Buckle up, Tiger fans! It doesn’t get much better than this. This rivalry has given us some classics over the years, and Tiger Stadium will be rocking with anticipation tomorrow night. The build up, the hype videos, the combination of excitement and nervousness that I only get for the biggest games…this is what sets college football apart. It’s the second top 10 matchup for LSU of the year, and we get this one at home. LSU doesn’t have a true rival, but in the modern era Florida comes second only to Alabama. This has all the makings of a classic, but will it truly be one? Let’s dive deeper into the matchups.

Florida offense vs LSU defense

From a talent standpoint, LSU has more talent on defense than Florida has on their offense. Florida has a an extremely talented and diverse group of receivers, a solid QB, adequate running backs, and a below average offensive line. In this environment, everything points to LSU dominating. The problem is we still don’t know if this defense can be dominant. We have future draft picks in the secondary that haven’t been consistent, and future pros on the defensive line that haven’t been healthy. The equalizer is Dan Mullen. The Florida head coach is elite at 1) maximizing the strengths of his QB, and 2) creating mismatches. If there is a LB on the field, Mullen will find a way to get a shifty WR on him. Athletic TE Kyle Pitts is a constant mismatch that Mullen will use in different ways from the line, slot, and out wide. I expect to see plenty of backup QB Emory Jones to help boost the running game. The return of DE Rashard Lawrence and LB Michael Divinity is significant. If Florida can’t run the ball, this game might get ugly. Florida QB Kyle Trask is not currently equipped to put the game on his back in an environment like the one he’ll see tomorrow night, and he’s coming off an injury. I give LSU the nod in this battle, especially at home.

LSU offense vs Florida defense

This clash is receiving the majority of the attention in the national media. LSU’s offense has been unstoppable to this point, averaging 571 yards per game, good for 2nd in the nation. Florida’s dominant defense gives up 276 yards per game, which is 11th nationally. Surprisingly, LSU gives up only 9 more yards a game than Florida, which tells me our defense isn’t nearly as bad as some tiger fans think it is. I’m not completely sold on the LSU offensive line, but I’m not worried about it. This group won’t blow people off the line in the run game, but they’ve been better than advertised in pass protection. The majority of the pressure has come when Burrow has held the ball too long. I have a great deal of respect for Florida’s defensive line, and NFL scouts will be lined up to watch the LSU receivers against the loaded Florida secondary. I simply don’t believe Florida can defend this group of receivers. Jefferson and Chase will win more times than not against single coverage, regardless of the secondary. I expect Ensminger to run enough to keep the defense honest, and lean heavily on the hurry up offense. High tempo offenses limit the calls a defense can make, and simplify the reads for the QB. Advantage LSU.

Everything I know about the history of this rivalry tells me that this will be a hard fought thriller, BUT Florida’s QB is hurt. Their defensive numbers are great, but they haven’t played against an offense with a pulse. They beat LSU last year on a pick 6 by a player, Brad Stewart, that’s from Louisiana. Emotions matter in college football. LSU has the revenge factor and home crowd in their favor. Florida has to reach the same level of intensity as they did last week against Auburn, which rarely happens at this level. Vegas has LSU favored by over 13 points for a reason. I have LSU pulling away, 38-21. This passing game is legit. Burrow talks AND he backs it up. We’ll see numbers 1 and 2 dancing in the endzone tomorrow night. GEAUX TIGERS!!!

BRING ON THE CONFERENCE GAMES! After a 42-6 nail biter against a powerhouse Utah St. team, I think most fans would agree that it’s time for some real competition. The good thing about playing inferior teams is it gives you a chance to work on your deficiencies, which was necessary after a few lackluster defensive efforts. Against Utah St. the offense wasn’t as sharp as it has been, but the defense looked more like the LSU defenses that we’ve come to expect over the years. I was encouraged by what I saw in that regard.

