LSU Plays Survivor in 21-19 Win over Mississippi State

Bright Spot: Cam Cameron Spread the Ball Around Early

Sep 12, 2015; Starkville, MS, USA; LSU Tigers quarterback Brandon Harris (6) drops back to pass under pressure from Mississippi State Bulldogs defensive back Will Redmond (2) during the 2nd quarter at Davis Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports

The first half was a glimpse at the offense LSU fans have been dreaming of all year. Fournette was running wild. The line was blocking, and LSU was spreading the ball around in the air.

The team got Desean Smith John Diarse and Malachi Dupre all involved early on scoring drives. Travin Dural made a couple of huge plays that were called back for penalties, but that can be cleaned up.

Most of all Brandon Harris made great throws and great decisions consistently in the first half

Harris best play all night long might have been an incomplete pass. He was setting up the screen to Fournette when a Mississippi State player made a very obvious hold. Harris saw it and quickly threw the ball at Fournette’s feet, drawing the holding penalty and a first down.

This is the kind of veteran move that draws little attention but keeps the chains moving. In the first half Brandon Harris didn’t throw a lot but he was effective and the offense was able to score points.

Cause For Concern: LSU’s Offense Disappeared Down the Stretch

Nursing a lead late in the third quarter the LSU went all in on the prevent offense. You know, the one with play calling so conservative it prevents you from scoring points?

Harris was completely shut in, the LSU receivers dropped from the game plan and a young line that had been through a depth chart shake up at half time was asked to control the game down the stretch. They didn’t respond.

LSU has amazing talent but the young line with four of the five players starting at a new position, and two of them playing their first college game was not up to taking control of the game against a re-energized Bulldog defense.

LSU’s coaches were not able to adjust and very nearly gave the game away. The initial game plan called for mixing throws and runs and spreading the ball around the field. The coaches went away from that way too early.

They exacerbated this decision by sticking with overly conservative play calling for too long when it wasn’t working. Brandon Harris was 4-6 for 13 yards for the entire second half.

Try that again. LSU only attempted 6 passes in the entire second half. Completed 4 of them for 13 yards. For the entire second half. LSU had only 71 yards in the air on 14 pass attempts for the entire game.

This is one of the worst passing games LSU has ever had under Les Miles, which is really saying something.

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