For the second straight week, the third quarter was a wasteland for the LSU offense. I don't know why this team comes out after the half and promptly lays an egg, but it is a huge concern. Sure, the offense was a little rough in the first half, but it wasn't awful either. LSU had two drives which stalled around midfield, then had the drive to the 1 yard line resulting in a field goal, and then a chuck-it-downfield drive with 30 seconds left in the half resulting in a pick. Sure, it wasn't great, but it wasn't awful.
Then came the third quarter. LSU had seven offensive snaps in the third quarter, and one of those was a punt. Let's just breakdown how horrific it was:
-- Charles Scott had four rushes for 2, 8, 3, and 5 yards. No problem with Chuck the Truck except that his 2 yard rush came on 2nd and 18. Hell, he even rushed for a first down.
-- Jordan Jefferson dropped back to pass twice. He was sacked both times for an 8 and then 6 yard loss.
-- The period closed with consecutive false starts.
Hey, but at least we bounced back to start the 4th quarter by Jefferson getting sacked again. LSU completed the drive by completing a screen pass to Scott on 3rd and 22 for 5 yards. Almost, guys. Almost.
Jefferson was sacked on three consecutive pass plays. Scott was at least decent in the third quarter, even gaining a first down. If you're scoring at home (and we sincerely hope you are), LSU ran 6 plays for a net of 2 yards in the third quarter. After the first two plays of the fourth quarter, LSU had 8 plays for 0 net yards.
And two false start penalties.
I can't even begin to explain it, but one things is clear: you cannot hope to win games in which you essentially give away an entire quarter. The third quarter was an abomination. And it's the top reason Florida walked out with a win.