I felt that focus, discipline, and conservative defensive calls were mostly to blame for yards/points allowed against Vanderbilt. The lack of focus contributed to failure in gap responsibility, lack of discipline led to missed tackles due to not breaking down/wrapping up, and conservative calls gave up too many easy completions. One play that sticks out against Vanderbilt was a 3rd and 2 in which CB Derek Stingley was lined up 7 yards off the line of scrimmage. Obviously, it is physically impossible to stop a 2 yard route with a 7 yard cushion. Against Utah St. we saw more man coverage and fewer missed tackles. LB Patrick Queen had a miscue in gap responsibility against Vandy that led to a chunk running play. The same Patrick Queen looked like an All SEC performer against Utah St., playing gap sound, diagnosing quickly, and his speed to the ball was phenomenal. The defensive line also played well. Unheralded DE Neil Ferrell has quietly had a solid year, getting a one-handed sack on a very athletic QB. Kristian Fulton was very effective at the nickel. The only big play made on him was made after the WR blatantly pushed off. There is nothing I can say about Stingley that his play hasn’t said already. The only question I have about him is how long will it be until I stop calling him “one of the best” to “the best” defensive back LSU has had. He simply has tools you can’t teach. His technique on the play he got his interception should be put on a training tape. No official word, but I expect DE Rashard Lawrence and OLB Michael Divinity to be back for the Florida game, which will be major additions to a defense that appears to be rounding into shape.

On offense, the Tigers were sloppy compared to the high standards that had been set in the first four games. Ball security was a problem. Joe Burrow missed some throws he normally doesn’t, and held the ball longer than usual before making a decision. That said, he also completed over 70% of his passes and threw 5 TD’s. It says a lot about his play when that’s an off game. While I love Ja’Marr Chase’s athleticism, Justin Jefferson is a model of consistency. It’s as if you can chalk him down for 100 receiving yards with no drops before each game is played. There was a noticeable commitment to the running game that I’m sure was refreshing for the LSU defense to see. This resulted in longer drives and a huge advantage in time of possession, keeping the defense fresh. It also resulted in valuable experience for the freshmen backs, who look better with every rep they get.

When I was at LSU, Steve Spurrier routinely came to Baton Rouge and dropped 200 points a game. Urban Meyer beat us more times than not. Former AD Jeremy Foley used a hurricane to vilify LSU and get 3 home games in a row against us. Let me be clear; I am no fan of UF or anything UF affiliated…but I respect them. Florida comes to town this weekend as a top 10 team and with all the hype and fanfare that comes with a top 10 matchup. There aren’t many things better in life than a 7:00pm start in the REAL Death Valley with ESPN’s Gameday on campus, so the environment will be unrivaled. To put it simply, these are the games we wait for in the off-season. The Texas win was big, but this is the first legitimate, championship caliber defense we will see this year. There is NFL talent on all three levels of the Florida defense. However, they haven’t faced an offense poses as many problems as LSU’s. Joe Burrow has had answers for practically every look that has been thrown at him this year, and the running game is quietly averaging over 4 yards a carry. This is a very intriguing clash of strengths, offensive for LSU and defensive for Florida, with national title hopes on the line. In Wednesday’s update I’ll look deeper into how the Tigers match up on both sides of the ball. Until then, it’s GEAUX TIGERS!!!

How bout them Tigers?!! Playing a top 10 Texas team in Austin in the biggest non conference game of the year, the new offense with its vast array of weapons was on full display. Joe Burrow threw an early interception and didn’t flinch, going on to play his best game at LSU. I predicted Burrow would throw for over 300 yards; little did I know he would throw for 471! Play after play Burrow put the ball only where his receivers could get it, and Jefferson, Chase, and Marshall proved to be unguardable. Each one of them gained over 100 receiving yards. I wasn’t impressed with the running game, and honestly would have liked to see the freshmen running backs more. My hunch is that the coaches felt more comfortable with the veteran backs as pass blockers. Either way, Texas couldn’t stop the LSU passing attack, and that was enough to win.

