Thumbs up, thumbs down: USC vs. LSU
THUMBS UP
LSU hospitality
Everything the Tigers did, from playing USC’s intro on the videoboard to the little things (like putting USC’s logo and Williams-Brice Stadium on the pressbox nameplates) was first-class.
Shamier Jeffery
Where did that come from? Jeffery had three catches for 35 yards, including a one-handed tip drill that was Alshon-esque. Better late than never.
Rashad Fenton
Matthew Thomas is no longer a historical footnote. Fenton, on the first touch of his career, broke a streak that had stretched since Thomas in 2002 with a kickoff return for a touchdown.
Hearts
The Gamecocks never gave up. They were fighting too many insurmountable odds, but they never threw in the towel, which is commendable.
THUMBS DOWN
Perry Orth
He hit some big passes, but he missed a whole lot of big passes. His too-high throw to a wide-open Matrick Belton cost USC a touchdown, and too-high to Jerell Adams in the middle of the field became an interception and an LSU field goal, when USC could have taken a halftime lead.
Play-calling
It wasn’t all on Orth. Why wasn’t there one run called on first-and-goal from the 3? Why, with a QB known for throwing high, was a middle-of-the-field pass to Adams called in that situation? Why were there still no screens, square-ins or other “safe” plays to give Orth a chance, especially with no running threat?
Defense
It did what it could, but Leonard Fournette’s third-quarter touchdown broke its back. The Gamecocks had a great scheme, had held him down, had started to come back although Brandon Harris was starting to hit throws. It couldn’t stay on the field forever, though, and that’s when the missed tackles began.
Second halves
They were USC’s best. Now they’re the worst. That doesn’t shape up well for the rest of the season.
This story was originally published October 10, 2015 at 8:03 PM with the headline "Thumbs up, thumbs down: USC vs. LSU."