LSU’s passing attack needed time.
Quarterback Sam Leavitt’s foot surgery robbed the unit of valuable repetitions in the spring. The summer was a race to catch up, and the early fall moved quickly. When the season opener rolled around, LSU hung 51 points on Clemson but did so with raw playmaking ability rather than the rhythmic execution expected of the offense.
After eight months of development, Leavitt and Co. feel more like the crisp outfit generally expected in a Lane Kiffin-Charlie Weis Jr. attack. In wins over Mississippi State and Auburn, Leavitt has completed 63 of 83 passes (76%) for 677 yards and seven touchdowns without an interception. After throwing five interceptions in his first three games, he’s thrown just three in his last five.
“It’s a little bit tricky of an area sometimes because it’s like, you know, how many times have I put the ball in danger where, you know, I wouldn’t go back and do the same thing,” Leavitt said. “I’ve said it multiple times now, the ball just didn’t bounce our way on certain things. Sometimes you play your game and, um, unfortunate things happen.”
Leavitt has a point. The Clemson interception hit his intended receiver in the hands.
A defender tipped one of his three interceptions against Louisiana Tech. On LSU’s final offensive snap against Ole Miss, Leavitt threw a desperation pass that a defender tipped at the line of scrimmage.
Not all interceptions are created equally.
“It comes down to situational awareness,” Leavitt said. “When can I take these chances? What’s the matchup like? Is the DB’s back turned? It was definitely an emphasis after week six and just started focusing on that a lot. The more you install it in your brain and into your hardware and the system and all that, and it kind of just becomes a thing that you get better at.”
He’s also improved his completion percentage. Primary targets have emerged from a receiving corps that was unfamiliar to him when he arrived in Baton Rouge.
Tight end Trey’Dez Green quickly became a favorite of Leavitt’s, but a knee injury sidelined him for a month. He returned at Auburn and immediately made an impact with five catches for 50 yards and a score. His impact went beyond the stat sheet, though.
“It’s kind of like a safety blanket out there,” Leavitt said. “He’s such a big target. I threw him a cross in the game, and I felt like I kind of missed him a little bit. Then he just snagged it, and it looked so easy for him. I was like, you know, it’s pretty nice. He got a pretty wide target right there.”
