Panic meter: Is the Lane Kiffin era doomed after another loss to a ranked opponent? appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Coach Lane Kiffin’s LSU Tigers were beaten on the final drive, and final play, by Arch Manning’s Texas Longhorns in Week 11 action as Holly Rowe hit Manning with a surprising post-game diss. Kiffin expressed his disappointment after the game, saying his Tigers outplayed the opposition while losing on the scoreboard, 22-21.
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The Longhorns’ stunning come-from-behind victory caused fans to wonder aloud whether Kiffin is the man for the job, while reporter John Fanta shared the grim truth about Kiffin’s record in big games.
“Lane Kiffin is getting paid $13 million annually. The LSU roster cost between $40 and 50 million. Lane is now 15-28 against ranked teams. He is 6-19 against top 10 teams. The Tigers just lost an 11-point second half lead to drop to 6-4.”
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Life is rough in the SEC, particularly the post-three straight Big Ten CFP title SEC where everyone is jostling for position and seeking to return the conference to its former glory. Kiffin’s team has done its part but were cannibalized by a Longhorns team with designs on SEC and national titles.
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It’s not time to panic on the Kiffin era in Baton Rouge yet for many reasons.
LSU is good, but flawed
Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
LSU is good but flawed, led by Sam Leavitt, an Arizona State transfer at QB who threw three interceptions against the Longhorns.
Leavitt ran 11 times but had negative yardage on the day as the Tigers were swarmed by the ‘Horns’ defense. Leavitt was a good offseason pickup in the transfer portal, but he needs help.
Joe Burrow had Ja’Marr Chase in his national title winning season while Matt Mauck had stars like Michael Clayton and Devery Henderson. Jackson Harris has 800 yards on the season, but he isn’t the type of guy that strikes fear into the heart of defenses like Chase and Henderson did.
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This is not a fully Lane Kiffin team
Leavitt is more of a game manager type of quarterback although he can put up big numbers on occasion throwing the ball down the field. Kiffin wants more of a high-octane attack like what he had at Ole Miss with Trinidad Chambliss and at USC with Matt Leinart.
The Tigers are working to put together a roster that is more Kiffin’s style, especially on offense where he is known as a guru of sorts. Kiffin’s Tigers are still a work in progress, and the transfer portal era means he can turn things around and build up his roster faster than he ever did with the Trojans.
Lane Kiffin has a bright future
Kiffin is still 51 years old, and he’s a health focused guy with a bright mind who is getting better and better as a head coach. Fans love to take pot shots at him because he doesn’t always hold back in the media, but he is just scratching the surface of his coaching talents.
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The Tigers and their fans want to win big and win now in a conference where Alabama and Georgia, among other teams, are almost always at or near the top.
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That’s understandable, but Kiffin deserves a long leash as he works to recapture the Bayou Magic that the LSU program is known for providing in the college football world. LSU fans were in shambles after the game, but it shows how much they care. The sky is limit for Kiffin’s program, but it will take longer than fans wanted.
Related: LSU HC Lane Kiffin’s record vs. SEC hits mark even Brian Kelly didn’t match in Baton Rouge
Related: Alabama HC Kalen DeBoer appreciates Crimson Tide’s efforts on defense vs. Vanderbilt
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
