Statistically Speaking: LSU heads into an open date

Too bad football games aren’t played on paper.

LSU is a monster on the stat sheet both offensively and defensively. Six lopsided wins will do that. On the flip side, LSU is 0-2 in the 50/50 games which is why the Tigers are where they are.

LSU head football coach Lane Kiffin, offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. and quarterback Sam Leavitt have the offense humming, and Blake Baker’s defense has absolutely muzzled the inferior offenses on the schedule.

Let’s take a look.

Green: Top 25

Red: Bottom 50

*The smaller the ranking, the better the statistic

OFFENSE

Scoring Offense: 7^th, 40.1 ppg

Total Offense: 6^th, 510.0 ypg

Yards per play: 31^st, 6.4 ypp

Rushing Offense: 33^rd, 192.1 ypg

Yards per carry: 57^th, 4.6 ypc

Rushing Attempts per game: 17^th, 42 per game

Rushing Touchdowns: 7^th, 22

Passing Offense: 6^th, 317.9 ypg

Passing Attempts per game: 10^th, 37.4 apg

Passing yards per attempt: 25^th, 8.5 ypa

Completion Percentage: 21^st, 67.%

Passing Touchdowns: 13^th, 19

Interceptions Thrown: 120^th, 8

First Downs: 2^nd, 28 per game

Third Down Conversions: 12^th, 51.7%

Fourth Down Conversion attempts: 32^nd, 16

Red Zone Touchdown Percentage: 28^th, 71.1%

20-plus yard plays: 27^th, 39

10-plus yard runs: 18^th, 48

20-plus yard passes: 16^th, 32

Sacks Allowed: 54^th, 1.6 per game

Tackles For Loss Allowed: 101^st, 5.8 per game

Time of Possession: 13^th, 33:01 per game

Yards, first downs and points are the priority, and LSU is top ten nationally in all three categories. The passing game has been sensational with the exception of the interceptions. LSU has completed a high percentage of throws spearheaded by Sam Leavitt’s improvement. There have been plenty of explosive plays, too.

The running game hasn’t been awesome in terms of yards per carry, but the offensive staff has remained committed to it from a carries perspective. The ground game is also producing a ton of touchdowns.

The first halves against Ole Miss and Louisiana Tech weren’t great, but LSU has been consistently good in almost every aspect of offense outside of those minor blips.

DEFENSE

Scoring Defense: 17^th, 16.0 ppg

Total Defense: 4^th, 258.3 ypg

Yards per Play Allowed: 6^th, 4.3 ypp

Run Defense: 6^th, 85.5 ypg

Yards per Carry Allowed: 6^th, 2.7 ypc

Rushing Touchdowns Allowed: 51^st, 9

Passing Defense: 18^th, 172.8 ypg

Completion Percentage Allowed: 54^th, 60%

Yards per Passing Attempt Allowed: 17^th, 6.0 ypa

Interceptions: 27^th, 7

Passing Touchdowns Allowed: 3^rd, 4

Sacks: 2^nd, 34

Tackles for Loss: 11^th, 7.8 per game

Third Down Defense: 12^th, 51.7%

Red Zone Touchdown Percentage Allowed: 26^th, 50%

20-plus yard plays allowed: 26^th, 23

10-plus yard runs allowed: 42^nd, 26

20-plus yard passes allowed: 32^nd, 17

I wouldn’t suggest LSU has played a murderer’s row of quarterbacks and offenses, but the numbers are great. LSU is creating pressure on quarterbacks and making plays in the backfield. The passing defense is great especially considering the amount of big leads LSU has had. Those can lead to a lot of garbage time passing yards. Even that hasn’t dented LSU statistically.

The run defense really showed up in the win at Auburn, and it’s been good all year aside from the big play by Kentucky and some Mississippi State empty yards.

Things will be tougher for Blake Baker’s defense in November, but the unit is right where you’d like it through two months.

Hunt Palmer

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