- Jun 12, 2014
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Founding Member
Most football games usually have several subplots, twists and turns, that play out and result in the conclusion. Last night in Baton Rouge, we had our beleaguered Gators, 5-4 and riding a two-game losing streak and having lost at home last week, ingloriously, to hapless Arkansas (who was destroyed 48-10 by Auburn yesterday). We had LSU coming off a beating at the hands of a resurgent Alabama that included knocking dangerous dual-threat QB Jayden Daniels out of the game with a concussion. Even though he was cleared to participate earlier in the week, would his effectiveness be impacted? Then there was our own Billy Napier, starting to come under fire for a lack of success, but maybe more so for the myriad of mistakes being made by both coaches and players in every game. It made for some good theatre leading up to the game.
Once the game started, It quickly became apparent that Daniels was no worse for the wear coming off of the concussion protocol. The slender Tiger QB had an All-American night, passing for 372 yds and 3 TDs and rushing for 234 yds and 2 more scores, leaving the Gator defenders chasing and flailing in his wake. There’s reason to believe Daniels may likely become only the fourth player from a 3-loss team to win the Heisman and his record-setting 616 yds of total offense last night certainly didn’t hurt his chances.
I have to admit that as one who has been critical of Billy‘s seeming lack of attention to the multitude of mistakes as well as an offense that is more ball control than attacking, the Gators O was more potent and attacked vertically, with success, more than we have been. The result was that Mertz was able to throw for 311 yds and a TD and no INTs. We were also able to rush the ball for 177, led by Etienne with 99 yds and 3 TDs on 18 carries. We also took the lead at 28-24 in the 3rd quarter and for a moment looked like a team that was finding it’s pace.
But it wasn’t to be. Daniels just grabbed another gear with a 51 yd TD run and on our next possession, aided by a questionable booth review and overturn of a spectacular Mertz to Kahleil Jackson pass that would have set us up in scoring position, we turned the ball over on downs (I think I’m right on my sequencing here). The rest was academic as LSU scored 3 more times and the final score was 52-38, leaving the Gators at 5-5 with Missouri (8-2) up next on the road and the finale at home in two weeks against an undefeated F$U.
No moral victory, but a couple of positives was a clean up of many of the mistakes that had been plaguing the Gators, particularly with Special Teams, and with the passing game that attacked both vertically and in the middle of the field and was also able to move the ball and score on the ground. 38 points and 488 total yds, on most nights, would be considered respectable and a reason to celebrate.
But not with the defensive performance that was put forth. Granted, Daniels is probably the best player in CFB right now, but great day, I believe we set some kind of record tonight for uncovered receivers and loss of contain, which led to us giving up a whopping 701 yds of offense and 52 pts. We had a few defensive moments, a goal line stand and a couple of sacks, but by and large we were shredded, chewed up and spit out, and all too often our guys were trailing, chasing, watching Daniels and the Tigers run, pass, and catch through us like a hot knife through butter. Make no mistake, even though we showed a pulse tonight offensively, we are abysmal defensively. Part of it is personnel, but having defenders consistently misaligned, out of position, and not playing aggressively is a guarantee that we will lose more than we win, especially in the SEC and during this period of offenses > defenses, and clearly points to coaching and expectations on that side of the ball.
So, the repeating question of “What now?” is asked yet again. Missouri on the road will be no birthday party. The Tigers whipped Tennessee 36-7 yesterday and in the words of HC Eliah Drinkwitz “kicked their defense’s @ss!” To say they will be confident at home and looking to do the same to us is likely an understatement. And until we find some way to become better fundamentally and give great effort EVERY play, barring a spate of turnovers by Mizzou or them uncharacteristically looking past us, they’ll kick our @ss, too. Damn it hurts to say that, but it’s true and underscores another area of concern for Billy to rectify. And that rectification can’t come soon enough.
I’ve always heard that “the sun doesn’t shine on the same dog’s back all the time,” but damn if it doesn’t seem like we’ve been under a cloud forever! Again, we’re reduced to playing for the outside chance (at this point) for bowl eligibility and to stave off a losing season record. A far cry from a Conference Championship and a playoff berth, but a step that’s still before us. Feels “Sisyphean” at this point, but it is our task to perform. Bear up Gators! Let’s roll the rock and look for better days in the not so distant future!
