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Here are some quick thoughts on LSU’s 56-27 win over Texas Tech at the AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl in Houston on Tuesday:
What it means: A win is a win, regardless of how it occurs or the process by which it is accomplished. But what got LSU coach Les Miles in hot water this season was the ugly manner in which every victory seems to come by. The Tigers were often tough to watch, even while grinding out victories. Nevertheless, LSU (9-3) finished a turbulent 2015 season with nine victories, and they did it by scoring eight touchdowns. Had it not been for the cancellation of the Tigers’ home opener with McNeese State, a 10-win season appeared certain.
What I liked:
- The Tigers’ energy level at the start was was very impressive. With the way the season ended, the attitude the team would take into a lesser bowl than anticipated after a 7-0 start was in question. But the defense set the tone with a pair of three-and-outs to start the game and kept the momentum throughout. It carried over to the offense, where the Tigers drove for the game’s opening touchdown and never trailed after that.
- A twisting and slanting defensive line baffled Texas Tech early and often. The Red Raiders had no answers in their first couple of series. They didn’t get a first down until the 4-minute mark of the first quarter, and that was aided by an offsides penalty.
- The speed displayed by D.J. Chark on his 79-yard touchdown run was impressive. Chark, playing in place of the injured Travin Dural, took a handoff, got to the edge and outraced Texas Tech defenders to the end zone.
- The first career receiving touchdown from Leonard Fournette. Instead of ramming him into the middle of the 8-, 9-, or 10-man box, he collected a screen pass and bolted 44 yards for a touchdown. It’s about as creative as Miles and offensive coordinator Cam Cameron got against a porous Red Raiders defense.
What I didn’t like:
- A stubborn Les Miles remained stubborn on offense. We were promised changes. Where were they? Running Leonard Fournette in the middle of a 10-man box still isn’t the best idea regardless of whether Cameron is high above in the coach’s booth or down on the sidelines as he was Tuesday. Fortunately, the Red Raiders’ defense was as bad as advertised and completely wore down toward the end of the game.
- The answer to LSU’s shortcomings on kick coverage isn’t to pooch-kick and give the opposition the ball in good field position. It’s almost like kicking the ball out of bounds. Either way, the Red Raiders started with possession around the 35-yard line following nearly every LSU kickoff.
- LSU’s secondary was beaten deep too many times by Texas Tech’s shorter, speedy receivers. Texas Tech QB Patrick Mahomes took advantage of it but the Red Raiders left points on the field with underthrown or inaccurate balls and dropped passes.
- Penalties killed a few LSU drives in the first half. The Tigers could have put some distance between them and the Red Raiders had it not been for a couple of crucial holding penalties that stopped LSU drives and kept the game close at halftime.
Who’s the man: Fournette is still the man, as if there were any doubt. The sophomore, who already had LSU’s single-season rushing record, set the school’s single-season rushing touchdown record (20) with a 43-yard jaunt midway through the third quarter. He would add two more rushing touchdowns and tie the NCAA bowl record with five touchdowns. Fournette finished with 212 yards on 29 carries. He needed 259 yards to reach 2,000 for the season.
Key play: The Tigers came up with a key red zone turnover at the 5:20 mark in the third quarter. With LSU clinging to a 28-20 lead, Tigers CB Tre’Davious White tipped a pass and Rickey Jefferson intercepted it. The Tigers took advantage of the turnover, driving 78 yards on four plays, with Fournette scoring his fourth touchdown to give LSU a 35-20 advantage.
What’s next: An offseason filled with question marks awaits Tigers fans. There’s no doubt the talent is there. The question is will that talent be developed, especially at quarterback?
Glenn Sattell is an award-winning freelance writer for Saturday Down South.
