The Daily Reveille’s sports staff gives takes on LSU’s football team following the 37-7 loss to Mississippi State 

Evan Saacks | The dangers of September
The biggest lesson from LSU-Mississippi State is one I, along with countless college football fans, must be reminded of every year — beware of September.
There is nothing we know about college football in September, only things we think we know. Coming into this game, we thought LSU was a contender for the SEC title and Mississippi State was just a tune-up before real conference play began. Saturday’s game showed LSU has a considerable amount of work to do to before they can be considered for any kind of title.
The Tiger freshmen had been praised through two weeks for their exceptional play despite their lack of experience. Now that lack of experience looks like one of the biggest obstacles between LSU and an improvement on 2016’s 8-4 finish.
Although this game showed LSU and Mississippi State are not who we thought they were, it doesn’t mean this is who they will be come December. At this time last year, Michigan State was ranked No. 8, and finished the season 3-9. Eventual Rose Bowl champion USC went 1-3 last September, and hasn’t lost since.
Saturday night’s result doesn’t mean LSU is going 3-9 or that Mississippi State is going 12-0. It means we still have a lot to learn about these players.  
Kennedi Landry | One team, one heartbeat?
“One team, one heartbeat” has been LSU’s motto since coach Ed Orgeron became the interim, and eventually the permanent head coach.
Saturday night, the Tigers did not seem to play with any heart as Mississippi State controlled virtually every aspect of the game from the kickoff.
The Tigers gave a less than stellar performance on both sides of the ball, highlighting the fault in relying on the defense to get you through a game. As the young defense crumbled, the offense couldn’t even get into field goal range, and struggled to pick up the pace throughout the game.
The lack of discipline showed in both young and veteran players as they continued to struggle with penalties, finishing with nine penalties for 112 yards and two touchdowns called back, including a 66 yard pass from senior quarterback Danny Etling to senior receiver D.J. Chark. Two players, senior linebacker Donnie Alexander and freshman defensive end Neil Farrell, were ejected from the game for targeting.
Overall, it was a poor performance on LSU’s end and there is a lot of work to be done, but there is no doubt they’ll be able to get it done. With the two upcoming game against non-SEC opponents, LSU has time to make adjustments and bounce back before its next SEC opponent at Florida on October 7.
The good news is that the Tigers face more of mental issue than a physical one. The talent is all there, but it needs to go further than that. The team needs to play with the same heart that existed in Orgeron’s time as interim and the first two games of this season.

Brandon Adam | Tell the truth Sunday
Since becoming the interim coach Orgeron has given a nickname to each day of practice. However, the labels and witty sayings only go so far, and on Saturday, they did not go far at all.
LSU looked disinterested and unmotivated against Mississippi State. The team played with a complete lack of focus and energy along with poor discipline, a constant issue in the first three games.
If we are going to be candid, LSU got whooped, manhandled and embarrassed in Starkville. The coaches were outcoached, and the players were outplayed for all four quarters. The Tigers got punched in the mouth by Mississippi State, and kept stumbling backwards until the refs blew the final whistle.
The good news is that Saturday’s game will probably be the worst LSU plays all season. The game highlighted flaws in all facets of the Tigers game, and luckily the staff has time to attempt to find a solution.
The Tigers will get two straight home games against two average opponents in Syracuse and Troy before traveling to Gainesville on October 7.
LSU needs to look itself in the mirror, own its poor performance, and realize that intensity and discipline matter more than clever practice titles.

Glen West | Offensive line struggles
The LSU offensive line got its first taste of SEC action and struggled mightily.
Danny Etling was constantly having to evade pressure and Derrius Guice was held to just 76 yards rushing on 15 carries.  Etling was also sacked twice on the night.
The Tigers came into the season thin on o-line depth, and were left with rotating two freshmen at right guard.
While giving up only two penalties on the night, the offensive line didn’t open up many holes as the Tigers were held to 3.9 yards per carry on the second half.
Orgeron was worried about the young o-line not being ready for the physical play of the SEC.
“My whole concern all week was whether or not we could block,” Orgeron said.  “Tonight we couldn’t.”
This inexperienced offensive line will have to grow up early this year if LSU has any chance of remaining competitive in the SEC West.  
With two non-conference battles on the schedule the next, LSU will have to wait and see just how much this o-line can improve.
Hannah Martin | Penalties wreaking havoc
For the third consecutive week, penalties seemed to be the storyline for LSU’s poor performance. This time ended in a 30 point loss to a then-unranked Mississippi State team.
LSU worked its way up to 30 penalties for 272 yards lost in three games. After the season opener against BYU, coach Ed Orgeron addressed the penalties and blamed it on a lack of mental focus. First game nerves and a young team? We will give them that one.
A week later against Chattanooga, LSU picked up 11 more penalties which cause some concern heading into SEC play; however, Orgeron seemed confident his team would shape up before Mississippi State.
The Tigers have six holding penalties, four offsides and four false starts. Those types of penalties as junior offensive lineman Garrett Brumfield put it, don’t require skill to avoid.

You don’t have to be the most skilled player on the team to stay on sides. On another note, the easily avoidable penalties have to be frustrating for the entire team.
What might have really hurt the Tigers during Saturday’s loss to Mississippi State was two touchdowns called back because of a flag on the play.
It comes back to coaching and what things Orgeron and his staff are focusing on in practice. Discipline will be key for the young LSU team. Underestimating the importance of details is going to continue to hold back the Tigers.
Maybe the loss was an eye opener to the entire team and coaching staff because 10 penalties per game could leave LSU in the dust for the 2017 season.