Should LSU Be Worried?

bomanishus · Sep 8, 2009

Box score from Saturday night in Seattle. Not a pretty stat line against an 0-12 team.

<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" border="0"> <tbody> <tr bgcolor="#00008B"> <td align="left" bgcolor="#00008B">Team Totals </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00008B">LS </td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#00008B">WASH </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left">FIRST DOWNS </td> <td align="right">17 </td> <td align="right">25 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left"> Rushing </td> <td align="right">8 </td> <td align="right">11 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left"> Passing </td> <td align="right">7 </td> <td align="right">12 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left"> Penalty </td> <td align="right">2 </td> <td align="right">2 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left">NET YARDS RUSHING </td> <td align="right">149 </td> <td align="right">157 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left"> Rushing Attempts </td> <td align="right">29 </td> <td align="right">38 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left"> Average Per Rush </td> <td align="right">5.1 </td> <td align="right">4.1 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left"> Rushing Touchdowns </td> <td align="right">0 </td> <td align="right">0 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left"> Yards Gained Rushing </td> <td align="right">157 </td> <td align="right">185 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left"> Yards Lost Rushing </td> <td align="right">8 </td> <td align="right">28 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left">NET YARDS PASSING </td> <td align="right">172 </td> <td align="right">321 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left"> Completions-Attempts-Int </td> <td align="right">11-19-0 </td> <td align="right">25-45-1 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left"> Average Per Attempt </td> <td align="right">9.1 </td> <td align="right">7.1 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left"> Average Per Completion </td> <td align="right">15.6 </td> <td align="right">12.8 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left"> Passing Touchdowns </td> <td align="right">3 </td> <td align="right">2 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left">TOTAL OFFENSE YARDS </td> <td align="right">321 </td> <td align="right">478 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left"> Total offense plays </td> <td align="right">48 </td> <td align="right">83 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left"> Average Gain Per Play </td> <td align="right">6.7 </td> <td align="right">5.8 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left">Fumbles: Number-Lost </td> <td align="right">1-1 </td> <td align="right">2-1 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left">Penalties: Number-Yards </td> <td align="right">3-35 </td> <td align="right">11-83 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left">PUNTS-YARDS </td> <td align="right">4-128 </td> <td align="right">3-127 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left"> Average Yards Per Punt </td> <td align="right">32.0 </td> <td align="right">42.3 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left"> Net Yards Per Punt </td> <td align="right">27.5 </td> <td align="right">32.7 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left"> Inside 20 </td> <td align="right">0 </td> <td align="right">2 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left"> 50+ Yards </td> <td align="right">0 </td> <td align="right">1 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left"> Touchbacks </td> <td align="right">0 </td> <td align="right">1 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left"> Fair catch </td> <td align="right">2 </td> <td align="right">1 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left">KICKOFFS-YARDS </td> <td align="right">6-392 </td> <td align="right">4-164 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left"> Average Yards Per Kickoff </td> <td align="right">65.3 </td> <td align="right">41.0 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left"> Net Yards Per Kickoff </td> <td align="right">49.3 </td> <td align="right">35.2 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left"> Touchbacks </td> <td align="right">0 </td> <td align="right">0 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left">Punt returns: Number-Yards-TD </td> <td align="right">1-9-0 </td> <td align="right">1-18-0 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left"> Average Per Return </td> <td align="right">9.0 </td> <td align="right">18.0 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left">Kickoff returns: Number-Yds-TD </td> <td align="right">4-23-0 </td> <td align="right">6-96-0 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left"> Average Per Return </td> <td align="right">5.8 </td> <td align="right">16.0 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left">Interceptions: Number-Yds-TD </td> <td align="right">1-29-1 </td> <td align="right">0-0-0 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left">Fumble Returns: Number-Yds-TD </td> <td align="right">0-0-0 </td> <td align="right">0-0-0 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left">Miscellaneous Yards </td> <td align="right">0 </td> <td align="right">0 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left">Possession Time </td> <td align="right">23:08 </td> <td align="right">36:52 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left"> 1st Quarter </td> <td align="right">4:48 </td> <td align="right">10:12 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left"> 2nd Quarter </td> <td align="right">5:25 </td> <td align="right">9:35 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left"> 3rd Quarter </td> <td align="right">8:19 </td> <td align="right">6:41 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left"> 4th Quarter </td> <td align="right">4:36 </td> <td align="right">10:24 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left">Third-Down Conversions </td> <td align="right">5 of 10 </td> <td align="right">11 of 19 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left">Fourth-Down Conversions </td> <td align="right">0 of 0 </td> <td align="right">1 of 1 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left">Red-Zone Scores-Chances </td> <td align="right">2-3 </td> <td align="right">4-5 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left">Sacks By: Number-Yards </td> <td align="right">1-10 </td> <td align="right">1-8 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left">PAT Kicks </td> <td align="right">4-4 </td> <td align="right">2-2 </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <td align="left">Field Goals </td> <td align="right">1-1 </td> <td align="right">3-4 </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>

patdog · Sep 8, 2009

Especially with their schedule.

RebelBruiser · Sep 8, 2009

This is why I've been questioning them all off-season. They were weak defensively last year. The defense was the reason they lost 5 games. Jarrett Lee's pick 6s got the publicity, but it was their defense that failed them most often.

They lost the majority of their 2 deep on the DL from a defense that wasn't strong last year, yet we're supposed to expect the defense to magically be better because they hired John Chavis?

I know it's only one game, but LSU showed that the defensive issues they had last year have not been corrected just yet.

chewgumm · Sep 8, 2009

LSU does not look as nasty s they did under Saban. They seem a lot softer.

