini.  Had he made a better choice to replace Aranda, LSU could be 4-1 right now.

 The PROGRAM is on solid footing.  Recruiting is continuing to go well.  LSU currently has the number #4 class for 2021.  The offense has been overhauled and modernized.  The 2019 LSU team just had one of the greatest seasons in college football history winning the national title and Heisman Trophy.  Orgeron is willing to admit mistakes and make changes.

There will be "fans" that quit on this team.  That's fine.  It says much more about who they are than what LSU is about.  There will be more losses and more disappointment.  But I encourage everyone to stay the course.  Better days will return.