Hello Tiger fans! Keeping the “boot” for another year always feels good, especially when done in a dominant fashion as we saw this past Saturday against Arkansas. Nothing is perfect. We made errors. But all in all, we beat up a rival and that is nothing to complain about.
Even in the first half, when things weren’t going our way on offense, we still looked like the better team. Our backs got yards on every carry and we completed passes. In the second half, we realized that this should not be a tie game. We came out of the locker room and scored four touchdowns in two quarters.
Our receivers looked like a corps to be excited about for years to come. Height, speed and hands will be a trademark for our team next year. They finally showed the diversity and promise we have been hoping to see.
Coming into this game it was questionable if we would play Myles Brennan. It was believed that Danny Etling was not able to make those deep throws that put points on the board. Well, Danny Etling made the right throws routinely and proved that he can make big plays with his arm by completing 68 and 46-yard touchdown passes, both to D.J. Chark. Our offense started treating them like blocking dummies, propelling Guice and Williams forward for long gains. We looked like a strong team that wasn’t fazed by a loss to Alabama.
Defensively, we held them out of the game. We looked crisp. Andrez “Greedy” Williams made a stellar interception. Donte Jackson was flying all over the field making plays. Our linebackers made some hits that hurt me just from watching. On one play Dave Aranda cleverly sent Donte Jackson on a blitz from the outside. Jackson was taking the quarterbacks head off so fast I didn’t even have time to comprehend what was happening and I’m sure those 300-pound lineman didn’t know what to do against his track speed. I’m excited about the future of our defense!
Our only significant black eye on Saturday came from our PAT and field goal kicking. Connor Culp missed both his PATs and a chip-shot field goal. If we would have done that against Auburn or Florida, we would have lost. Thank goodness it didn’t negatively affect this game for us. But it did resurrect Coach O’s concern expressed earlier in the year that we “don’t have a field goal kicker.” This will need to be resolved if we are going to win out, including (hopefully) a big bowl game at the end of the season.
I like the way things are shaping up as we head into two opponents that have a combined record of 10-10, with one coach recently fired (Butch Jones at Tennessee) and one who is on the hot seat (Kevin Sumlin at A&M). I expect big wins for LSU in both contests.
We have overcome so much this season. It’s time to finish strong.
Geaux Tigers!
Great post Micah. Etling is a tough kid with heart. Seems like he is always playing injured, but never complains about it. I think that is the main difference b/w him and all other LSU QBs in the last 10 years, and it’s why the team started playing better once he became the starter last year – leads by example. Although I critized him last week, I think Danny would tell you he had his worst game of the year agains ALA. However, I think the defense also got a pass from many critics b/c of Danny’s game. If he completes one or two deep balls it’s a different ball game, but it’s also a different ball game if John Battle puts his helmet behind Hurts (instead of infront) forcing him into White for a huge 3rd down sack instead of a scoring drive AND if Toliver does not get burned by a true freshman on Hurt’s first deep ball. Foster Moreau also let a defender fly by him to force Etling to release early on the Harrison interception. If that was Hurts, he would have shook the pass rusher and got a first down instead of a quick throw, though. Thus, the takeaway from the ALA game was Etling is simply not a QB parity with Hurts, but I don’t think anyone else besides Baker Mayfield playing at Hurts level. I hate to say it, but Hurts is the most elusive QB I have watched since Cam Newton. Cam was just big and hard to bring down, but Hurts constantly looks like he is covered in butter when defenders get near him. He senses pressure extremely well and is making wise decisions faster each game. After watching the LSU and MSU games, ALA would have lost both without Hurts. My opinion is those 2 games alone should earn him an invite to NY. I also think Guice deserves an invite. Barkley has not done much since Sept, but unfortunately that loss to Troy is still haunting LSU and causing Guice to fly under the radar. It seems crazy that a RB can break two Bo Jackson and Hershel Walker records in a single season (three 250+ yard rushing games and most yards/carry over career) and fly under the radar!! Regardless of how the popularity [I mean Heisman] race turns out, I am confident Guice is not flying under any NFL scout radars. Let’s hope he stays healthy through the rest of the season . . . I do not think he has hit his peak yet! That Tiger-D also has not hit their peak yet! Let’s hope Jackson pulls a T-White and comes back his senior year to improve his draft stock even more . . . Jackson for the #7 jersey next year! Geaux Tigers!!!