Ad Disclosure
LSU offense dependent on big plays to hang with Mississippi State
By Ethan Levine
Published:
The LSU Tigers appeared flat on offense in a rough first half against the Mississippi State Bulldogs. The Tigers trail 17-3 at the break on their home field inside a newly-renovated Death Valley, and aside from a few big plays, the offense hasn’t managed much in the air or on the ground.
LSU completed just seven passes in the first half to four different receivers, but only two of those four receivers — Travin Dural and Malachi Dupre — made a catch of longer than five yards. Meanwhile, six different players rushed with the ball, but only three of those six players — Leonard Fournette, Kenny Hilliard and Anthony Jennings — have a carry of longer than two yards.
More than half of Jennings’ passing yards (66 of 122) came on two long completions to Dupre and Dural. Likewise, more than half of the Tigers’ yards on the ground (38 of 63) came on three runs by Fournette, Hilliard and Jennings.
The LSU offensive line was inconsistent at best in the first half, allowing a nasty Mississippi State front seven to routinely hurry Jennings in the pocket. The run game was not much better, as the Bulldogs owned the trenches and rarely allowed for LSU to create running lanes for its backs.
Neither team committed a turnover in the first half, and the two teams combined to commit just four penalties for 28 yards, so sloppiness cannot take the blame for LSU’s mediocre offensive performance.
Instead the blame can be assessed to the offensive line and a lack of accuracy from Jennings in the passing game. Aside from their handful of big plays, the Tigers have nearly silent against the Mississippi State defense, mustering just three points after scoring more than 38 points per game through the first three weeks of the season.
A former newspaper reporter who has roamed the southeastern United States for years covering football and eating way too many barbecue ribs, if there is such a thing.