I think that is what Saban brings..he makes teams hard. Hahaha...well, so to speak.

GloryDawg · Sep 8, 2009

If I was a LSU fan I would be worried. But I would also take into consideration I traveled 1800 plus miles to play a late game on pacific time zone. That had to be a brutal trip.

Dawg in a pile · Sep 8, 2009

I think the most that you can take from the LSU vs. UW game was just how bad of a head coach Willingham was. The UW team that played LSU Saturday would beat last years UW team 12 out of 12 times. LSU had a sloppy game just like most teams this weekend, and they did it in a pretty rough environment compared to most others on opening weekend. Their defense, mainly their line, looked pretty bad, but I bet they improve a good deal.

Stallion4Tiiigaaahhhs · Sep 8, 2009

All of you make good points, the stats do not lie. First off, I am concerned, but not surprised by what I saw. I said it in my preseason cream talk rankings, I thought LSU was a bit high on the rankings.

Takeaways from the game:
1) LSU defense has huge holes especially in the trenches - where was the pass rush? why couldn't we stop the run up front against a weaker offensive line? UNACCEPTABLE
2) LSU offensive weapons...where were they? Charles Scott - 2 yds and a cloud of dust...Brandon LaFell - did you make the plane trip....Trindon Holliday - can you make one kick return/punt return memorable.
3) Where was the emotion ??? It was the first game of the year on national TV. LSU brought nearly 20,000 fans (roughly 2/7th) of the stadium and UW had much more passion than LSU.
4) UW is better than 0-12 especially with Locker at QB and Polk at TB which they did not have last year. They will be close to a .500 team if not better.
5) LSU did have to travel a long way and most of those guys probably haven't travelled out of the southeast to play a game. They probably thought altitude was something yo' woman has when she doesn't get her way.
6) LSU has athletes like Bama and UF. "Can they mesh and get chemistry before the SEC gauntlet begins?" is the million dollar question.
7) I am thankful we left with a W based on these observations.

rem101 · Sep 8, 2009

and they were talking about how since washington hasn't started school yet, the 20 hour practice week hasn't been applied to them yet. They have been able to practice 40 hours, which is double what lsu had. Not that they practiced that whole time or that should make them win, but that's still a lot of time to prepare, watch film, and know what you're doing. I just found that interesting, even though I don't think that's the reason lsu doesn't have very good stats.

msudawg12 · Sep 8, 2009

The stalwart of the team over years (defense) is ridiculously weak

Oregon-Tiger · Sep 8, 2009

1) I can't count how many times UW converted 3rd and long. The Tenn fans warned everyone on the LSU boards, and now I know what they were talking about. Chavis basically plays a nickel as his base defense, so he needs a dominant defensive line to make his scheme work. I doubt he has that at LSU right now. When your offense only gets ~45 snaps, that tells you something about how good your defense is at getting another team off the field.
2) I am glad to see that Tolliver had a good game. We needed someone to step up this year to help out LaFell. UW loaded up the middle against the run and took away Scott, but Jefferson had some success running the option on the edge.
3) There was a lot of emotion before the game, but it got sucked dry when UW rammed the ball down our throats on that first drive.
4) Agreed, UW will win a few games this year, but their reality check is in two weeks when USC comes to Seattle. USC might put up 50 points on them.
5) LSU arrived on Thursday, so I am not sure how much the jet lag mattered. I was tired though after driving up from Portland in the driving rain!
6) LSU does not have the DL and LB talent that Bama and Florida has. LB play was better though. Chavis has made a difference with that unit over last year.
7) Easily could have been a loss. Cutrera probably saved the game for LSU when he returned that interception for a TD. That really changed the momentum.

BriantheDawg · Sep 8, 2009

in Seattle. It is sea level.

rebelrouseri · Sep 8, 2009

Nutt why Ole Miss started its fall practice after many teams and he said that you only could have so many practices prior to your game and since we played on Sunday, we started a little later. Maybe I misheard or Nutt doesn't know what he's talking about but I don't think UW got twice the practice as LSU. To add to the fact that LSU left on a Thursday, NFL teams and other college teams (see USC traveling to OSU w/ less time before the game) do so all the time and beat their opponent. LSU stockpiles the very best athletes but not the very best coaches.

dbb49 · Sep 8, 2009

They went on and on about it during the game. Ole Miss doesn't have anything to do with that because school starts before the first game for them.

Optimus Prime 4 · Sep 8, 2009

Maybe they started later and could double up at the end due to school starting later, but they still have the same total I bet. They wrapped up two a days a week before the game. Regardless, you have to have a day between every day you have two practices per NCAA rules.

I'm betting they just started later. I could be totally wrong though.

Stallion4Tiiigaaahhhs · Sep 8, 2009

coverage of the game. However, we still should have rolled the Huskies with our talent, but the defense couldn't cover a Tonka Truck Bed with a 100 square foot tarp.

patdog · Sep 9, 2009

there's no limit to how long those practices can be. So Washington could have been having 5 hour practices while LSU had to have only 3 hour practices. Still, that's no reason at all for LSU to give up anywhere near that many yards.

Should LSU Be Worried?

bomanishus

Sophomore

patdog

Heisman

RebelBruiser

Redshirt

chewgumm

Redshirt

GloryDawg

Heisman

Dawg in a pile

Redshirt

Stallion4Tiiigaaahhhs

Redshirt

rem101

Sophomore

msudawg12

Senior

Oregon-Tiger

Redshirt

BriantheDawg

Redshirt

rebelrouseri

Redshirt

dbb49

Redshirt

Optimus Prime 4

Redshirt

Stallion4Tiiigaaahhhs

Redshirt

patdog

Heisman