@RussMitchellCFB: LSU's Turnover Margin the past six years: 2007 = +20 2008 = -1 2009 = +4 2010 = +8 2011 = +20 2012 = +16 ... so far 2013 = -2 My big takeaway: 1) +20 is the "magic" BCS Championship level number 2) We are in trouble this year
And that -2 doesn't have much to do with us turning the ball over. We are still very good in that department. It has all to do with a defense that doesn't have the ability to create turnovers. It was my concern after watching the TCU game and then especially after watching us play two high school teams in the two games that followed. I knew we were in trouble then.
Turnovers are huge. It's probably the biggest game intangible, followed by bad calls, and key injuries. Bad calls and key injuries are spread around fairly evenly throughout the league . . . but turnover margin depends on having a smart quarterback and running backs with sure hands plus defenders that are skilled at going for the football. This year LSU is fumbling little and throwing interceptions even less. But we have no ballhawks on defense and our punt returner fumbles the catch.
I don't understand this statement. Very good when compared to...? When Stacey mentioned the turnovers/fumbles the other day I looked to see what the numbers where and if I recall correctly there were only 20 teams that had lost the ball more than LSU this season. I saw it as a team not putting the ball on the ground as often as others (VA has put it on the ground almost 25 times this season and lost the same number as LSU) but the percentage lost was over 50%. (7 of 12 if memory serves.) The number of times opponents have fumbled and those recovered is on par with last season at this point.
First off great thread, and it's very telling. No one has stepped up to be THAT guy yet. It's been a long time since LSU didn't have a guy that not only talks the talk (which Lamin Barrow does very well) but walks the walk (which none of them do with any shred of consistency, and some none at all) Is there a doubt in any of your minds that if we hadn't lost so many juniors on defense this team would be undefeated going into Tuscaloosa next weekend. That would have been epic.
Technically Mathieu's senior year as well. Think about all that for a second. Ego and Freak rotating with Logan and Brockers. Montgomery and Mingo in rotation with Hunter, Rasco, and Allen. Kwon, Minter, Barrow as your starting backers, and that secondary, probably Mathieu and Simon at corner, Loston would be strong and Reid at free, with Mathieu moving to nickel and Mills moving to the other corner. Man that would have been a sight to see this year with this offense.
I contend that if Minter was the only one that had stayed, LSU would be 9-0 right now, 3 turnovers against Ole Miss be damned. The dropoff from Minter to Welter cannot even be calculated.
