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Sure there was a bump in the road – make that a pot hole, a large one – but LSU won nine games in 2015 and probably would have had a 10-win season had it not been for extreme weather cancelling the season opener with McNeese State.
So, yes, something went right for the Tigers this season.
In fact, a lot went right, especially early on. Everyone was relatively healthy and the Tigers were clicking on all cylinders. But injuries at the more formidable portion of the schedule nearly spelled disaster and with it the end of the Les Miles era at LSU.
But the Tigers survived it and won their final two games of the season with perseverance and some outstanding individual play.
Now that it’s over and there’s been time to digest it, let’s take a look, position-by-position, at the 2015 season and how the Tigers graded out:
QUARTERBACK
This was the real bone of contention for the entire season. Sophomore Brandon Harris looked to have progressed through the first seven games of the season. It appeared as though things were falling into place, and then suddenly it fell off the cliff. There were consecutive losses in which Harris looked lost. His timing was off, receivers were dropping passes, the running game hit a wall. Nothing went right during that stretch of losses to Alabama, Arkansas and Ole Miss. Still, Harris managed to finish in the middle of the pack of SEC quarterbacks and overall, although disappointing in the end, it was a very average season.
Grade: C-minus
RUNNING BACKS
What else can be said about Leonard Fournette? He broke the school and SEC single-season rushing record. The consensus All-America and sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting was second in the SEC in rushing (1,953 yards) and first in the conference and second in the nation with 2,206 yards from scrimmage. He finished second in the SEC with 23 touchdowns and was second in points scored (138). As Fournette went, so did LSU. The only ding at all was that the running game struggled at the biggest moments.
Grade: A-minus
RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS
It doesn’t say a whole lot for your receiving corps when the third-leading receiver is a running back, but that also had a lot to do with the play at quarterback. A talented group of receivers was not utilized to the fullest and the tight ends were used even less. TE Dillon Gordon was a monster blocker for the running game but suffered a season-ending injury just past the midway point. LSU finished 12th in the SEC in passing offense. That pretty much sums it up.
Grade: D
OFFENSIVE LINE
Through the first seven games, the LSU offensive line was working on a perfect paper. Nobody was opening wider holes to run in than the Tigers. But injuries set in and what was once the best group in the nation limped to the end of the season a shell of itself. Still, overall, it was very good.
Grade: B-plus
DEFENSIVE LINE
For the most part, as a group, the LSU defensive line played pretty well. They were fourth in the SEC against the run and got solid play off the edge from freshman DE Arden Key (4 sacks) and junior DE Lewis Neal (7 sacks).
Grade: B
LINEBACKERS
Senior LB Deion Jones was a beast. He led the team in tackles (88), both solo (54) and assisted (34) and tackles for loss (12.5). His five sacks tied for second on the team. He was a leader on a solid group that may require complete overhaul next season. Jones and Lamar Louis are seniors and junior Kendell Beckwith hasn’t decided yet on a possible return.
Grade: B-plus
SECONDARY
A very talented – but very young in spots – group allowed some explosive plays this season. Players out of position or mix-ups in coverage hurt the Tigers on occasion. But the talent was definitely there. Sophomore Jamal Adams was third on the team in tackles (63). Of those, 5.5 went for losses. Adams led the Tigers with four interceptions.
Grade: B-minus
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kick coverage was a problem all season for LSU. The Tigers reverted to pooch kicks on occasion but still left the opposition with good field position. Outside of that, special teams play was actually pretty good. Kicker Trent Domingue faltered towards the end of the season after a perfect first half. Punting and the return teams performed well and, for the most part, were consistent.
Grade: B-minus
Glenn Sattell is an award-winning freelance writer for Saturday Down South.
