Nearly everyone saw action Saturday night for LSU.
Pro Football Focus graded 31 defenders and 43 offensive players. That’s how it should go when an FCS team comes in to earn a check against an FBS team.
The stat sheet was overwhelming as LSU set program records for offensive plays (101) and first downs (39).
There were correctable mistakes and outstanding efforts. All in all, Saturday night was a success. Now, on to SEC play.
HIGHEST GRADES
- Tamarcus Cooley, S – 91.4
- Jordan Seaton, LT – 84.4
- Corey Barber, WR – 83.9
- Dominick McKinley, DT – 83.8
- Tylen Singleton, LB – 82.6
Cooley got LSU’s defensive effort going with an interception on McNeese’s first drive. He graded a 91.7 in coverage and made a tackle. LSU limited his snaps, as it did with much of the starting defense. He only logged 21 snaps.
Seaton didn’t allow a pressure on 26 drop backs and graded 79.8 paving the way for the running game. There’s no bigger talent gap between programs like LSU and McNeese than on the lines of scrimmage.
It was a breakout game for Barber who stepped in for Winston Watkins Jr. after the Ole Miss transfer dropped a pair of would-be touchdowns.
Barber cashed in by catching all seven of his catches including two scores. His last catch may have been the most impressive when he took a shot on a crossing route and still held on.
McKinley is fighting for time on LSU’s defensive interior. He had a sack and a hurry for two pressures on five pass rush snaps. He also made a tackle in the backfield.
Singleton got 23 snaps and made five tackles to lead the Tigers. He’s the next man up behind TJ Dottery and Davhon Keys.
Midway through his third season, Singleton has earned some trust. Saturday night was a nice reminder of that.
LOWEST GRADES
- Tyree Holloway, WR – 45.2
- Malik Elzy, WR – 49.6
- Sam Leavitt, QB – 50.8
- Caden Durham, RB – 51.6
- Zach Grace, TE – 52.0
In a seriously crowded wide receiver room, Holloway and Elzy are down the pecking order. Holloway had a false start and a holding penalty in 17 snaps. That’s going to ding a grade. Elzy drew four targets, catching one pass and dropping another.
Leavitt’s low grade surprised me.He graded a 49.8 in the passing game.
Yes, the interception was a bad read at a bad spot on the field. Three of his five incompletions were graded as drops. If those are caught, and two of them would have been touchdowns, he completes 21-of-23.
He didn’t take off and run at any point. Just watching the game live, I like Leavitt’s effort. PFF didn’t.
Durham has become a forgotten man. While Dilin Jones has locked up the starting job and Harlem Berry and Stacy Gage traded huge plays on Saturday night, Durham got 26 snaps on Saturday and carried the ball five times.
He didn’t force a missed tackle and wasn’t targeted in the passing game. I’d still contend that as fourth team tailbacks go, Durham is a solid option.
Grace dropped his only target. His blocking grades were just fine, 72.9 pass blocking and 67.8 run blocking. Roman Mothershed took those “tight end” catches as the night progressed.
LSU misses Trey’Dez Green for sure. Grace is limited in what he can do at the position.
