LSU Tigers Find Themselves Right Back Where They Were Before
By Jarred Smith
You’ll have to forgive the LSU football program and head football coach Les Miles if he feels like fictional Pittsburgh TV weatherman Phil Connors at the moment. Remember the 1993 movie “Groundhog Day” starring Bill Murray? Every day, his character wakes up to the same song, at the same time and creepy salesman Ned Ryerson shows up to annoy the hell out of him. He spends his time trying to find his way out the repeating nightmare.
Enter the 2016 LSU Tigers football team and head coach Les Miles. LSU loses its first season opener since 2002 and snaps the record 52 game win streak versus non conference opponents.
As soon as I saw the first offensive series, I ran in to oncoming traffic so I could wake up and fire Les Miles before the game started. Ok, maybe I didn’t, but the thought crossed my mind.
I felt like we were watching every game against Alabama from the past 4 years; Run up the middle, toss sweep for minimal gain, overthrown ball on 3rd and long, punt ( and a bad punt, at that).
Stop me if you have heard this one before.
You could hear the collective groan come over the Tiger faithful in the hot sun at Lambeau Field. Every one of us saying “please don’t let this be the same old Tiger offense”. It was and it was extremely painful to watch.
LSU had 7 possessions in the first half and they went like this: Punt, Punt, Punt, Fumble, Downs, Interception. Woof!
Sep 3, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; LSU Tigers quarterback Brandon Harris (6) walks off the field after the Wisconsin Badgers defeated LSU 16-14 at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Brandon Harris was constantly under pressure, erratic and inaccurate. Again, does this sound familiar? Punter Josh Growden didn’t help matters as he averaged only 32.6 yards per punt, with two of the punts going only 23 and 25 yards.
LSU trailed 6-0 at the half and if it wasn’t for some timely turnovers by the defense, it would have been worse.
0 POINTS in the first half….I’m pretty sure they didn’t cross the 50 until the 3rd quarter (I may have had a few beers by then). I fully expected Les Miles and company to come out guns blazing with their first possession of the second half. Try 3 plays for 8 yards and a PUNT. Wisconsin answered with a touchdown drive on the next possession.
Panic button mode engaged.
Tre’Davious White calmed some of my fears with a much needed pick six. LSU gets another turnover on the next Badger possession and guess what? Brandon Harris throws a TD!
Tigers take the lead and all is right in LSU land! Needless to say, the Tigers would not score again and eventually lose 16-14.
I am surprised they didn’t make Les Miles hitch-hike home after that abysmal performance.
Sep 3, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; LSU Tigers head coach Les Miles calls a play in the 2nd quarter during game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Before you say it, Les Miles will not be fired this week or next week or the week after. The season isn’t over but there are definitely more negatives than positives after week one of the season.
Les has already come out and made it clear that Harris must be better and that there are other options out there ie Danny Etling. The offensive line was offensive in pass protection. Fournette was able to rush for 138 yards but Wisconsin is not Alabama.
Harris was not comfortable in the pocket all day and was forced to rush throws, much like the last pass that was intercepted to end the game. All-American Guard Maea Teuhema will hopefully return to the lineup sooner than later.
Special teams must improve dramatically. Field position will be crucial against SEC foes and if the offense continues to look inept, the defense will need all the help they can get.
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Speaking of the defense, hopefully Dave Aranda will be able to settle down his group. Growing pains will be part of the process as players adjust to the new scheme.
The defense gave up a good amount of short passes and a couple 3rd and 10 or longer to an inexperienced QB. I fully expect this group to take their frustrations out on Jacksonville State this weekend.
I did take some positives away from my trip to Green Bay.
The fans were first class the entire time. None of them expected to win and when they did, you would have thought they just won the Super Bowl. They were classy in victory, which is more than I can say for most fans.
Lambeau Field is everything I thought it would be and more. We parked in somebody’s front yard and walked maybe a block to the stadium. I couldn’t believe it. Must be pretty awesome to wake up to that every morning.
My season prediction has already been busted. I’m not feeling great about the Tiger offense moving forward and Alabama looked every bit like the number one team in the country by routing USC.
Sep 3, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban reacts during the game against the USC Trojans at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The climb to the SEC championship is up hill and that hill is steep.
The saying goes “A tiger doesn’t change his stripes”, but If Les Miles wants to keep his job, he must adapt and change the way he calls games. This team is too talented on both sides of the ball.
The only thing hotter than the Louisiana weather as of this moment, is the seat under Miles…….