LSU offense is still stumbling along

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As LSU heads into the Swamp to face the number 10 ranked Gators, they’ll need to make sure they’re awake before they take the field. The Tigers had a close call against Auburn on the road in a 12 – 10 snooze fest and then faced FCS team Towson at home last weekend, a game in which LSU was a 42 point favorite over the Towson and ended up winning by only 16 points and allowing 22 from the Tigers (Towson).

LSU’s offense has been the culprit that is holding the Tigers back. Behind quarterback Zach Mettenberger, who is quickly losing his Mettsiah nick name, LSU ranked 47th in total offense. What’s even worse for LSU fans is that the Tigers rank 93rd in passing offense. With the departure of scrambling, sack-prone Jordan Jefferson and interception machine Jarrett Lee, the LSU fans were hoping that Mettenberger would improve the Tiger’s passing game. That just hasn’t happened yet.

Yes the LSU backfield is loaded and there are tons of weapons for the Tigers at wide receiver, but with a beat up offensive line that is missing their best player the Tigers seem unable to overcome their struggles and get the ball down field to those weapons.

If LSU is going to beat Florida this weekend, they’ll need to drastically improve up front on the line and give Mettenberger, who tends to hold onto the ball too long and isn’t a very good runner, time to line up and heave the ball more than 20 yards to the talented receivers. The ground and pound game (ranked 18th in rushing) will only work so long against an opponent like Florida, and Muschamp will be ready to put 8 and 9 in the box (Auburn did and LSU still tried to run up the middle) and stuff the LSU running game forcing Mettenberger to throw.

Quick assessment? Unless there are some major offensive line developments, the Tigers chances look pretty bleak.