Statistically Speaking: LSU’s Offense

By Hunt Palmer

As the open date arrives, it’s time to take a look at LSU statistically.

None of this should come as much of a surprise. The Tiger offense is struggling. Bye weeks are always a time for self-scouting and adjustments. LSU is not devoid of talent on the offensive side, but the lack of production is concerning.

I laid out the numbers below and gave a few thoughts on them. The Tigers have time to improve, but it’s got to come quickly.

A reminder that the smaller the ranking, the better the statistic.

Green: Top 25

Red: Bottom 50

OFFENSE

Scoring Offense: 80th, 27 points per game

Total Offense: 90th, 364.2 yards per game

Yards per play: 86th, 5.5 yards per play

Plays: 35th, 66.2 plays per game

Rushing Offense: 121st, 104.8 yards per game

Yards per carry: 116th, 3.56 yards per carry

Rushing Attempts per game: 118th, 29.4 attempts per game

Rushing Touchdowns: 73rd, 7

Passing Offense: 46th, 259 yards per game

Completion Percentage: 26th, 68.5%

Passing Touchdowns: 49th, 8

Interceptions Thrown: 49th, 3

Third Down Conversions: 60th, 42.9%

Red Zone Touchdown Percentage: 48th, 68.2%

20-plus yard plays: 84th, 18

10-plus yard runs: 105th, 15

20-plus yard passes: 71st, 13

First Downs: 54th, 22 per game

Sacks Allowed: 52nd, 1.4 per game

Tackles For Loss Allowed: 91st, 5.2 per game

Time of Possession: 36th, 31:43 per game

HUNT’S TAKE

That’s a lot of red. No green to be seen.

The lack of a running game is nothing new for LSU. The Tigers played without that last year. The bigger difference between last season and this one is the lack of consistent production from the passing game. Last year LSU was seventh in the country in passing. Another product of that was ranking sixth in the country on third downs. That helped LSU finish 16th in the country in time of possession.

Those were all “green” last year, and they are not through four games.

LSU’s offense is still without an identity after a month. The open date must be put to good use to determine how to be a better unit. The Tiger have produced five offensive touchdowns total in the three games against Clemson, Florida and Ole Miss.

Brian Kelly preaches the importance of complementary football, and right now the offense is simply not helping the defense enough.