THREE UP
Miles digs into bag of tricks
LSU coach Les Miles rarely shies away from rolling the dice in big games.
With the No. 13 Tigers trailing No. 14 Wisconsin 24-7 in the third quarter and in dire need of momentum, Miles called a fake punt. Sophomore linebacker Kendell Beckwith converted the first down, sustaining an LSU drive that resulted in a field goal.
Though three points seemed insignificant at the time, the gutsy gamble laid the groundwork for the Tigers’ second-half explosion. LSU’s offense had been absolutely dreadful up to that point, with sophomore quarterback Anthony Jennings’ 80-yard heave to sophomore receiver Travin Dural standing as lone bright spot all night.
The Tigers needed to see themselves put points on the board, and their defense needed a breather after the Badgers scored a quick touchdown to open the second half. Miles’ confidence was infectious — LSU’s offense came alive as its defense locked down Wisconsin the rest of the way.
Hilliard rises to the occasion
The Tigers’ ground game was nonexistent for most of the night, producing only 49 rushing yards through the first three quarters.
Senior running back Kenny Hilliard nearly matched that total on the drive that put LSU ahead for good. The defense forced a three-and-out after freshman receiver John Diarse’s 36-yard touchdown reception on 3rd and 21, giving the Tigers prime field position at their own 47 yard line.
Hilliard carried the ball three times, capping the drive with a 28-yard run that sent NRG Stadium into a frenzy. The senior carried the ball four times on LSU’s next drive, bleeding four precious minutes off the clock. And when the Tigers needed one first down to put the game away, Hilliard picked up the tough yards.
He finished with 111 yards and more than six yards per carry, having the best night of any LSU running back. After a 2013 season during which Jeremy Hill and senior Terrence Magee received most of the carries, it’s encouraging to see Hilliard back in top form.
Secondary locks Badgers down
Wisconsin may have rushed for 267 yards, but the Badgers were too one-dimensional in the final quarter of Saturday night’s contest.
The Tigers’ experienced secondary shut down Wisconsin’s passing game, blanketing receivers and tormenting junior quarterback Tanner McEvoy all night. McEvoy went 8-for-24 and managed only 50 yards through the air.
More importantly, junior cornerback Jalen Mills and senior safety Ronald Martin each intercepted McEvoy to further increase LSU’s momentum in the second half. LSU’s secondary also provided sufficient run support, corralling the shifty McEvoy and Wisconsin’s running back tandem of Melvin Gordon and Corey Clement when it mattered most.
THREE DOWN
The big men play small
Most of LSU’s offensive struggles fell squarely on the shoulders of its offensive line.
The Tigers generated absolutely no push against the Badgers’ inexperienced front seven, and their running backs averaged a mere 1.1 yards per carry at halftime. LSU’s lack of running game made the offense one-dimensional, adding more pressure to Jennings, who already looked uncomfortable in the pocket.
The Tigers’ offensive line simply has to set the tone earlier in games, or else LSU may find itself in a hole too deep to climb out of. LSU’s offensive line was touted as the most veteran and talented unit on this team, but it fell short of expectations until Hilliard’s fourth-quarter explosion.
Wisconsin’s defensive front was clearly worn down at the end of the game, but the Tigers’ defense may not always be able to bail the offense out. If LSU is to heavily rely on its rushing attack this season, it can’t afford to wait until the second half to start pushing people around.
Jennings still growing
Jennings finished with a decent stat line, but he’s still got a long way to go.
The sophomore posted 238 yards and two touchdowns despite completing only nine passes. One was the 80-yard bomb to Dural after getting flushed out of the pocket, and the other was a simple comeback route to Diarse, who broke three tackles on his way to the end zone.
Jennings missed on a handful of simple screen passes that could’ve thrown Wisconsin’s defense off-balance much earlier in the contest if completed. The Badgers could blitz at will, which gave Jennings less time in the pocket.
He also airmailed a couple of deep balls, which would’ve also been a boon to the Tigers by stretching the field. Jennings often showed indecision about whether he should keep the ball or dump it off, but that’s common for a young quarterback on a big stage.
Miles referred to Jennings as a game-manager, and that worked for the Tigers — at least on Saturday night.
Fournette not so special
The hype surrounded freshman running back Leonard Fournette couldn’t have been any bigger, but his debut performance couldn’t have been more underwhelming.
Fournette snagged the opening kickoff away from Magee, showing his eagerness to make a productive play for the Tigers. He finished with 117 return yards, but his offensive contribution was severely limited.
The former No. 1 recruit in the nation rushed nine times for only 10 yards in a disappointing outing. Fournette didn’t have much room to run because of the offensive line’s struggles, so his highly touted speed, athleticism and power weren’t on display.
The freshman is bound to have a monster game against the weaker opponents looming on the Tigers’ schedule, but LSU fans learned one thing about Fournette Saturday night — he’s human after all.