LSU escaped Jordan-Hare Stadium with a 21-17 win over Auburn, and I’ll take a win at Auburn any way it comes. LSU’s passing game left a lot to be desired, but the consistent resilience of the team and performance by the running backs were encouraging. In the three games against Power 5 opponents of Florida State, Mississippi State, and Auburn, LSU’s backs have combined for 25, 114, and 126 yards, respectively. Josh Williams set the pace for the rushing attack, and John Emery flashed the balance and explosiveness that makes him different. The defense settled in after allowing two big plays early in the game and did not allow another point after a 17-0 Auburn lead. The Tigers are now ranked 25th and will host 8th ranked Tennessee Saturday. Leading up to the game, fans and pundits alike want to know if LSU can score enough to beat the high-octane Volunteers.

Brian Kelly recently stated that Jayden Daniels needs to be more aggressive, and it’s not only ok, but necessary for Daniels to take more shots down the field. If I’ve learned anything from Kelly this year, it’s that I can expect to see his point of emphasis play out on the field when he makes gameplan specific statements during the week. Daniels has passed for six touchdowns with no interceptions this year. While it’s impressive to make it this far with no picks, it also means he’s not giving his talented receiver group enough chances to make plays. Auburn’s defense confused Daniels, and the hostile environment intimidated him. He’s a very experienced player, but Jordan-Hare is different than playing at Cal or Washington State. He’ll have to be more aggressive, but the coaching staff will have to be more creative with how they approach the passing game. Although I don’t advise a shootout with Tennessee, this offense has to use more tempo. Daniels has shown that he’s much more comfortable with the offense moving at a faster pace. In obvious passing situations, the offense could also use more 10 personnel, or four wide sets. Against Auburn, the defensive coverage often dictated that Daniels throw to tight end Mason Taylor; that’s not possible if there are four receivers on routes. Taylor is a talented player, but he’s still a true freshman playing in high pressure situations. If there is a game to fix a struggling passing attack, it’s this one. Tennessee’s defense gave up 269 passing yards to BALL STATE. The secondary gives me nightmarish flashbacks of Bradley Dale Peveto, Doug Mallory, and Bo Pelini (the 2020 version) roaming the sidelines. There will be plays to be made on this defense; LSU must capitalize on them.

Jayden Daniels called a players only meeting with the wide receivers on Monday to address the issues in the passing game, and I applaud his decision as a leader. Although no players have shown their displeasure publicly, one would think that they’re frustrated. The receivers and tight ends can help themselves by eliminating the drops. As a pass catcher, you press to make a play when opportunities are limited, and that factored into the drops against Auburn. I have no doubt that the passing game will be better Saturday, but will it be enough to keep up with Tennessee? Time will tell. Until then, I’ll take a deeper look at the challenges for the LSU defense in my upcoming game preview. Geaux Tigers!!