LSU report card | Grading LSU's failed comeback in loss to Ole Miss

OXFORD, Miss. – Not many teams have found answers for Trinidad Chambliss yet.

Maybe LSU football shouldn’t feel bad for not possessing the elixir either. Chambliss piloted No. 9 Ole Miss out to a big early lead over No. 7 LSU. The Tigers clawed their way to tie the game with 11:21 remaining but out of the hole as Lane Kiffin’s return to Oxford was ruined in the 32-24 loss to the Rebels inside Vaught-Hemingway Stadium Saturday, Sept. 19.

Chambliss put the Tigers on ice with a 14-yard touchdown run with six minutes to go and Ole Miss coach Pete Golding shut the door by deciding to go for a 2-point conversion after Chambliss ran it in. Running back JT Lindsey, former LSU tailback, converted the 2-point play for the Rebs.

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It was a tale of two halves for LSU. Both units improved greatly coming out of the locker room and turned things around.

Kiffin and LSU (2-1, 0-1 SEC) had chances to wrangle Chambliss and the Ole Miss (3-0, 1-0) in the fourth quarter but couldn’t find the stops they needed.

For the second straight game, I’m giving LSU’s offense a low mark.

It took almost nine minutes into this game for someone other than quarterback Sam Leavitt to touch the ball for LSU. It took almost 26 minutes for the offense’s best player, tight end Trey’Dez Green, to touch the ball.

In this offense, those things can’t happen. I’ve had questions and concerns about LSU’s offensive line and Ole Miss’ defensive front really exposed issues along the interior of that group. Because of the inconsistency up front, Leavitt spent a large portion of the game running for his life.

Leavitt was able to create and make some things happen but by then, LSU trailed by multiple scores.

The reality is Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss might be the best in the country at his position. LSU’s defense has no answer for the extension of plays and once the play broke down, Chambliss was nearly perfect in throwing the ball downfield.

LSU couldn’t get off the field on third down mainly because of the Ole Miss QB making something out of a busted play. The Rebels dropped 432 yards on the Tigers and went 9 of 15 on third downs.

Special teams weren’t ask to do much in this game. Starzyk made the PAT and kicked touchbacks on kickoffs. Grant Chadwick had solid punts and coverage teams covered well when needed.

Kiffin had months to get his team ready for the environment and the hornets’ nest that it would be walking into Saturday night inside Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. But the coaching staff failed to get them up to speed for the biggest game of the young college football season.

While he didn’t have his best game, Leavitt’s ad-libbing was enough for the Tigers to climb back into the game. He made some plays through the air and his touchdown throw to Winston Watkins Jr. was a touch of class.

This game was up-and-down, more down than up. LSU is to be commended for not rolling over and fighting to get back into the game. The early hole was just too deep.

Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: LSU report card | Grading LSU’s failed comeback in loss to Ole Miss