Pick the pieces of your brains up off the floor, ranters, there’s nothing to worry about here.
The Tigers scored 60 points for the first time since 1997 in their Saturday matchup with Idaho, routing the Fighting ’Taters, 63-14.
The defense looked as opportunistic as last year’s squad, scoring twice on four interceptions, and the passing offense finally caught up with the rushing attack, nearly tying in yardage, 222-234, before Zach Mettenberger was pulled.
You know when Russell Shepard’s actually catching the ball, the team is clicking.
Yet the second quarter was alarming at moments.
Mettenberger opened up the period in the red zone and promptly threw consecutive identical passes into coverage, the second of which was taken back 94 yards to set up a score.
Idaho quarterback Dominique Blackman capped off a perfect drive with a 22-yard touchdown to a wide- open receiver when Tharold Simon, of all defensive backs, was badly beaten.
Sixth-year senior Josh Dworaczyk, in his first season starting at left tackle, allowed two straight sacks to kill the Tigers’ next drive.
Just before the Tigers made it a two-score game heading into halftime, my fellow Serranos patrons and I were collectively and equally perplexed.
I know this is nothing new. LSU sputtered against Arkansas and Georgia last season before exploding.
But they “spuddered” Saturday. The Vandals are far from SEC-caliber, and the Tigers don’t have Tyrann Mathieu to carry them if they start slow against a dangerous opponent.
That’s why those struggles needed to happen now.
Last season’s Tigers were ready from the start. Had this team opened against an Oregon, a loss wouldn’t be out of the question.
This is a team that’s still carving its identity. Mettenberger is still getting his feet underneath him and is improving. The linebacker and secondary corps, while deep, are young and inexperienced. With Dworaczyk and P.J. Lonergan now battling injuries, the offensive line’s chemistry has to be strained.
The thing to take away is how they all responded.
Mettenberger capitalized on short field position in the drive following his sacks, going 3-for-3 with a touchdown before the half. He kept it up in the third quarter.
You would have never seen a bomb as beautiful as the one Mettenberger threw to Odell Beckham Jr. in the past four years of LSU football.
After allowing Blackman an 80 percent completion percentage in the first half, the young secondary held him to just over 52 percent and added another interception by freshman Jalen Mills in the second.
Plus, keeping with LSU coach Les Miles’ recent Will Ferrell
references, watching freshman Jalen Collins and sophomore Ronald Martin work together was reminiscent of stepbrothers Dale Doback and Brennan Huff’s rendition of “Por Ti Volare.” Simply
tear-inducing.
The only real concern for the offensive line is its health. The run blocking was as dominant as usual, helping to rack up 268 rushing yards and making true freshman Jeremy Hill look like he’d done it before in his first snaps as a collegiate running back, but it’s one serious injury away from being a liability in the passing game.
If the big boys can’t get healthy before Jadeveon Clowney and the Gamecocks roll into Baton Rouge on Oct. 13, LSU is in trouble.
All week, Miles gave the Nick Saban “we’re not taking teams lightly” spiel, minus the rage. His players echoed him, but their play in the first half didn’t reflect it.
But to let Idaho into the game is just what this learning team needed to be prepared going into SEC play this week.
The offensive balance will continue to even out as Mettenberger gets more games under his belt. Same with the secondary. And if the line can get healthy, this team can and will be better than last season’s SEC champions.
Alex Cassara is a 21-year-old mass communication senior from New Orleans.
