By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports
BATON ROUGE – As average as No. 3 LSU played last Saturday in an underwhelming victory over a 37½-point underdog, there was a ready-made solace for Tigers’ fans as they exited Tiger Stadium.
“It could be worse. We could be Florida.”
The Gators lost 18-16 at home to South Florida. The Bulls had an eight-play, 84-yard game-winning drive jumpstarted in the first four plays by Florida defensive pass interference and unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, followed by a trail of missed tackles on a USF 29-yard pass play to the Florida 32.
USF’s Nico Gramatica hit a chip-shot 20-yard field goal for the win as time expired, sending the Gators (1-1) into a foul mood heading into Tiger Stadium vs. LSU (2-0) for Saturday’s 6:30 p.m. SEC opener televised nationally by ABC.
The Tigers avoided a similar disaster because LSU’s defense blanked Louisiana Tech for the game’s first 54 minutes in a 23-7 victory. LSU’s offensive ineptness was magnified as it scored just two TDs and three field goals after forcing Tech to punt on 9 of 10 possessions (including eight straight).
“We’re still kind of growing into our identity, trying to work out the kinks,” said LSU senior starting quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, who never found a rhythm vs. Tech while completing 26 of 41 passes for 237 yards, one TD, and an interception. “It was a learning experience for us. It’s great when you can learn from a win.”
The lessons learned by the Tigers, mostly all on offense, were simple. Have a running game. Block somebody. Call more diverse plays.
“The issue, for me, more than anything else, is converting in the red zone and scoring touchdowns instead of field goals,” said LSU head coach Brian Kelly, whose team ranks 14th in the 16-team SEC in red zone offense (scoring on 7 of 8 chances with four TD and three FGs).
“We’ll need to be that kind of team that can run the football and get tough yardage. That’s a mentality, that’s physical play, and we’re capable of doing it. We have to have the right mindset in terms of how we’re practicing, how we’re doing things. That’s where the coaching comes in. That’s where I come in.”
Kelly said Thursday that starting center Braelin Moore, who sat out almost the entire Louisiana Tech game after injuring an ankle on the game’s first play, is probable to face the Gators. Tight end Trey’Dez Green, who has a sprained medial collateral knee ligament, is questionable.
LSU had dominated the series with the Gators, winning five straight until last season’s 27-16 loss in Gainesville. The Tigers dominated ball possession 41:43 to 18:17) and total plays (92 to 43).
But when it came to making game-deciding plays, Florida simply was overwhelming. It had five of its six sacks and three of its 11 TFLs on five LSU drives that resulted in field goals (three made, one missed) and turning the ball over on downs.
Four Florida defenders who started last season against LSU return. But the Gators’ second leading tackler in last year’s win over LSU – defensive end Jack Pyburn – now plays for the Tigers.
LSU’s defense had problems a year ago chasing athletic, dual-threat quarterbacks like South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, Texas A&M’s Marcell Reed, Arkansas’ Taylen Green, Alabama’s Jalem Milroe and Florida’s DJ Lagway.
As a freshman a year ago, Lagway rescued Florida’s season and head coach Billy Napier’s job by going 6-1 as a starter, including wins over LSU and Ole Miss, snuffing the College Football Playoffs hopes of both teams.
A calf injury midway through Florida’s preseason camp kept Lagway sidelined until the Gators’ season opener. While he’s completed 38 of 51 for 542 passing yards and four TDs in the first two games, he hasn’t completely knocked off the rust recovering from the injury.
“He made a lot of steps forward in the game Saturday,” Napier said of Lagway. “He’s still getting comfortable, still getting in the rhythm in his third week of practice. He’s really close to having a huge day. And we’ve got to play better around him at times, too.”
GO FIGURE
2: Touchdowns allowed by LSU’s defense this season in 19 possessions.
4-3: Florida’s record facing a top-five-ranked LSU team since 2007.
6 of 26: Third-down conversions by LSU’s opponents.
7-2: Florida QB DJ Lagway’s record as a starter.
11: Games with 25 or more completions by LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier, tying Joe Burrow’s school career record.
463: Consecutive games by Florida without being shut out.
Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com