As satisfying as the win was, there are some concerns. With all the DBU talk going on neither team could seem to stop anybody. Burrow threw for 471 yards, but Sam Ehlinger threw for 401. That kind of defense is offensive to an SEC fan. Grant Delpit let his emotions get the best of him against his home state flagship, missing open field tackles going for the big hit. It’s simply a matter of sticking to your fundamentals and wrapping up. Kristian Fulton undercut a WR, misjudged the ball, and gave up an early touchdown. He was never the same after that. Although he had decent coverage throughout the game, he too often played the WR instead of the ball and racked up pass interference flags. To be fair, Texas WR’s Colin Johnson and Brennan Eagles pushed off on every route. No DB can effectively cover if the game is called like that. With so much success passing the ball it was encouraging to see Texas avoid freshman Derek Stingley. He was robbed of an interception by officials (a pass can’t be incomplete if the ball didn’t hit the ground), and Ehlinger didn’t play with him anymore after that. It says a lot of the freshman for the opposing team to choose to attack the All American on the other side of him. A key to UT’s success on offense was the success they had on early down rushes. Nothing spectacular, but 4 yards on first down gives you a lot of options on second down. The freedom to call any play combined with the ability to hold Chaisson without getting flagged for it results in an abundance of yardage and points. 

MVP

Surprise, surprise…Joe Burrow. I’m more impressed every game I see him in this offense. Burrow is poised, mobile, willing to take hits, can make the reads, AND make the throws. He’s everything you need in a QB, and now he gets three “gimme” games to fine tune the passing attack before playing Florida. His accuracy is elite, but he also trusts his receivers in one on one coverage, which makes this offense unstoppable. He’s a more accurate Matt Flynn.

Defensive Player of the Game

Derek Stingley. It appeared Texas was willing or even planned to attack him early in the game, but that quickly changed. Enjoy Stingley while you can, because he is a generational player. It’s extremely rare for a DB that young to never panic. He understands his position in relation to the WR, doesn’t hold, and has elite ball skills. LSU won’t face a team with this much talent at WR until they play Alabama, and Stingley completely shut his side down. 

Unsung Hero

Steve Ensminger and Joe Brady were aggressive all night long. There were times in the fourth quarter when I felt like the team should have sprinkled in more runs to keep the clock going, but Ensminger kept attacking. After so many years of watching games where LSU called plays to stay in the game or keep the game close, I can’t explain how gratifying it is to see aggressive play calling. It gives confidence to the players and excitement to recruits. Most importantly, it makes the team harder to stop. The only reason LSU has recruited so many great WR’s is because this state produces so many. Now they have an actual recruiting tool, proof that receiving talent will be utilized. The future is bright.

I underestimated Texas. They’re a serious contender, but LSU now has the most impressive win in this young season. I’m not worried about the defense, but I do think we should be more aggressive on third down. There were good plays and bad plays, but you have to feel good about going on the road, overcoming the adversity of injuries and an early turnover, and defeating a top 10 team. At this point the media manufactured hot seat talk about Coach Orgeron last year sounds beyond absurd. Coach O is legit, and this team is legit. I won’t get carried away after 2 games, but LSU has the ability to beat ANY team in the country this year. Enjoy the ride and GEAUX TIGERS!!!

Welcome back, Tiger fans! It’s Texas week, and I’m struggling to keep my composure. This is possibly the biggest non-conference game of the year of the entire sport, and the hype around it is sending both fanbases to a state of hysteria. I’m not big on bold statements to the media, such as K’Lavon Chaisson’s “I don’t see him as much of a threat” remarks regarding Texas QB Sam Ehlinger in a press conference. However, I like the fact that Chaisson stands behind his words, rather than the subtle digs Texas is offering, such as the DBU t-shirts (Defensive Back University, which coach Tom Herman approved) that allegedly have nothing to do with LSU. This game is critical for both teams. As far as the impact of the results, Power 5 teams can afford one loss and make it to the playoffs, but it leaves a slim margin for error the rest of the season. If Texas loses they have to beat Oklahoma likely twice to secure a spot, once in the regular season and once in the Big XII championship. If LSU loses, they’d have to beat Auburn, Florida, Alabama, Texas A&M, and likely Georgia in the SEC championship to reach the playoffs. The winner makes an early season impression on the playoff committee, announcing themselves as a bonafide player in this year’s championship race. Now that we know the stakes, I’ll look into how the teams match up.

