LSU had another downward turn on the roller coaster of a 2020 season on Saturday night. Although LSU avoided being shutout by Texas A&M, the Tigers left Kyle Field with plenty of questions and fires to put out with its offense.
1. TJ Finley made a critical freshman mistake
Down two scores and backed up deep in their own end, LSU could not afford to have the quarterback make a costly mistake. TJ Finley did just that with an ill-advised throw under pressure into the middle of the field. It was picked off by Texas A&M’s Buddy Johnson and returned 15 yards for an easy touchdown for the Aggies. That score turned a 13-0 deficit into a three-score game with time already becoming critical for the Tigers.
Head coach Ed Orgeron was visibly upset over the decision-making by his young quarterback as he got in his face as Finley came off the field. Perhaps not coincidentally, Max Johnson took the field for LSU’s ensuing possession.
Instant Reaction: LSU offense no match for Texas A&M defense
2. Defense played well vs Kellen Mond
Last week saw LSU’s defense show signs of improvement after a pause in the schedule. Although they gave up some big pass plays to Feleipe Franks of Arkansas, the overall takeaway from last week was the defense played better. They somehow managed to improve a little bit more this week by frustrating Texas A&M quarterback Kellen Mond all night long.
Mond completed just 11 of his 34 pass attempts for 105 yards without a touchdown. Mond was also held to just 27 rushing yards, highlighted by a 26-yard run. Texas A&M still managed to get production on the ground to grind out some points, but LSU forced the Aggies to succeed on the ground in other ways.
3. Seriously, how is this not a catch?
It may not have had a dramatic effect on the outcome of the game, but it was certainly a huge swing in momentum when LSU had a two-play touchdown drive wiped out by a video replay and a turnover on the very next play.
After the defense held firm for a fourth-down stop, LSU ripped right down the field with a quick two-play drive traveling 54 yards for a touchdown. TJ Finley’s 54-yard pass to Terrace Marshall was followed by an acrobatic catch by Kayshon Boutte for a touchdown. Or was it?
Replays did seem to show the ball had a very brief moment where it was not in full control of Boutte, but the referee failed to really dive into any explanation for the overturned call.
Immediately following the overturned call, TJ Finley was intercepted by Texas A&M’s Jaylon Jones at the 21-yard line. LSU went from thinking it scored a touchdown on a quick two-play drive after a fourth-down stop and instead was sending its defense back out on the field following a turnover.
4. The LSU QB situation is a roller coaster
Finley was intercepted twice in the game, with his second turnover being the most costly. Finley threw an ill-advised pass under pressure deep in LSU;’s end and it was intercepted and returned for a 15-yard touchdown by Buddy Johnson. Ed Orgeron was notably upset with his quarterback’s decision-making and it may not be a coincidence that Max Johnson played the rest of the game at quarterback.
This may be the time to suggest Max Johnson has a legitimate chance to start next weekend against Alabama. Finley may still have plenty of tools to work with and he is still growing and learning. And sometimes taking these kinds of lumps helps in the long run. But each time Finley has had to be pulled from a game due to being ineffective this season, Johnson has finished the game and managed to get a touchdown on the board.
5. Where’s the running game?
Granted, running the football against Texas A&M is never an easy task. But LSU’s inability to run the football at all has to be concerning. LSU combined to rush for 36 yards, with Tyrion Davis-Price leading the Tigers with half of those rushing yards (18 yards).
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