The LSU Tigers finished up their regular season in dramatic fashion, with a touchdown in the final seconds and a 27-24 victory over Texas A&M. The result means Ed Orgeron officially leaves the program as a winner, and with a record of 51-20 as head coach.
We saw yet another impressive performance from the Tigers defense, including star linebacker Damone Clark ending the game with back-to-back sacks to put an exclamation point on a thrilling win. While the offense started fast, the same issues that plagued the Tigers in losses to Alabama, Arkansas and Auburn showed up again. This time, though, Max Johnson found something special on a final, game-winning drive that ended in a 28-yard touchdown strike to Jaray Jenkins.
LSU’s win had a mix of every good and bad that was the blueprint to their season. So we’ll recap everything good, bad and ugly that happened in the Tigers win over Texas A&M.
THE GOOD: LSU Defense & Damone Clark
LSU linebacker Damone Clark (18) sacks Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Zach Calzada (10) to end the game.Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Since a loss to Ole Miss, the Tigers defense has gotten better week by week. Even with many of their stars out of action, a different Tigers player has seemed to step up and make plays each game. Cam Lewis and Dwight McGlothern played excellently in coverage, limiting Texas A&M QB Zach Calzada for much of the night.
BJ Ojulari and Jaquelin Roy led the pass-rush, often making plays in the backfield and helping to force six three-and-outs on the day.
But it was the Butkus finalist Damone Clark who represents the true star along the LSU defense. Not only did he lead the Tigers in total tackles once again before his back-to-back sacks that effectively ended the game. I guess when they’re looking for the “Butkus,” we can point to voters to the A&M tape.
Jaray’s Big Night
The junior WR picked the perfect time to have a career game. Jenkins finished the game with eight catches for 169 yards, but none bigger than his 28 yard touchdown to clinch the win for LSU. Max Johnson looked at Jenkins often in the first half. Jenkins’ first catch of the night was also his longest, and it went 45 yards for a score that pinned the Tigers to a 10-0 lead early in the 2nd quarter.
One thing is for sure: Whomever is the QB for LSU next season, they’ll have a talented group of receivers to target. Jenkins should be one of those options.
THE BAD: Max Johnson
LSU quarterback Max Johnson (14) awaits snap as Texas A&M linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (45) looks on.Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
LSU’s quarterback looked solid in the 1st half. As usual the second half struggles brought things to a halt. The Aggies controlled the momentum for most of the second half mostly due to a Tigers offense unable to move the ball. Johnson was sacked five times in the fourth quarter along, including on back-to-back plays to force a punt after the Tigers snapped the ball on 2nd and 1.
Johnson’s inability to get rid of the ball while under pressure cost the Tigers multiple possessions in the second half. Stalled drives in the third quarter led to just 67 total yards. His redeeming moment was an important one, though, standing in under heavy pressure to deliver the game-winner to Jenkins. Johnson will get a bowl game to showcase his game one more time this season, but the QB competition will be interesting heading into next year, and under a new head coach.
THE UGLY: Clock management
LSU head coach Ed Orgeron (left) watches the last play of the game on the video board as time runs out in the Tigers' victory over Texas A&M.Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
One of Ed Orgeron’s biggest issues this season has been poor clock management, and an inefficient use of timeouts. The Tigers wasted two in the 2nd half to avoid delay of game penalties. In close games, timeouts are key, and LSU’s game-winning drive was complicated by LSU owning just the one chance to stop the clock.
It was an issue that seemed to crop up at least once a game this year. Luckily for Tigers fans, they won’t have to worry about this coaching staff using any timeouts next season.
Coach O leaves the LSU program with a bowl game in its future. He leaves the program like the past two LSU, with a new national championship on the Tigers’ resume. Only seven other college football coaches, not including Saban and Miles, can claim that on their resume since 2003, when LSU won its first BSC Championship.
