Alabama's crimson tide rose Saturday night in Bryan-Denny stadium to defeat the Tigers from Baton Rouge 20-9. LSU, playing it's first game of the season without head coach Kelly and it's offensive coordinator lost for the fourth time in their last 5 games. Four of those defeats by SEC opponents. As for LSU, the game exposed the same problems that has been with the team for some years.
The offense has a problem putting the football in the end zone: the offensive line cannot protect the quarterback; the quarterback is an on again off again performer; the offensive line continues to be penalized; the defense is an on again off again defense'; a rushing game still trying to make a statement and the fact that LSU is a poorly coached football team.
There is no question that the LSU football program has taken a hit. It will be another year without making the CFP. Another year with no improvement in the won-loss record and the year could end up with the most loses under Kelly in a single season. This writer believes the problem is deeper than the Brian Kelly coached era. As a follower of LSU sports for over 60+ years, in my opinion, the coaching eras of Paul Dietzel and Charlie McClendon were more stable than the coaching eras that followed. I say that even though Sabin, Myles and Orgeron won national championships. Dietzel won a national championship also, Charlie Mac did not.
The last 6 years of LSU football can best be described as stand still years with little or no progress. It comes at a time of great change in college sports and presents challenges not only to the greatest of teams who have a winning tradition but all colleges as a whole. So now LSU finds itself in a most difficult position of having to start all over again. its quest for a new head coach and coaching staff.
The question now remains, will LSU's future football program look like the failed past or will it become a new and productive era for the team's future.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
