Coming off an emotional opening season victory over Clemson and heading into next week’s headlining matchup against Ole Miss, it was going to be a question of not if LSU will win against Louisiana Tech, but how it would look. In the first half, it was quite ugly with LSU holding onto a 10-7 lead against Louisiana Tech despite outgaining the Bulldogs 278 yards to 0.
“We’ve got to execute better; Sam has to do a better job taking care of the ball. We made a lot of yards, and we were smooth through that at times, but obviously, the red zone is where you’ve got to finish drives.”
LSU HC Lane Kiffin
Mistakes plagued the Tigers in the first half as the offense turned the ball over four times including three interceptions by quarterback Sam Leavitt. Two of those interceptions came in the red zone with one of them being a 100 yard pick six by Jordan McCrae to get the Bulldogs to pull within three. However, that was as close as it got with LSU outscoring the Bulldogs 35-7 in the second half en route to a 45-14 win.
Once again, the Tigers defense looks elite under defensive coordinator Blake Baker. In the first half, the defense not only gave up 0 yards, but also 0 first downs. Overall, the Bulldogs’ offense that scored 80 points last week in their win against Northwestern State only could muster 140 total yards including -3 rushing yards and eight first downs. The defense made plays as well forcing three turnovers and seven sacks.
“I thought our defensive start was really good. I thought they were lights out. I can’t imagine in what the stats are when the first team defense is our there now through two games-amazing job. To end up negative yards rushing, even with the twos, but the first team was really lights out. It almost felt like they were going to get a turnover on every possession. Really good job by them against an offense that put up 80 points last week.”
LSU HC Lane Kiffin
Ole Miss transfers TJ Dottery and Princewill Umanmielen had big nights with Dottery having 9 tackles, 0.5 TFLs, 1 QB hurry, and two forced fumbles while Umanmielen had four total tackles, three sacks, and three tackles for loss. Freshman defensive tackle Deuce Geralds had a coming out party with four tackles, one sack, one tackle for loss, one quarterback hurry, and one forced fumble. DJ Pickett accounted for the third turnover getting an interception. The only touchdown that was allowed by the LSU defense came from its second group.
“It was awesome. When you have a standard of how you practice and how you play and to watch defensive tackles chase the ball and get it out, it was awesome to see. I thought our guys really went after the ball. It was a huge emphasis after last week. Just have that one turnover. It was a huge emphasis this week and a huge emphasis today, talking about it.”
LSU HC Lane Kiffin
Despite completing 25 of 38 passes for 344 yards and one touchdown, the passing game was sporadic for Leavitt throwing three interceptions. The Tigers also had trouble converting in the end zone as the offense only scored touchdowns on half of those attempts.
“We didn’t feel out of rhythm. I think the penalties hurt us, you know, we can’t do those things and obviously turn the ball over. We need to be way more efficient in the red zone, but it’s a great opportunity to come back and go to work.”
LSU QB Sam Leavitt
Trey’Dez Green showed why he was chosen to wear number seven as he was the most consistent piece in the passing game as he finished with six grabs for 104 yards and one touchdown. Winston Watkins, Eugene Wilson III, and Jackson Harris are starting to separate as being Leavitt’s top three wide receiver targets combining for 14 grabs for 213 yards among the three of them.
“Just to come out and execute the plays that the coaches were calling for us. We weren’t the team that we showed that first half, but I feel like we came out and we did better in the second half.”
LSU TE Trey’Dez Green
While Leavitt struggled with the turnovers, he still showcased his legs running for three touchdowns putting his total at five rushing touchdowns through the first two games. Backup quarterback Landen Clark added a rushing touchdown himself late in the game for the last touchdown.
Unlike last week when LSU had over 300 yards rushing, the offensive line struggled to get push up front as the rushing game only had 129 yards as a team averaging 3.3 yards per carry. Dilin Jones did have a 46-yard run but only had 20 more yards rushing on his 17 other carries.
“The inability to run the ball and direct runs was something that the week before was really good for us. As you saw later on, we had to start going around them with things because everything was up in the middle.”
LSU HC Lane Kiffin
LSU head coach Lane Kiffin believes that having some adversity on the offensive side of the football early in the season is maybe the best thing for them after everything went their way against Clemson last week and especially now heading into SEC play.
“Maybe it was perfect for us; maybe we needed something like that because if we play good on offense and the game is 70-7 or something, we don’t have attention. Maybe, it’s what we needed. We’re in a good place winning by 31 points and being really upset, you know we got a good standard going.”
LSU HC Lane Kiffin
LSU moves to 2-0 to start the season and sets the stage for Lane Kiffin’s much anticipated return to Ole Miss next Saturday where he was previously the head coach for six seasons.