LSU vs. Auburn: Game Grades, Analysis for LSU

In heartbreaking fashion, the LSU Tigers fell to the Auburn Tigers on Saturday night, 18-13, thanks largely to an offense that sputtered all night. 

The contest literally came down to the last second, as a game-winning touchdown pass from Danny Etling was wiped away as LSU couldn't get the snap off in time after a review. 

Les Miles' seat has to be burning up, and LSU's hopes at a playoff berth are all but shot at this point. 

With that, let's check out the positional unit grades for LSU. 

Rush Offense

John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

Grade: B

While LSU totaled 220 yards on the ground as a team, Leonard Fournette was far from as dominant as he was a year ago against Auburn. 

Fournette had 101 yards on the ground, while Derrius Guice added 62 on just three carries. 

The former is clearly struggling coming back from an ankle injury, and his inability to find the end zone played a big role in LSU's offensive struggles. 

Pass Offense

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Grade: C-

Etling may be the better option to Brandon Harris, but how much better is ultimately the underlying question. 

On Saturday, Etling completed 15-of-27 passes for a measly 118 yards. He did have a touchdown pass on a shovel to his tight end and no interceptions. 

The Purdue transfer is still coming into his own as a signal-caller, and a trip to Auburn certainly isn't ideal. But LSU needs a more capable offense, and it usually starts with the quarterback. 

Rush Defense

Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports

Grade: B

Auburn was limited to 154 yards on a whopping 49 carries, barely over the three-yards-per-carry threshold. 

However, Kerryon Johnson, who had 93 yards on 22 carries, led the way late in the game as Auburn milked the clock on the game's penultimate drive that left LSU one second shy of winning the game. 

LSU did get a huge stop at the end of the first half at the goal line on two straight Johnson runs to keep Auburn out of the end zone and did its job throughout the night. 

Pass Defense

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Grade: B-

LSU's secondary, as well as its whole defense, didn't give up a touchdown on the night. You can't ask for much more. 

Sean White finished the game with 234 yards on 19-of-26 passing, an efficient number that just wasn't accompanied by any scores. 

LSU ultimately struggled to contain Kerryon Johnson out of the backfield, as he hauled in a game-high 68 yards on four catches for Auburn. 

It's hard to criticize a team for not forcing any turnovers, but LSU's secondary didn't rattle White, an inexperienced quarterback, enough for any high-leverage plays that could have made a huge difference. 

Special Teams

Gerald Herbert/Associated Press/Associated Press

Grade: D+

In a game of who could connect on the most field goals, which Auburn won, LSU kicker Colby Delahoussaye was just 2-of-3 on field goal attempts. 

Where LSU really struggled on special teams, though, was in the punting game. Josh Growden averaged just 37 yards per punt on five boots, struggling to flip the field all night and allowing Auburn's stagnant offense to hang up three points at a time. 

Coaching

Butch Dill/Associated Press/Associated Press

Grade: D-

Les Miles didn't have any massive follies on Saturday night, but he didn't prepare his squad to defeat a team that couldn't score a touchdown through 60 minutes. 

That's just not good enough in the SEC. 

Miles' tenure in Baton Rouge is starting to come to a head, with LSU fans' patience growing thin for the constant, unanswered hype. 

Miles is a great coach and no matter where he's at, he'll have a winning program. 

But LSU wants more than that. It wants playoff berths, a goal seemingly unattainable at this point in the year.