REPORT CARD: Grades Are In…

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Tiger Rag issues the grades on LSU’s 40-31 comeback victory over Troy.

by Matt Reynolds
Tiger Rag Assistant Editor

(At left, Patrick Peterson (Photo by J. Sam Frake)

Quarterbacks:
Despite a forgettable first half, where both Jarrett Lee and Jordan Jefferson struggled to find any resemblance of offensive rhythm, the freshman duo combined for a productive final 30 minutes. Lee was 2-of-8 for 11 yards in the first half, including yet another interception that was returned for a touchdown – the seventh of the season. But Lee threw for 205 second half yards and seemed to find a comfort zone in the forth quarter. Jefferson’s rushing touchdown in the third quarter was the first of 37 unanswered LSU points.
Grade: C +

Running Backs:
After torching the SEC’s top rushing defense in Alabama last week, the LSU rushing attack never really got the wheels turning against a fiery Troy defense that force the Tigers to beat them with the pass. Charles Scott led the Tigers once again with 90 yards on 24 carries and a score, while eclipsing the 1,000 yard mark on the season. Fullback Quinn Johnson was successful at the goal line as the senior punched in two touchdowns.
Running Backs: B –

Offensive Line:
While the patented rushing attack wasn’t there on Saturday, the offensive line was still able to give the Tigers the push they needed on goal line stands. Also, they did a good job of keeping the pressure off Lee in the forth quarter to provide him with time to find his receivers.
Grade: B

Wide Receivers:
The emergence of Terrance Toliver in the fourth quarter and the seemingly given consistent play of Brandon LaFell was the key to the Tigers offensive success of the second half. LaFell’s 12 catches for 126 yards were both career highs for the junior. There were a couple of questionable drops, but overall this unit was the most productive of the offense on Troy.
Grade: B

Defensive line:
Pass rushing was nearly impossible against Troy’s spread system and the three-step drop of Levi Brown. Tremaine Johnson notched the only sack of the night for LSU. Troy running back DuJuan Harris rushed for 65 yards on 14 carries.
Grade: B

Linebackers:
Senior Darry Beckwith had a big night with eight tackles and had several pass deflections in the second half. Due to the type of offense Troy ran, Perry Riley and Kelvin Speppard didn’t see the field near as much as in the past.
Grade: B

Secondary:
The story of the second half was the entire LSU secondary. The first half was anything but pretty for the LSU defense, but eventually the unit began to figure out the spread attack of Troy. The Tigers relied on the corners and safeties to win the one-on-one coverage battles in the second half, and they did that overwhelmingly. Chad Jones led the Tigers with nine tackles, two quarterback hurries and a key fourth quarter interception. Patrick Peterson had another stellar night with eight tackles.
Grade: B

Special Teams:
This unit had its high and low points against Troy. Kickoff coverage struggled to stop Troy returner Jorrick Calvin who had 116 yards on five returns, with a long of 38 yards. Colt David missed a crucial extra-point that would have put the Tigers up by three late in the forth. Obviously it turned out to be meaningless, but it was not the right time for the senior to miss just his third PAT of his career. Counter that by saying the kicker drained a career long 52-yard-FG in the first quarter. A Brady Dalfrey punt that went of the leg of a Troy defender and was recovered by Danny McCray in the forth quarter turned out to be huge.
Grade: B+