Sports

Sam Leavitt’s Off-Week Antics Fuel Narrative About Alabama Preparation

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iStockphoto / Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Sam Leavitt's preparation is being questioned before a game vs. Alabama.


The LSU football team will host SEC rival Alabama on Saturday after an off week. Quarterback Sam Leavitt has been a topic of discussion.

His preparation and football IQ was called out by a former Crimson Tide signal caller. Leavitt’s whereabouts on Halloween are fueling a narrative.

Is the passer doing everything in his power to get ready for the game? He’ll have an opportunity to quiet his critics in Baton Rouge this weekend.

Sam Leavitt enjoyed the off week.

Photos from Halloween night in Tigerland surfaced on social media this week. Leavitt was at the bars dressed as a pirate.

Is it a big deal? I’d argue no. There was no game on Saturday. LSU has extra time to prep for Alabama. He should enjoy all the perks that come with being a starting quarterback on a college holiday.

I can’t even tell if he was drinking from the photos. Given his strict ‘wellness routine’ detailed in the preseason designed to limit distractions and keep his body healthy, it’s quite possible he was not imbibing. Again, no big deal.

Reviews were mixed from online followers. Some brushed it off. Others, though, think the images will come back to haunt him.

That, of course, is assuming he plays poorly against the Crimson Tide. We’ve seen similar situations play out in the past. Look no further than the infamous New York Giants yacht photo, which also happened to come one week prior to the biggest game of the season.

New York lost. Memes followed. The Giants still haven’t recovered.

Will the same happen to Sam Leavitt? Time will tell. There’s at least one former Alabama player not sold on his abilities under center.

AJ McCarron has his doubts.

Simply put, McCarron does not think the Tigers passer is very good. He called him a “one-read guy” that can’t throw from the pocket. He believes Alabama has a significant edge at the position.

Leavitt has been a bit up and down in his first season at LSU. He’s completing more than 70% of his passes and ranks second in the SEC in passing. He’s also tied for the league lead in interceptions thrown. He had at least one turnover in each of his first six contests.

The inconsistency led to a 4-2 start. He appears to have turned a corner of late, tossing seven scores to zero picks over the last two games. LSU won those matchups by a combined score of 69-17.

The competition will take a step up with Alabama coming to town. Sam Leavitt will need to be locked in. His preparation has been called into question. He’ll look to hush that narrative on Saturday.