LSU rolled over Southern last week, but the game was over in the first quarter and there were still a ton of questions surrounding the football team. With Mississippi State on the slate this week, everyone would get a chance to see if the team is better than its pitiful week 1 performance, or was it perhaps a look at things to come for the Tigers in the 2022 season.
Well, this LSU team looked a lot better than the one we saw open the season. Was it a great performance? Good but not great. But it was a very positive step in the right direction for Brian Kelly and his team.
This is what we signed up for:
The defense showed up and showed out for LSU Saturday night. From start to finish, they played with energy, swarmed to the ball, showed a fair amount of discipline and a lot of tenacity. Players stepped up on all levels of the defense, and outside of the third down issues in week 1, the unit is looking like the type of defense we expected to see in Baton Rouge this year.
She's a 6, but cooks one mean pot roast:
Not everyone is a looker. There are some that may lack physical appearance, but provide in other ways that rounds them out, turning them into quite the catch. Jayden Daniels anyone? It isn't an efficient passing game, but there are times that the offense looks like it could be potent. At no point do I expect this unit to become a prolific passing attack, but Daniels can flat out run and a reliable passing game complimented by a solid running game could be enough. Especially if the defense continues to play at a high level.
Made in New York City--Pick up the Pace:
AT this stage of the season it is apparent that the LSU offense plays better when going up tempo. It appears to put Daniels at ease and creates a rhythm of sorts for the offense as a whole. Brian Kelly was clear and adamant that he wanted to run uptempo in the second half and it paid off in major ways down the stretch. LSU's scripted offense hasn't worked well. This isn't a half court team--it's time to run the fast break.
Far From Special Teams:
It is painful to watch horrible special teams play and what we have witnessed thus far in 2022 has been horrible special teams play. There's no way to put lipstick or perfume on this pig. The unit has been dreadful in every facet and they will cost LSU more games if they don't get it fixed quickly. There is a reason that Nabers was your return man to start the season and I am in the belief that he needs to be back there again. But the issues are way beyond the return man at this point.
Fifth Ward:
We all know about the New Orleans wards, but what about LSU's 5th Ward in safety Jay Ward? The young man was absolutely stellar tonight and could be the defensive MVP through the early part of the season. And his sidekick Major Burns has been equally as impressive, giving LSU a formidable duo that could be as good as any in the conference.
The Housing Market Just Went Up:
Matt House got the best of Mike Leach tonight, which is quite the feat for a new coordinator. He disguised his blitzes and coverages extremely well and his unit played sound football. Yeah, there was a missed tackle here and a lapse in coverage there, but the unit was fantastic and the play calling kept MSU on its heels all night. House was the coaching MVP on this night.
Prince Ojulari is a Beast:
For all the talk that Ali Gaye and Maason Smith received preseason, along with Jaquelin Roy, BJ Ojulari has been really good and stepped up to be great tonight. He is the game's co-MVP along with Jay Ward after creating havoc for the MSU offensive linemen trying to develop a pocket. You gotta love what Ojulari brings to the table.
The mRNA Offensive Line:
Brian Kelly and staff went freshman Emery Jones at right tackle tonight and he more than held his own. As a whole, the unit played well. While they didn't knock the MSU defensive line back, they did offer some protection for the passing game, similar to the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine. If they can provide Daniels with a consistent pocket, it will help him become more comfortable going through his progressions, rather than bailing out early with his legs.
Well, this LSU team looked a lot better than the one we saw open the season. Was it a great performance? Good but not great. But it was a very positive step in the right direction for Brian Kelly and his team.
This is what we signed up for:
The defense showed up and showed out for LSU Saturday night. From start to finish, they played with energy, swarmed to the ball, showed a fair amount of discipline and a lot of tenacity. Players stepped up on all levels of the defense, and outside of the third down issues in week 1, the unit is looking like the type of defense we expected to see in Baton Rouge this year.
She's a 6, but cooks one mean pot roast:
Not everyone is a looker. There are some that may lack physical appearance, but provide in other ways that rounds them out, turning them into quite the catch. Jayden Daniels anyone? It isn't an efficient passing game, but there are times that the offense looks like it could be potent. At no point do I expect this unit to become a prolific passing attack, but Daniels can flat out run and a reliable passing game complimented by a solid running game could be enough. Especially if the defense continues to play at a high level.
Made in New York City--Pick up the Pace:
AT this stage of the season it is apparent that the LSU offense plays better when going up tempo. It appears to put Daniels at ease and creates a rhythm of sorts for the offense as a whole. Brian Kelly was clear and adamant that he wanted to run uptempo in the second half and it paid off in major ways down the stretch. LSU's scripted offense hasn't worked well. This isn't a half court team--it's time to run the fast break.
Far From Special Teams:
It is painful to watch horrible special teams play and what we have witnessed thus far in 2022 has been horrible special teams play. There's no way to put lipstick or perfume on this pig. The unit has been dreadful in every facet and they will cost LSU more games if they don't get it fixed quickly. There is a reason that Nabers was your return man to start the season and I am in the belief that he needs to be back there again. But the issues are way beyond the return man at this point.
Fifth Ward:
We all know about the New Orleans wards, but what about LSU's 5th Ward in safety Jay Ward? The young man was absolutely stellar tonight and could be the defensive MVP through the early part of the season. And his sidekick Major Burns has been equally as impressive, giving LSU a formidable duo that could be as good as any in the conference.
The Housing Market Just Went Up:
Matt House got the best of Mike Leach tonight, which is quite the feat for a new coordinator. He disguised his blitzes and coverages extremely well and his unit played sound football. Yeah, there was a missed tackle here and a lapse in coverage there, but the unit was fantastic and the play calling kept MSU on its heels all night. House was the coaching MVP on this night.
Prince Ojulari is a Beast:
For all the talk that Ali Gaye and Maason Smith received preseason, along with Jaquelin Roy, BJ Ojulari has been really good and stepped up to be great tonight. He is the game's co-MVP along with Jay Ward after creating havoc for the MSU offensive linemen trying to develop a pocket. You gotta love what Ojulari brings to the table.
The mRNA Offensive Line:
Brian Kelly and staff went freshman Emery Jones at right tackle tonight and he more than held his own. As a whole, the unit played well. While they didn't knock the MSU defensive line back, they did offer some protection for the passing game, similar to the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine. If they can provide Daniels with a consistent pocket, it will help him become more comfortable going through his progressions, rather than bailing out early with his legs.
