LSU’s season has reached a point where the noise around the offense is impossible to ignore, and the biggest problem may be the one in the trenches. After opening 4-1 and building real momentum in the SEC race, the Tigers saw it all stall with a stunning overtime loss to Kentucky. That defeat was LSU’s second on the road and pushed its College Football Playoff hopes to the brink.
The Tigers are dealing with plenty off the field, but there are clear issues on it too. LSU landed Jordan Seaton this offseason, the highest-rated lineman in the transfer portal, and while he has not been a disappointment, the unit around him has not held up. The interior protection and run-blocking inconsistency have dragged down the offense’s ceiling.
On Saturday, William Satterwhite II earned LSU’s fifth-worst Pro Football Focus grade at 55.1. He played every snap over Bo Bordelon, but his numbers were rough: a 54.8 run-blocking grade, a 46.7 pass-protection grade, one sack allowed and three quarterback hurries. Right guard Aliou Bah posted a season-low 53.5 grade and still has not cracked 70 in any game this year.
The results showed up in the box score and in the flow of the game. LSU finished with 94 rushing yards, Sam Leavitt was sacked three times, and the offense never found a steady rhythm.
That carried into the red zone, where the Tigers kept leaving chances on the table. Lane Kiffin addressed those issues directly.
"A lot of the time, we're just missing plays. I know that sounds really general, whether it's a guy open in the end zone and we don't see him we flush over here or we miss a block here," Kiffin said.
"So it's a problem. I think things happen fast in the red zone sometimes.
Sam's done some really good things in the red zone and then he's missed a couple of guys."
Kiffin has not made a permanent change on the offensive line yet, though that could happen soon. It is one of the few spots on the roster without major injury problems, which makes the underwhelming play even more glaring.
And it all ties back to the rest of the offense. If Leavitt is under pressure, LSU loses its chance to hit explosive plays.
If Jones cannot find room to run, defenses can squeeze the Tigers even more. LSU has the talent to do more, but the inconsistency up front keeps getting in the way.
On Saturday, they had multiple chances to finish the job and never did.
In Other News...
LSU Has Bigger Problems Than A Homecoming Kickoff Debate
LSUs week has turned into one long reminder that the biggest issue in Baton Rouge is not the homecoming kickoff time. After dropping to 22nd in the rankings following the loss to Kentucky, the Tigers are still trying to steady themselves heading into Mississippi State, with linebacker TJ Dottery and coach Lane Kiffin both stressing the need for cleaner execution. The schedule gripe has drawn some student reaction, but it sits well behind the more immediate concern of getting the football team back on track.
The campus mood could use a lift, and the mens basketball team provided one with an 85-81 win over UCF in a wildly thin rotation. LSU played with only six players amid an eligibility controversy, yet Donovan Dent still delivered the game-winning layup and Abdi Bashir Jr. led the way in scoring. It was the kind of gritty result that gives the program something to point to while the football side works through its own far bigger problems. [Read more 🡒]
LSUs Bounce-Back Bid Comes With One Big SEC Concern
LSU heads into Week 7 looking to steady itself at home against Mississippi State after the loss to Kentucky, and the Tigers have enough on their plate already without adding another layer of uncertainty. This is the kind of SEC game that can turn quickly if the matchup script changes early, especially with both teams dealing with injuries and LSU still trying to get back to the level of consistency that made it dangerous in the first place.
Mississippi States quarterback situation is the wrinkle LSU will be watching closely, because the Bulldogs offensive outlook shifts depending on who is available. For LSU, the path back starts with cleaner work on both sides of the ball, better execution in key moments and a sharper response than the one it showed a week ago, but the bigger question is whether the Tigers can prepare for the version of Mississippi State that actually shows up. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Could Catch A Huge Break In Mississippi State's Backfield
Mississippi State arrives on LSUs schedule with a couple of key offensive questions hanging over its backfield, and both of them trace back to the same injury-hit trip through Alabama. Quarterback Kamario Taylor and running back Fluff Bothwell were each listed as questionable for the matchup with LSU after leaving the previous game hurt, leaving Jeff Lebby and his staff to sort through contingency plans as kickoff gets closer.
For LSU, the uncertainty matters because the Bulldogs offense could look very different if either player is limited or unavailable. Lebby has already identified possible replacements, but the Tigers will be watching to see whether Mississippi State can get either Taylor or Bothwell back in time, since their status could shape how much stress LSUs defense has to absorb on Saturday. [Read more 🡒]