Wow so many things I didn't even notice during the game.
Defensive observations
1. I feel confident saying we just played the best blocking team in the country. Both pass and run blocking. As good as our DL is they just beat them, and in the run game they did it with 4. Nearly always LSU was able to get an OL to the 2nd level and take out a LB.
2. People who think we really didn't try to rush the passer in the 1st half is just wrong. We had McCallister lined up all over the field trying to get him a favorable match-up to rush Harris, but it just didn't happen. LSU's back-up TE was able to take McCallister 1-on-1 and beat him. Bullard was inside all night and still couldn't get a pass rush. LSU can just flat out block and another level.
3. Our linebackers and safties got owned by Fournette. Either our linebackers always took horrible angles or Fournette to just ran right by them. They almost never touched Fournette all night. The safties always had to make the tackle, which means the offense had already won the down, and Fournette dragged them 2-4 yards every time they got a hold of him.
4. Our cornerbacks got beat. Yes, even Heargraves. LSU's receivers were open all through the 1st half. Poole did the worse job. He didnt just get beat he got owned. Not good at all.
Offensive observations
1. Our OL is bad. They are athletic as a whole. Did a solid, not great job, in pass protection. However, unlike LSU's OL in pass protection our OL always got pushed back pretty quickly. Another off-season in the weight room will do a lot of good, but we also need to make some personnel changes. Honestly, right tackle and center need to be upgraded. Center is not too bad off right now. I think if all other positions along the line step up their game then we can still have an effective OL next season even with Dillard.
Run blocking was so horrible. Not only could we not push people around, but we missed assignments. The guards were so late in their pulling assignments. The only positive aspect is that the OL can improve in the bye week because they can improve simply by executing their assignments and actually putting a body in front of a defender instead of letting that defender go untouched.
2. Actually though Taylor played a good game. Stats were terrible obviously, but there was just no room. Did pretty good in pass protection as well. The bad running game definitely is not his fault.
3. I was impressed with Treon. Absolutely no run game to help him out. He had to score all of our points by throwing the football all the way down the field (excluding the special team points obviously). I mean it hard for a QB to complete pass after pass in a collapsing pocket, but that is what he did. However, with absolutely no run game it was just too difficult in the end.
4. Tight ends did well in the receiving game, but only blocked okay. A few times McGee had to block a DE alone. He got owned but I will give him a pass for that. Not sure why he was asked to do that. May have been a missed assignment by Sharpe. When they had to block linebackers or secondary players they did a solid job.
5. Receivers were open all night long and did a great job. They are the reason Treon was able to throw for 270 yards. Callaway and Powell look like future Great Ones. I dare say the strength of the entire football team maybe our receiving weapons. Who would of thought it?
Defensive observations
1. I feel confident saying we just played the best blocking team in the country. Both pass and run blocking. As good as our DL is they just beat them, and in the run game they did it with 4. Nearly always LSU was able to get an OL to the 2nd level and take out a LB.
2. People who think we really didn't try to rush the passer in the 1st half is just wrong. We had McCallister lined up all over the field trying to get him a favorable match-up to rush Harris, but it just didn't happen. LSU's back-up TE was able to take McCallister 1-on-1 and beat him. Bullard was inside all night and still couldn't get a pass rush. LSU can just flat out block and another level.
3. Our linebackers and safties got owned by Fournette. Either our linebackers always took horrible angles or Fournette to just ran right by them. They almost never touched Fournette all night. The safties always had to make the tackle, which means the offense had already won the down, and Fournette dragged them 2-4 yards every time they got a hold of him.
4. Our cornerbacks got beat. Yes, even Heargraves. LSU's receivers were open all through the 1st half. Poole did the worse job. He didnt just get beat he got owned. Not good at all.
Offensive observations
1. Our OL is bad. They are athletic as a whole. Did a solid, not great job, in pass protection. However, unlike LSU's OL in pass protection our OL always got pushed back pretty quickly. Another off-season in the weight room will do a lot of good, but we also need to make some personnel changes. Honestly, right tackle and center need to be upgraded. Center is not too bad off right now. I think if all other positions along the line step up their game then we can still have an effective OL next season even with Dillard.
Run blocking was so horrible. Not only could we not push people around, but we missed assignments. The guards were so late in their pulling assignments. The only positive aspect is that the OL can improve in the bye week because they can improve simply by executing their assignments and actually putting a body in front of a defender instead of letting that defender go untouched.
2. Actually though Taylor played a good game. Stats were terrible obviously, but there was just no room. Did pretty good in pass protection as well. The bad running game definitely is not his fault.
3. I was impressed with Treon. Absolutely no run game to help him out. He had to score all of our points by throwing the football all the way down the field (excluding the special team points obviously). I mean it hard for a QB to complete pass after pass in a collapsing pocket, but that is what he did. However, with absolutely no run game it was just too difficult in the end.
4. Tight ends did well in the receiving game, but only blocked okay. A few times McGee had to block a DE alone. He got owned but I will give him a pass for that. Not sure why he was asked to do that. May have been a missed assignment by Sharpe. When they had to block linebackers or secondary players they did a solid job.
5. Receivers were open all night long and did a great job. They are the reason Treon was able to throw for 270 yards. Callaway and Powell look like future Great Ones. I dare say the strength of the entire football team maybe our receiving weapons. Who would of thought it?
