The LSU football team is 4-1 on the season after a dominant win over McNeese. It was no surprise. This is what was supposed to happen.
But still – our 5 takes as the Tigers get a __ – __ win.
TAKE 1: SAM SHINED – It was another week if ‘In the Pocket’ Sam Leavitt being a player who just looks different. The interception is one he will want to have back, but he also could have had an even bigger day if not for some drops. He was immobile again, which is not good. But he was in the pocket going through his reads. That’s a more effective and realistic option than taking the snap and running for your life.
TAKE 2: ROMAN MOTHERSHED – I am intrigued by this Roman Mothershed. A WR who was buried on the depth chart, Lane Kiffin moved him to tight end and thinks he found something in the passing game. He probably can’t block like an SEC tight end yet. That’s OK. In a pinch, he can make plays and keep defenses honest. That is good enough for me.
TAKE 3: HARLEM BERRY IS DIFFERENT – I said in these five takes a few weeks ago that it wasn’t ever going to happen for Harlem Berry and fans needed to stop pressing it. I was wrong. That kid is growing under the Kevin Smith learning tree and looks like a different player. He is hitting the holes hard and is playing extremely well – a legitimate No. 2 behind Dilin Jones.
TAKE 4: THAT TIMEOUT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE THIRD – LSU had the wrong personnel to start the third quarter. Who cares, right? It’s 35-0. It’s a blowout, coach. Nah, Lane Kiffin doesn’t play those games. He called a timeout, put the entire team in a circle, got in the middle of the circle and berated the team for the lack of focus. THAT is the stuff Brian Kelly never had. I smiled from ear-to-ear seeing it.
TAKE 5: THAT LSU DEFENSE – The LSU defense is filthy. I get it. It’s McNeese. But they just do everything well. And it’s a unit that actually has a lot of eligibility returning in 2027, which is frightening to think of for opponents. The backups need work, but man, that first 11 is something serious.
TAKE 6: LANDEN CLARK IS A PLAYER; LONGSTREET ISN’T BAD EITHER – The backup QB is always the most popular player on any roster, but I’m beginning to get the feeling that this Landen Clark is a player. A small college prospect, Clark has all of the tools and looks the part. With the right coaching (he will get it at LSU), you might get another Trinidad Chambliss – except he won’t need 17 years of college seasoning to prosper. On the flipside, Husan Longstreet looked great, as well. LSU’s quarterback room is loaded. Clark is a sophomore. Longstreet is a freshman.
TAKE 7: DEUCE IS LOOSE – Deuce Geralds is such a dawg. Kid had another sack, and even got to take a direct snap and run the ball into the end zone for a touchdown. That is why you come to LSU. Who else does things like that?
TAKE 8: GOT OUT HEALTHY – Knock on wood, and we wait on the official injury report, but there were no known injuries to key pieces from this game. That was always objective No. 1 in this one.