By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports
BATON ROUGE – LSU head football coach Brian Kelly on Monday made two things clear in his weekly in-season press conference.
First was his apology for his angry outburst directed at WBRZ-TV sports director Michael Cauble in the postgame press conference following the No. 3 unbeaten Tigers’ 20-10 SEC opening win over Florida last Saturday night in Tiger Stadium.
Then, Kelly emphasized that until LSU’s offense comes out of its coma, his in-game strategy will be tilted toward relying on the Tigers’ defense, ranked in the top 15 nationally in six statistical categories, to preserve wins.
“We have a top 10 defense, and we need to play to that strength,” said Kelly as he previewed Saturday’s 6:45 p.m. non-conference home game against Southeastern Louisiana. “So sometimes, you have to pull back a little bit here and there (offensively). I’m tapping the brakes a little bit in those situations.”
A year ago, Kelly often agreed with analytics that led to the Tigers’ offense gambling 24 times on fourth down. LSU converted 12 of those.
So far this season, the Tigers are 0 for 1 on fourth down conversions.
In the win over Florida, LSU punted twice each on fourth-and-one and fourth-and-three. The punts were fair caught or downed at the Florida 21, 12, 2, and 15-yard lines. Three of those ensuing Gators’ possessions led to Florida QB DJ Lagway throwing interceptions, including one with 23 seconds left in the first half that allowed LSU’s Damion Ramos to kick a 45-yard field goal as time expired for a 13-10 lead at the break.
“Last year, the stats were the exact opposite against Florida (LSU dominated total offense yardage and time of possession), and we lost that game,” Kelly said. “This was about managing the game, and at the end of the day, my job is to win football games for LSU. That’s how we had to win the game.
“We have a great defense, and when we get into games like that, I’m going to make sure that we minimize any of the mistakes that could be made on offense.”
In first down situations vs. Florida, LSU had 13 rushing attempts for 46 yards and completed 4 of 8 passes for 100 yards. The Tigers only twice gained enough yardage on first downs that immediately resulted in a first down.
“I walked into the post-game locker room with our coaches,” Kelly said. “Our defensive coaches were pretty happy. Our offensive coaches were really reserved and maybe expecting that they were going to get the paint peeled off the rope. And I said, `Listen, this is how you win games. You have to manage games.’ “
Here’s Kelly on other subjects:
On the uneven play of senior starting quarterback Garrett Nussmeier
“He’s been slowed a little bit with a torso injury, and he’s fighting through it. He’s getting better, and he’s not going to be able to really shut it down until we get to the bye week (after the Sept. 27 game at Ole Miss).
“We’ve limited him a little bit during the week because of some tightness that he’s had in his torso. It’s an upper body injury that you want to be careful with how many reps he’s getting to throw in the football.
“This is now about management and shutting him down a little bit during the week.”
On LSU’s no-huddle tempo offense benefiting Nussmeier
“We felt the same way that maybe we were trying to be too perfect in our play calls. Let’s just go play. Let those guys get the ball in space. Garrett is doing a little bit too much, checking everything. He’s so smart. He can manage the whole thing. But sometimes, less is more.”
On the targeting call that ejected LSU linebacker Whit Weeks on Florida’s third offensive play of
the game
“We all understand what targeting looks like. But he (Weeks) is trying to make a play on a runner who ducks his head. You make a tackle to throw a guy out of the game for that. I don’t know how to coach him (Weeks) differently, like I don’t know what to tell him to do differently, and you’re going to throw him out of the game. That makes no sense to me.
“Common sense at some time has got to get involved in targeting, and if common sense gets involved, maybe we’ll get an answer real quick.”
KNOW YOUR ENEMY
No. 3 LSU (3-0 overall) vs. Southeastern Louisiana (2-1), Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, Saturday, 6:45 p.m., SEC Network
Last game for Lions: SLU scored touchdowns on its first four possessions in a 56-3 win over Mississippi Valley State last Saturday night as the Lions totaled 445 yards in their home opener. Quarterbacks Cardson Camp and Kyle Lowe combined to complete 16 of 20 passes for 302 yards and five TDs.
Series record and last meeting: LSU leads 2-0 after winning 31-0 in 2018.
SLU head coach: Frank Scelfo (46-37 in 8 seasons overall and at SLU).
THIS AND THAT
Appearance fee paid by LSU to SLU per game contract: $750,000 and 400 complimentary tickets.
Early betting line: LSU opens as a 24-point favorite.
Betting tip: Under LSU head coach Brian Kelly, the Tigers are 2-1 against the spread vs. FCS opponents.
Number of Louisiana natives on SLU roster: 66
Number of Louisiana natives on LSU roster: 56
Number of transfers on SLU roster from 4-year schools: 22 players from 19 schools.
SLU PLAYERS TO WATCH
QB Carson Camp (37 of 59 for 442 passing yards, 3 TDs, 2 interceptions), QB Kyle Lowe (18 of 25 for 233 passing yards, 3 TDs, 1 interception, 145 rushing yards and 3 TDs on 23 carries), WR Jaylon Domingeaux (10 catches for 152 yards, 3 TDs), LB KK Reno (24 tackles, 3 TFL), DL Roman Briggs (9 tackles, 2½ sacks, 1 forced fumble), DL Khalid Moore (9 tackles, 1 PBU, 3 QB hurries, 1 fumble recovery), PK Guillermo Garciia Rodriguez (14 of 14 extra points, 1 of 3 FG), P/KO Alec Mahler (11 punts for 43.27 ypk) and 18 kickoffs for 63.8 with 8 touchbacks).
DID YOU KNOW. . .
In LSU’s 2018 game vs. SLU, Tigers’ receiver Ja’Marr Chase caught his first-ever college TD pass from QB Joe Burrow.
Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com