LSU Tigers football: "Season of Orgeron" almost over

Things have changed quite a bit in a short period of time for LSU in the wake of a 16-10 loss to Florida last Saturday in Tiger Stadium.

The No. 25 Tigers (6-4, 4-3 in the SEC) appeared poised to earn a berth in the Allstate Sugar Bowl if they beat the Gators and then won at No. 22 Texas A&M (8-3, 4-3) on Thanksgiving night.

Interim coach Ed Orgeron had an opportunity to strengthen his long-shot chance of becoming the full-time coach by running the table.

But after being stopped from the Florida 1-yard line on runs on the final two plays of the game, LSU has a short week to prepare for the Aggies as it tries to strengthen its resume for bowls farther down the pecking order than the Sugar Bowl. Also, presumably athletic director Joe Alleva and the school administration have one less name to consider on their short list of candidates to become the full-time successor to Les Miles, who was fired after a 2-2 start.

The Tigers out-gained the Gators 423-270, but they had three trips inside the Florida 10-yard line that didn't yield points. They had major breakdowns in all three phases.

Derrius Guice lost a fumble on first-and-goal from the Gators 7 in the second quarter, when LSU could have gone up, 14-3. He also ran the wrong way on the game's final play.

Donte Jackson made a poor attempt at a tackle on what turned into a 98-yard touchdown pass. He also lost a fumble on a kickoff that enabled Florida to go up by six points late in the fourth quarter and took away the possibility of a tying field goal on the final series.

Speaking of field goals that never happened, the Tigers botched a 19-yard attempt in the third quarter when holder Josh Growden mishandled a snap.

"We did some very good things in the football game," Orgeron said. "Five trips into the red zone and not coming up with points really hurt us most of the time. Obviously we out-gained them in total yards, but that doesn't count. We need to put points on the board when we have to."

Orgeron was always a long-shot to be named the full-time head coach, but the team responded well during what LSU called "The Season of Orgeron" after he took over. The Tigers rolled to three easy victories, were in a scoreless tie with No. 1 Alabama and lost just 10-0 and bounced back a week later to rout Arkansas, 38-10.

But the mistake-laden loss to a Florida team that was ranked No. 21 but was missing six injured starters derailed whatever momentum Orgeron had in his quest to keep the job.

A decision on the new coach likely will come in a matter of days after the game against Texas A&M.

"It's been fantastic," Orgeron, a native of Larose, La., said of his interim stint. "What a ride. The head coach at LSU being from Louisiana, the way the people have reacted, the way the players reacted. We've played very well in most games. It's been fun. It's been fun around to be the staff and fun to see our players grow.

"It's just been an exciting challenge. I've grown as a head coach like I try to grow every day."

Orgeron said he never hesitated when the Tigers asked him to replace Miles, assuming a challenge he also had at USC when the Trojans went 6-2 under him in 2013.

"I always believe in accepting challenges to better yourself, to compete at the highest level," he said. "This is the highest level. There was never a doubt that I would not try to compete at the highest level. And it's been fantastic. And every day I woke up and just thank God for the opportunity."

NOTES, QUOTES

PLAYERS TO WATCH

--WR D.J. Chark has become the biggest playmaker among the wide receivers. He had 97 all-purpose yards against Florida -- 46 yards on two receptions and 51 yards on three rushes. He has emerged over the course of the season to rank second on the team with 360 yards (on 21 catches with three touchdowns).

--RB Derrius Guice will be looking to bounce back against Texas A&M after a couple of key mistakes against Florida. He lost a fumble inside the Gators 10-yard line in the second quarter and on the last play of the game -- a fourth-and-goal from the Florida 1 -- he went the wrong way after taking a pitch and was stopped short of the end zone. If Leonard Fournette is still hobbled by an ankle injury, Guice will again be the Tigers' biggest offensive threat against Texas A&M.

--LB Donnie Alexander figures to start because ILB Kendell Beckwith, LSU's leading tackler, is sidelined by a knee injury. Alexander played well after Beckwith was sidelined. He's about 30 pounds lighter than Beckwith, but that might not be a bad thing against the Aggies' spread offense. Florida had much greater success running right at the Tigers in Beckwith's absence and the Aggies figure to do the same.

--FS Jamal Adams has played his best football during the second half of the season, demonstrating why he is expected to be a first-round draft pick next spring. With Beckwith sidelined, Adams becomes the clear-cut leader of the defense.