LSU cooked up the perfect recipe for disaster against Texas A&M

On Saturday Night, LSU lost a game they controlled for the entire first half in a disatrious second half. The Tigers made too many mistakes in this game, and it was bound to hurt them as they kept giving Texas A&M life. When you're in a rock fight on the road, the last thing you want to do is give the opposing fanbase any hope and that's what LSU did by not capitalizing. Like cooking a recipe, LSU made sure to add every back breaking ingredient into this game cooking up the perfect losing recipe.

Three backbreaking interceptions

When you lose the turnover battle, you set yourself up to lose any game especially if your defense is struggling. LSU was in control of this game until Garrett Nussmeier forced a pass to Aaron Anderson who was covered setting Texas A&M up with great field position following the pick. At the end of the third quarter, Garrett Nussmeier got fooled again throwing another pick looking Anderson's way giving the ball back right away after A&M took the lead. As LSU was trying anything they could to comeback down 35-23, Nussmeier made a mistake once more throwing a soft pass to Josh Williams which was picked off by a defensive tackle.

All week, NFL Draft analysts and College Football Analysts praised Garrett Nussmeier with some declaring he should be a first round pick in this years draft. After a week of praise, things went horribly for Nussmeier and the LSU football team in the second half.

Three botched field goal attempts

In a big game against a capable opponent, you can't afford to leave points on the field as it'll come back to haunt you every time. The Tigers attempted four field goals and made just one as three mistakes cost LSU points. Damian Ramos wasn't the only one that deserved blame as twice the hold was less than ideal. On the third one, Slade Roy snapped the ball too early hitting Peyton Todd in the face and giving the Aggies even better field position than if LSU just missed the field goal.

0 Stops after Marcel Reed entered the game at quarterback

The Tigers defense was in control for the first half and the start of the third quarter but, a Garrett Nussmeier interception gave Texas A&M great field position and Mike Elko turned to Freshman Marcel Reed at quarterback. The Aggies never punted our turned the ball over again scoring 31 points to the Tigers six over that stretch.

Marcel Reed gashed the Tigers defense running nine times for 62 yards and three touchdowns picking up 6.9 yards per carry. When the Tigers sold out to stop Reed's legs he beat them with his arm completing his two pass attempts for 70 yards including a 54 yard bomb.

Just one yard per carry

When you play a game in the SEC you can't be one dimensional on offense as the defenses are too good. The Tigers were one dimensional all night running 23 times and picking up 24 yards with sacks included picking up just over a yard per carry. Caden Durham had a ten yard carry but, aside from that he couldn't get anything going with 15 yards on 11 carries. Josh Williams was the most effective of the duo but, he carried the ball just seven times for 23 yards. The Tigers have struggled against the best defensive lines they've faced running the ball and it won't get any easier next game against Alabama.

How many points left on the board?

We already spoke on LSU's struggles kicking field goals but, that wasn't the only way the Tigers left points on the field. On the second drive of the game, LSU settled for three and the play calling in the redzone wasn't great but, Garrett Nussmeier missed an open Trey'Dez Green on third down getting the ball out too late. When LSU missed its first field goal of the game the Tigers ran up the middle on 3rd and 13 seemingly settling for three when LSU had picked up the last two third downs with big plays to Kyren Lacy.

When you add together all of the missed opportunities, dropped passes, and botched field goal attempts, it's no surprise that LSU lost this game.

Two Sacks allowed and no push in the run game

The Tigers had allowed just one sack coming into this game, after facing Texas A&M that number has grown to three. When LSU was trying to mount a comeback, the Tigers allowed two sacks which made things even tougher on the offense. In the run game, LSU was ineffective which allowed the Aggies to pin their ears back and rush the passer.

The Tigers did lose left guard Garrett Dellinger in this game which made things worse but, the Tigers still had issues up front all game. For the most part, this offensive line is a veteran group and a group of players who will be high draft picks yet, the blocking in the run game has been an issue dating back to last season.

Too many drops to count

While it was great to see Chris Hilton back on the field he was clearly rusty and in a game of this magnitude, it likely wasn't the time to break him in. Twice Chris Hilton Jr mistimed his jump leading to incompletions he likely should've caught once in the endzone and once on the sideline. Kyren Lacy was incredible all night but, twice he dropped passes he should've caught which is frustrating when he catches the difficult ones.

More LSU News: