My Take Some make like, many will hate

I’ve no issues with the punt. I have serious issues with our prevent defense after the punt though.

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Have to & should believe our defense would stop them

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Based on what exactly? Baker's soft zone, no pressure scheme with the game on the line?

Agreed as punting was the right call. Had we gone for it and got stuffed the outcry would be even worse and justified. Hopefully Baker gets this worked out sooner rather than later

I agree with everything you said. The soft zone/prevent defense DOES NOT WORK. I get not wanting to give up a big play but time and time again that soft zone bullshite bites us in the arse. LSU's defense has had the most success when running man, stunting d linemen and sprinkling in blitzes. Abandoning everything that shut Kentucky down for most of the 2nd half to run that prevent bullshite needs to stop.

I think at that point in the season - it was the right call. I think Kiffin and Baker will be way more aggressive the rest of the season.

The most surprising thing in the game was not being able to get pressure - even when blitzing. Refs seem to never call holding if the QB stays in the pocket.

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** the call to punt at end of with 2 minutes left was RIGHT CALL

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Strongly disagree. A terrible call before knowing the outcome. What's the chance that LSU can convert a 4th and 1 from their own 42? Statistically for most teams it's about 65%-70%. I don't think LSU is any worse than that. That's 65%-70% LSU ends the game right then and there on the road in a pretty electric environment.

Compare that to what the chances are for LSU's defense to keep Kentucky from getting in makeable field goal range with 1min 40 sec from their own 20 with no timeouts, knowing they will have all 4 downs to work with and this is college where clocks stop every first down. I'd consider it a 50/50 proposition. Especially knowing how Baker's defenses shift philosophy to soft zone prevent-style defense in end of half situations. So you're giving up a 65%+ chance at victory in regulation for a 50% chance of victory in regulation if you punt. That's hugely significant.

And by willingly giving Kentucky the ball down 3, LSU also willingly opened the door to a potential loss in regulation. Let's not forget that after punting, Kentucky ultimately had two passes at the end of regulation from inside LSU's 20 yard line. One was defended well by Cooley in the endzone. And on 3rd down, Kentucky very nearly gained a new first and 10 from LSU's 13 yard line with 12 seconds left and the clock stopped, but Kentucky's TE ran a route 1 yard shy of the first down marker when he fell out of bounds. This could have easily provided UK with 2 more shots to the end zone before kicking the FG for OT.

Again, don't ignore that LSU had the opportunity to not even open the door to any of that if they just had the guts and skills to execute a conversion from 1 yard away. It likely cost LSU the game. Don't undersell it.

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No, it wasnt the right call. LSU hired Lane for those play.

You get stuffed you have the same ending, or you have time to possibly drive down to take the lead after the game tying field goal.

Punting was and will always be the wrong call period

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You are ignoring the fact that if we had gone for it and failed they had plenty of time to score a TD. IMO, the punt was a 50/50 call. The second down QB bootleg was a weak call and the soft zones were bad on the final drive.

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IMO, the punt was a 50/50 call. The second down QB bootleg was a weak call and the soft zones were bad on the final drive.

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In normal circumstances, I think it’s a higher percentage play to punt and play defense, but this defense has given up TD’s on every possession to end halves, in road games. That’s just a crazy bad statistic.

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Yep... the famous "Prevent Us From Winning Defense"... happens all the time.

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Exactly this
If you look up most great defenses through the years they all have something in common. They rarely played prevent defense, they stuck to dictating the game and doing what they do well. IMO one of the team strengths has been pass rush, you just can’t handcuff them like that.