Thoughts and observations from the LSU/Wisc game (long)

Positive things:

1) While most assume Les just pounded the ball and should have called more passing plays like always, this was not the case at all. LSU was much more balanced, with 58% runs to 42% passes. Close to 70% runs last year iirc.

2) Fournette quietly had a good game (138 yds/6.0 ypc/3 catches for 38). I really liked the wheel route he got for a long gainer. That needs to be called 2 or 3 times a game.

3) Defense was very good. Valentine finally played and was a beast. Needs conditioning to be effective later in the game. Arden Key had a great game with 6 tackles/2 sacks. DBs did a great job, with the exception of covering the TE. Michael Divinity a true freshman LB played a lot and played well.

4) JD Moore (fullback) was a beast crushing people in the hole. =)

Negative things:

1) Malachi Dupre was horrible. Did not fight for the ball, did not use his obvious height advantage/leaping skills to dominate very small corners even though passes were thrown high for that reason. Was targeted 11 times with only 3 catches. Only 2 targets were uncatchable.

2) Gamble (kicker) needs to be benched. His sole responsibility is to kick the ball deep into/out of the endzone. He had 0 touchbacks and 1 penalty for kicking off out of bounds (this is a bad habit he has). The freshman Culp was allegedly "kicking off into the stands against the wind and rain" during a practice. Les needs to put him in there then.

3) O-line was terrible. Several missed assignments and blocking whiffs. Even Pocic and Clapp messed up some.

4) Harris HAS TO be better aware of his situation. With a minute to go, first down, on the opponent's 30, down 2, you CANNOT heave up an off-balance prayer into a pile. You are in field-goal range. Run for a couple up the middle or throw it out of bounds. Geez =(

Synopsis:

LSU has some things working well, and some things that are pretty broken. But a 2 point loss to a decent P5 team, essentially on the road, isn't season ending, and a good year is still an attainable goal, despite what some may think.