JJ WVU game play-by-play analysis

1st drive
1st pass: hitch route, on the money, 9 yards
oline penalty, 5 yards
lead option, JJ keeps it for 11 yards, first down
2nd pass: slant, on the money, WR deflects it into the safety for the pick

2nd drive
run for 4 yards
3rd pass: dump off to rb, on the money for 18 yards and 1st down
run for 7 yards
back to back oline false start penalties
4th pass: hits rb in the flats and he is tackled for 1 yard gain
5th pass: got pressured, stepped up in the pocket and completed to WR over the middle, pass on the money for 22 yards (play called back for holding on the oline)
6th pass: 3rd and long, checks down to the RB in the flats, field position play, LSU punts

3rd drive (fumble recovered inside the 20)
no passes, run run run run into the endzone

1st quarter summary: JJ played well. He completed 5 passes out of 6, but one was negated by a penalty. The one incompletion was a perfect pass, hit the WR in the hands and was caught by the safety. Offense could have had more points if not for the turnover on the first drive and 3 penalties on the second drive. Playcalling was pretty balanced with 6 passes and 7 runs.

(2nd quarter)

4th drive
drive starts at the WVU 41 thanks to the defense's interception
7th pass: play action to shep and then pass to shep in the flats, but shep got hit before releasing and slowed, play didnt develop, completion for a loss of 6, pass was okay
2 runs and a FG


5th drive
(drive starts on the LSU 14)
JJ runs the lead option, keeps it for 6 yards.
JJ hesitates on the pass and gets sacked for a 7 yard loss. Mostly JJ's fault for not getting rid of it, but it wasn't *terrible*. The blitz got there in a hurry.
8th pass: (3rd and 11) JJ steps up in the pocket and completes it to Peterson over the middle for 5 yards, Peterson tackled shy of the first down marker.
LSU punts.

6th drive
(less than a minute remaining in the half)
9th pass: screen to Toliver incomplete, pass was there but Toliver was hit early and WVU played it well.
10th pass: pass incomplete to Wright on the sideline, pass was accurate, Wright dropped it.
11th pass: pass incomplete to Peterson, JJ was hit by a blitzer as he was releasing the ball, but the pass was reasonably accurate and should have been caught by Peterson.
LSU punts, WVU runs the clock out, halftime.

2nd quarter summary: JJ continued to be accurate with the ball, but overall the offense was ineffective with all 3 drives being 3 & outs. JJ completed 2 out of 5 passes. Of the 3 incompletions, 2 were good passes and the other was still catchable, despite JJ being hit on delivery. JJ did hold onto the ball too long on one play and took a sack that put us in a 3rd and long which we didn't convert. Playcalling was still balanced with 3 runs and 6 passes (called), skewed to the passing side because of down & distance, and the final 3 plays coming with under a minute to go.

(3rd quarter)

7th drive
offense starts on the LSU 38
Ridley rushes for 13 yards, first down
12th pass: Ridley splits out wide, JJ throws incomplete to Ridley, the pass was late and too high, bad pass for JJ.
Blue rush for 1 yard, Shep called for holding, 2nd and 19
JJ rushes for 4 yards on a draw.
13th pass: (3rd and 15) JJ throws a pick trying to force it in to Peterson. The throw was accurate, but the decision to make the throw was horrible. Peterson was blanketed with one man in front, practically inside his jersey, and another defender behind him. Only the second bad pass for JJ on the day, but it was terrible.

8th drive
offense starts on the 25
(this is where JLee ran out with the offense like he was coming in but then came back out and JJ went in)
Ridley rush up the middle for 4 yards
JJ rushes for no gain.
Crowd boos.
14th pass: (3rd and 5) JJ runs a bootleg left and completes it to Randle for 20 yards and the first down. Good pass.
15th pass: JJ runs a bootleg right and throws it to Peterson, but his pass is batted down by a linebacker who wasn't blocked well by the RB.
Ridley rushes up the middle for 3 yards.
16th pass: (3rd and 7) JJ hits Randle on a shallow crossing route, but Randle isn't able to get seperation and is tackled short of the first down. Pass was okay, a little behind him, but he might have been able to get away if the pass was out in front.
LSU punts.

9th drive
(offense starts on the LSU 23)
JJ fakes the handoff, but the play action pass never gets thrown because pressure in JJ's face forces him out of the pocket. JJ runs out of bounds for a 2 yard loss. He should have thrown the ball away, but 2 yards isn't that big of a deal.
Ridley rushes up the middle for 16 yards, first down.
Ridley rushes to the outside for no gain.
17th pass: JJ play action pass to Shep on a post route. Shep had man to man and had his man beat, but was interfered with by the corner. First down via penalty.
18th pass: JJ play action pass on a deep post to Toliver is incomplete. JJ had all day to throw, but threw it a little late, and way too short. Bad pass.
JJ keeps it on the lead option for 3 yards.
19th pass: (3rd and 7) JJ completes it to Randle route for 9 yards and the first down. Good pass.
JJ keeps it on the lead option for 3 yards.
Ridley rushes up the middle for 12 yards for the first down.
Shepard runs the sweep for 9 yards.
JJ keeps it on the lead option for 2 yards to the WVU 10 yard line, first down.
Ridley up the middle for 1 yard.
20th pass: (2nd and goal from the 9) JJ rolls out on the bootleg, and throws incomplete to Peterson. Peterson got jammed at the line, and was late getting away. JJ had to backpedal to get away from defenders waiting on Peterson to break open. He threw the ball while backpedaling, so the ball was late getting there and could have been picked off. Bad decision and bad throw.
21st pass: (3rd and goal from the 9) JJ completes it to Randle on the slant, but Randle is wrapped up by defenders short of the endzone. Pass was accurate for 4 yards, but WVU defended it well.
LSU kicks a FG. 20-14.

(4th quarter)


10th drive
LSU starts on the LSU 31 yard line following a WVU missed FG.
Shep rushes for 3 on a sweep.
Ridley up the middle for 6.
(3rd and 1) Ridley rushes up the middle for 2 and the first down.
22nd pass: JJ play action to Ridley and rolls out, both routes were covered and JJ throws it away. Good decision.
23rd pass: JJ play action pass to Shep on the seam route is incomplete. JJ had time, but underthrew the ball. Bad pass by JJ.
24th pass: (3rd and 10) JJ steps up in the pocket and throws incomplete to Randle. This was one of his worst passes of the night. Randle was open and JJ one-hopped it to him. LSU punts.
Fans boo again.
JJ looked very frustrated coming off the field. With the camera on him, I saw him yell "damnit" several times, as well as "he was wide open". Kudos for manning up and taking responsibility.

11th drive
Offense starts on the LSU 42.
JLee comes in at QB.
Big cheer from the crowd.
Ridley up the middle for 3 yards.
Ridley up the middle for 3 yards.
(3rd and 4) JLee completes it to Ridley on a wheel route for 4 yards and the first down, but LSU is flagged for illegal procedure and the play is negated.
(3rd and 9) JLee completes to Toliver on a shallow crossing route for 5 yards. The pass was a little behind him, but Toliver makes a good catch. WVU defense makes the tackle short of the first down.
LSU punts.


12th drive
LSU starts the drive on the WVU 43.
JJ comes back in the game at QB.
The crowd boos again.
Ridley runs for 15 yards; first down.
Ridley runs for 4 yards.
Ridley runs for 7 yards; first down.
Victory formation, LSU wins.