Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images
By Hunt Palmer
THE STORY
Changes were made, but the LSU offense remained the same.
The Tigers squandered four red zone chances, committed mindless penalties in key spots, gifted Alabama a late first half possession, had a key drop, turned the ball over twice and got beat 20-9 in Tuscaloosa.
Ultimately, the offense just isn’t good enough.
The Tigers mustered just nine points against an Alabama defense that had been vulnerable against the run and yielded more points than that to every team on its schedule with the exception of ULM.
Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier was benched in favor of Michael Van Buren who couldn’t create any points outside of a field goal set up by a Harold Perkins strip sack and fumble recovery.
The running game was non-existent. The passing game relied on a heavy screen diet that proved largely ineffective. The offensive line struggled to block and avoid penalties. The red zone execution was an unmitigated disaster. LSU got inside the 20 four times and never punched in a touchdown. Two of the drives backed up outside the redzone for field goals, and Damia Ramos hooked a chip shot in the first quarter.
In other words, it was more of the same.
Defensively, LSU gave itself a chance. The Tigers forced a pair of turnovers and kept the game within reach until the final minutes. No help was offered from the other side of the ball.
LSU has a decision to make at quarterback moving forward. Four games remain, and the offense continues to grossly underperform.
THE STATS
Alabama outgained LSU 345-to-232.
LSU ran the ball 26 times for 59 yards.
Alabama ran the ball for 56 yards.
Garrett Nussmeier: 18-for-21, 121 yards
Michael Van Buren: 5-for-11, 52 yards
Ty Simpson: 21-for-35, 277 yards, TD
Penalties: LSU 10 for 74 yards, Alabama 2 for 25 yards
Harold Perkins: 9 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery
Ramos made his 62nd career field goal. That’s an LSU record.
THE PLAYS
LSU’s defense stood tall on the opening drive. Alabama went for a 4th and 1 from the LSU 38, and West Weeks stuffed Jam Miller on a direct snap.
LSU drove down inside the redzone, and Damian Ramos hooked a 30-yarder.
LSU converted a third down on a middle screen to Bauer Sharp, but he fumbled. Alabama fell on it at the LSU 24.
LSU’s defense stopped the Tide there and forced a Conor Talty 45-yarder. 3-0 Alabama.
A 33-yard run by Harlem Berry put LSU in scoring position. Ramos connected on a 37-yard field goal on a 4th and 2. 3-3 with 12:27 before halftime.
Alabama scored the game’s first touchdown on a five-yard run from Daniel Hill. 10-3 Tide with 9:25 before halftime. It was a seven-play, 75-yard drive.
After an LSU three-and-out and punt, Alabama drove into the redzone and backed up from inside the 10. Talty’s 26-yard field goal was hooked wide left with 2:28 before halftime.
Alabama got the ball back with 55 seconds to play and no timeouts. Simpson dropped it in to Lotzeir Brooks for 53 yards and hit Ryan Williams for a 13-yard touchdown. It took 33 seconds. 17-3 Alabama.
LSU took the first drive of the half to 1st and goal. 4th and goal came from the 27, and Ramos connected from 44. 17-6 Alabama.
LSU lined up to go for a 4th and 1 with 3:11 left in the third, and Bauer Sharp and Carius Curne moved on the left side of the line. Punt.
The Tiger defense kept fighting. Harold Perkins knocked the ball out of Simpson’s hand and fell on it at the Alabama 38 on the first play of the third quarter.
LSU got into the redzone and immediately backed up. Ramos was good from 37. 17-9 Alabama with 10:28 left.
LSU’s defense forced a punt which was downed by Alabama at the LSU 2.
On 3rd and 9 from the shadow of its own goalposts, Van Buren hit Trey’Dez Green in the hands. He dropped it.
Alabama took possession and cashed in a 44-yard field goal to make it a two-possession game with 4:25 to play. 20-9 Alabama.
Van Buren was stripped on a sack. Alabama recovered with 3:11 left to seal the game.
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