That was wild, man.
If you missed LSU knock off previously unbeaten University of Florida with a go-ahead touchdown on a fake field goal, you missed an instant classic. The game was riveting.
It had sophomore running back Leonard Fournette’s video game spin moves and vicious stiff arms, fourth down conversions, trick plays and big swings in the game came on special teams.
The LSU (6-0, 4-0 Southeastern Conference) and Florida (6-1, 4-1 SEC) game was a thrill to watch, but what does it mean for the rest of the Tigers’ season?
The first thing worth noting is this Brandon Harris guy can throw the ball when LSU coach Les Miles and offensive coordinator Cam Cameron let him. LSU fans have griped about Harris needing to complete passes to take some pressure off LSU’s run game: “If LSU could just throw the ball, they’d be a contender.” That sentence shouldn’t be uttered anymore.
LSU rushed for 221 yards and threw for 202 yards, as balanced an offensive display as I’ve seen. Harris kept Florida’s defense honest to help the Tigers’ run game and didn’t do a bad job throwing downfield against a talented secondary. Harris made Florida’s secondary look like anything but “DBU” last night.
It was the second game in a row Harris threw for more than 200 yards. If he continues to develop, LSU’s offense will only get tougher to stop.
If he hadn’t already, Fournette proved he can run wild against the best. He rushed for 180 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries. Florida’s defense was giving up just under 100 yards per game before this weekend.
He can run over, around and through anyone, y’all.
Defensively, LSU was brilliant against the run. The Tigers held the Gators to 55 yards rushing on 31 attempts, less than two yards per carry. That is downright dominant.
Against the pass, LSU could have been better. Florida Sophomore quarterback Treon Harris had more success than I thought he should against the Tigers.
He threw for 271 yards, and you have to think a more talented passer could have done even more damage. With Western Kentucky University graduate student quarterback Brandon Doughty coming to Baton Rouge next weekend, LSU will need to fix the leaks in its secondary quickly.
Special teams were a disaster once again. I know LSU won the game courtesy of some trickery from its special teams members, but two lapses nearly cost the Tigers dearly.
Junior cornerback Tre’Davious White’s muffed punt almost immediately resulted in a Florida touchdown, and LSU gave up a punt return to freshman wide receiver Andre Calloway, who raced 72 yards for a touchdown. He made LSU’s punt coverage look silly, and I had to double-check to make sure he wasn’t former Florida wide receiver Andre Debose in disguise.
LSU junior kicker Trent Domingue’s game-winning touchdown helped gloss over a poor display, but overall, LSU’s special teams fell short of the standard of a top team.
The special teams unit can’t keep flirting with disaster, or the Tigers are going to lose a game or two. With good teams remaining on the schedule, LSU will eventually be punished for the blunders.
But on the other hand, the Tigers’ offense is looking more like a machine, and the defense is getting after the quarterback and stuffing the run.
Certainly, the Tigers still need to make minor improvements against the pass and major tweaks on special teams, but in a year where no team looks perfect, the Tigers are as deserving of a playoff spot as anyone. Why not LSU?
Jack Woods is a 22-year-old mass communication senior from Ruston, Louisiana. You can reach him on Twitter @Jack_TDR.