Welcome everyone to the latest edition of #4Downs, where I break down every LSU game. This week, I look at LSU’s loss to Auburn.
1st Down: Clock Mismanagement From Les Costs Team
When you look back at some of the wildestt victories during the tenure of Les Miles, what are you thinking of? Do you think of the Florida game in 2010 with the wild fake field goal? Or are you thinking of the Tennessee game where you have a blunder with 30 seconds left in the game and LSU managed to sneak away with a win after the refs state that the Vols had 12 men on the field? Odds are, after this loss to Auburn, that’s what you’re thinking. They held onto the timeouts until that final drive, but could have held on to at least one of those until they got to the ten yard line. Call a timeout and you have enough time to come up with one play that could give you the win. Classic Les.
2nd Down: Arden Key Unlocked
Arden Key continues to look like a monster defensively with a forced fumble and another one and a half sacks. The scary part: he’s a sophomore. After this season, you’ll be losing playmakers like Tre’Davious White so having a sophomore that is showing he has the ability to get at the quarterback and make plays behind the line. Key had to be the MVP for the game with the performance he had on Saturday.
3rd Down: Offensive Line Performance Lacking
The LSU Tigers left Danny Etling get hit a little too much. One wasn’t in the pocket when he was targeted by an Auburn defensive player that gave him a cut, but Etling was sacked three times and hit six more times. Overall poor performance by the LSU O-Line and that might have been the difference in the matchup all day long.
4th Down: Les’ Last Stand
At the time of this being written, the reports are intensifying that Les Miles will be fired alongside Cam Cameron and possibly Ed Orgeron will be the interim coach while a replacement is being courted to Baton Rouge. Perhaps it should’ve happened last season, but now it’s happened so now what? The Tigers playoff hopes have been all but dashed now after losing to Auburn who was 1-2 heading into this game. Perhaps this game being called the buyout bowl was more accurate than expected.