In a tale of two halves Saturday night in Tiger Stadium, LSU seemed to sleepwalk through the first two quarters, either looking ahead to next week’s epic matchup against Ole Miss or thinking its mere presence would be sufficient to put away Louisiana Tech early.
The first half, LSU played like a team that had just been expelled from the Southeastern Conference, auditioning for a future spot in the Sun Belt. Despite leading 10-7 at the half, the Tiger offense played atrociously, turning the ball over four times, as the Louisiana Tech defense channeled its inner Geogia Bulldog-esque performance.
After halftime, the Tigers finally woke up, outscoring Louisiana Tech 35-7 in the final two quarters, as LSU’s defense continued to suffocate the Bulldog offense for 45-14 victory.
When you survey the totality of circumstance in this first month of LSU’s season, I’m not surprised at this result. Outside of the off the field circus that continues to surround the program, this week’s game was the one chance for the players to catch a breath before October. The No. 7-ranked Tigers opened with a high-profile matchup against Clemson, will now travel to face coach Lane Kiffin’s former team (No. 8 Ole Miss), and conclude September with No. 9 Texas A&M. The impending chaos of Oxford Armageddon would distract all but the most disciplined player.
Are there alarm bells? Yes. Sam Leavitt’s passing ability and decision-making in the pass game leave a lot to be desired. Chalk it up to a new system, new teammates, new environment, still getting his sea legs after last season’s injury, or something else, but Leavitt needs to figure out the issue quickly. The first-year Tiger quarterback will not be able to run nearly as much on SEC defenses, as those units will sell out to stop Leavitt’s playmaking legs, forcing him to utilize his arm.
Fortunately, Leavitt’s got one of the fiercest defensive units in the country on his side. LSU’s defense has pummeled two, albeit lesser, opponents, and will be counted on as the Tigers head into the meat of a brutal SEC schedule. How heavily Kiffin must lean on his defense remains to be seen, as Leavitt and the passing game continue to progress.
My favorite play of the game
With nearly four minutes left in the third quarter, Tigers defensive back D.J. Pickett read Louisiana Tech quarterback Blake Baker’s throw perfectly, snagged it, and returned it 32-yards deep into the red zone, setting up another LSU score. After the offseason chatter involving Jayden Daniels’ trying to reclaim the No. 5 jersey (the number Pickett wears), I loved seeing the talented Pickett make the first of many highlight plays this season.
Looking ahead
All eyes now turn to the matchup ahead Saturday, as Kiffin makes his return to Oxford just 10 months after spurning Ole Miss for greener pastures in Baton Rouge. No amount of hyperbole is sufficient for this SEC clash, as bowties meet boudin for an epic tailgate in The Grove before Tigers and Rebels collide in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium Saturday night.
There is not enough chicken on a stick to serve as a peace offering to the ravenous Ole Miss faithful, eager to make Kiffin’s inaugural return trip to Oxford as hellacious as possible.
As an Ole Miss friend described it to me, “This weekend is going to be the biggest dumpster fire fiasco in Oxford history.”
Can’t wait.