How do you feel about the coverage in the middle of the field?

The middle are us up playing FSU and if 0 for MSU hadn’t heard footsteps could have been bad this past weekend.

I am excessively fond of covering the middle…

OP makes valid point

Any pressure?

I don’t remember our DL putting up their hands ver much during their rushing. This could help I guess, but I’m not a ex- DL

We do the save thing Lsu used to do when Nick first got here and we had to mage up for our weakness.

We blitzed from odd angles, sometimes a CB, sometimes 3LB and dropped both DE in coverage, remember Marcus spears running stride for stride with wr back in the day when he dropped out.

We as fans have forgot what it takes to last it all out and don’t remember what it took to fill the recruiting ranks with players that were capable of the bend don’t break.

I mean we are not to the point we’re we have to hide everything but I remember QBs being crazy bc they were never sure who was coming. Have not seen Lsu do that in forever but msu game was close, we brought a lot of pressure and still kept most everything in front of us,


We can still call more risky plays for a chance at turnover or causing 4th down etc. Just have not been that desperate u til this weekend imo.

I agree with you. Several big plays went LSU's way in the 2nd half, and it wasn't because of what LSU did to make the play, but what MSU did.
Namely, fumbled punt, holding away from the play on the kickoff runback, the PI Ward, while its good that he caught a pass thrown directly to him, Ward did nothing to make that play not work for MSU...only the bad pass by the MSU QB.
I say that game was much closer than the score and LSU, if they had bad fortune in that game, could have easily lost. Like our punt receiver inexplicably falling on a punted ball rolling on the ground, and quite nearly didn't recover it....that was beyond stupid....but LSU was fortunate.
LSU has a lot of improvements to make to play with the better teams. I was not impressed with LSU winning because I think it was more a result of MSU losing the game.
I hope more improvement is coming. We will need it.

About the same as I feel about our offense attacking the middle of the field. Not great.

quote:

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How many balls did State drop?

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Here is what I saw looking at the play by play on ESPN then finding those plays on a youtube playback. Links provided for my source material.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/playbyplay/_/gameId/401403885

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcflXZqN6v0

Last drive of first half ended with a punt

This was the first drop over the middle was a slightly low pass that appear to bounce off a thigh pad that the receiver did not seem to expect. The receiver did stumble on his cut, it appeared due to him trying to avoid contact with a defender's outstretched hand. He would not have gotten much yardage, probably tackled almost immediately I think, but would have had a first but would have had about 15-20 seconds left and needed probably 10-15 more yards to be in FG range.

First drive of the 2nd half ended with a punt

13:45 3rd and 2 ball right in receiver's hand, straight up drop. He would have had a first to extend the drive. Should have been tackled within 5 yards though. Drive ended in a punt next play.

2nd Drive of the 2nd half - ended with a FG

10:20 3rd qtr. not really a drop, thrown behind the receiver. 2nd and 8, would not have been a 1st. Sage Ryan was directly behind the receiver and closing, even a perfectly thrown ball would have resulted in an immediate tackle 3-5 yards short of a 1st down. Next play netted a 1st down.

9:30 1st and 10 3rd qtr pass over the middle broken up by Major Burns.


3rd Drive of the second half - ended with a turn over on downs


3:40 3rd qtr 2nd and 6 pass broken up by Major Burns
2:17 3rd qtr 4th & 1 pass broken up and nearly picked by Jay Ward

5th Drive of the second half - ended with punt 24-16 LSU at this point


6:40 4th 1st & 10 THrow was behind the receiver but should have been caught. Would have resulted in a first down but but not many yards after catch.

6:30 4th 2 & 10. slightly low but Probably should have been caught, not really an over the middle to a receiver, this was to a back coming out of the backfield. Would have been immediately tackled, not a first down. I am not sure what Perkins assignment was but when the back slid out to the right side of the offense, perkins looked like he decided to run around the other side and that left the back open. I think it was a read from rogers and the back. If he wasn't engaged throw down to him.

6:25 4th Qtr 3rd & 10 Rogers had a little time. All receivers covered, pressure getting to him so he tries a shovel pass to the RB but it was to far in front of him. Maybe he makes a very good catch by lungining for it but very likely goes to the turf to catch it and if not he is off balance and defenders are closing already, not likely a 1st down.


And that's all folks. Next incompletion for Rogers is a pick by Jay ward with 3:06 to play.

IMO the over the middle drops is why LSU won this game narrative is a bit overblown.

Does LSU need to do better over the middle? Yes they do.

Were they better this week than they were vs FSU? Absolutely.

Is it possible for them to continue to improve? I expect they will because I do not think this is primarily an issue of lack of talent.