Averaging 37.9 points per game, 10.7 yards per reception and 4.9 yards per carry, the LSU football team’s offense has been extremely efficient compared to recent years.
Perhaps a little too efficient.
Despite outscoring its opponents 379-236 and outgaining them by more than 1,000 yards this season, LSU has lost the time-of-possession battle in seven of its 10 contests this season and currently ranks 12th in the Southeastern Conference with an average of 28:37.
There has been little correlation between success on the clock and LSU’s success so far this season.
Even when LSU dominates offensively, it struggles to keep its defense off the field, as it possessed the ball for less than 26 minutes in a 45-13 victory against Kent State and less than 25 minutes against Football Championship Subdivision opponent Furman.
In fact, two of the Tigers’ three losses this season came in games where they had the clock advantage.
LSU coach Les Miles said it is less about how long you have the ball and more about what you do with it that matters.
“What we’re looking to do certainly is maintain the ball and drive the length of the field, but you have to get seven points, too,” Miles said. “It’s not like you can just go get first downs. You have to score.”
Still, there is little doubt the difficulty of a game increases the longer a defense stays on the field.
“During the Alabama game, [the defense was] out there for a lot of plays,” said LSU sophomore running back Jeremy Hill. “We were on the sideline for most of the second half. That hurt our defense and those guys got tired out there.”
The Tigers will line up against a team who has experienced similar problems this season when No. 9 Texas A&M comes to town Saturday.
Despite leading the SEC in total offense, the Aggies are last in the league with an average time of possession of 27:26.
The two teams shared the ball virtually equal time in LSU’s 24-19 victory last season, but senior linebacker Lamin Barrow said LSU wants to try to slow the Aggies down this weekend.
“I remember last year, I think we were on the field for 100 snaps,” Barrow said. “I think we’re going to try to reduce those snaps and get off the field a little bit more.”
Hill said the Tigers plan on taking advantage of Texas A&M’s clock problems in hopes of keeping Heisman Trophy winner and Aggie sophomore quarterback Johnny Manziel at bay.
“We want to get 35-minutes or more in time of possession and keep [Manziel] off the field as much as possible to help our defense,” Hill said. “You have to keep them off the field, you have to keep your offense on the field. I think that’s the best way to beat Texas A&M.”
“We want to get 35-minutes or more in time of possession and keep [Manziel] off the field as much as possible to help our defense.”