Texas offense vs. LSU defense

The Texas offense has suffered blow after blow with injuries and suspensions. They’re down to one true scholarship running back, sophomore Keontay Ingram. Backing him up is converted QB Roschon Johnson and converted LB David Gbenda. At receiver they have NFL talent in 6’6” Collin Johnson and 5’11” speedster Devin Duvernay. Texas sophomore WR Joshua Moore is suspended for the game, so kudos to Coach Herman for making a tough decision for a monumental game. I feel the lack of RB’s is less of an issue than it would be with other teams because of the ability of QB Sam Ehlinger. The tough runner and capable passer is most importantly a leader that the team believes in. Unfortunately for the Longhorns, leadership won’t be enough against this LSU defense. This is as impressive of a defense at all three levels that I’ve seen at LSU since 2011. It always starts up front where it appears the light has come on for NG Tyler Shelvin. I don’t think Texas can consistently block Rashard Lawrence, Glen Logan, and Breiden Fehoko. The return of LB Michael Divinity makes some wonder how the ILB’s will rotate. If you’re Dave Aranda, don’t outsmart yourself; Divinity was great coming off the edge last year, so keep him at OLB. I like Texas’s receivers, but not against this secondary. The only thing that could keep CB’s Kristian Fulton, Derek Stingley, and safety Grant Delpit out of the first round is injury. LSU gets the edge in this match up.

LSU offense vs Texas Defense

The excitement of a new football season for LSU had a lot to do with the new offense. I was particularly impressed with the play calling and execution in the first game. I think LSU will pass the ball well, but I think they will do so because Texas doesn’t have the front seven to stop the running game without help. The strongest position group on the Texas defense is the secondary, specifically their safeties. If they don’t bring a safety in the box LSU will run for 200 yards. When they do bring one up Burrow will make them pay deep down the field. As a recruiting nerd, I realize Texas has talent on defense; what they don’t have is experience and depth. The self proclaimed DBU gave up 260 passing yards a game last year. Look for Joe Burrow to draw the safeties up then pick the defense apart for 300+ passing yards. WR Ja’Marr Chase will officially arrive on the national scene with a big game while the whole country is watching. Advantage LSU.

The hardest thing to account for in games like this is the home field advantage. Playing at UT isn’t as intimidating as playing at the Swamp in Florida, but they do have passionate fans with a miniscule allotment of tickets for LSU. Texas is a legitimate contender in the Big XII, but they’re not “back”. Although coach Tom Herman has them on the right track, this is a statement game for LSU. The Tigers will show the college football world that nothing is out of reach for this team. LSU won’t be favored to win the SEC after this game, but they will be in the conversation with Bama and Georgia. LSU 31 – Texas 14

GEAUX TIGERS!!

Welcome back, Tiger fans! After months of talk and promises we were finally able to see the offense we’ve heard so much about. I’m not surprised to see the team defeat Georgia Southern, but I am impressed with the manner in which they beat them to get off to a 1-0 start. Friday I mentioned that I wanted to see discipline. The defense gave up 24 yards passing and 74 yards rushing; defending the option with discipline was not an issue. I wanted to see the team run the offense without holding back. Burrow completed 85% of his passes, finishing with 278 yards. FOURTEEN different players had at least one reception. That’s how you run an offense. The last specific area I was curious to see was the running back rotation. This one is hard to gauge as the entire second half was meaningless, meaning the rotation was meaningless. It’s no way to know how the carries would be divided if the game was still in doubt. However, it was obvious that Edwards-Helaire will get the bulk of the carries, Tyrion Davis is a load that does not go down easily, and Emery will embarrass people in the open field. It was also nice to see Emery run between the tackles without hesitation in limited action. Now, on to a few standouts from the game.

MVP

Easy call, Joe Burrow. He was completely comfortable and confident in the new offense. The check down to your running back is the most underrated play in football, and he took full advantage. Positive yardage plays are good plays, flashy or not. He also went downfield when the plays were there. The underthrow to Terrace Marshall in the end zone is an INT against a better team, but it’s unlikely to see perfection in the first game of the year (or any other game).

Most Outstanding Defensive Player

This could be controversial, but K’lavon Chaisson. He didn’t lead the team in tackles, sacks, or any other stats, but his impact was felt. Chaisson looks as though he’s been shot out of a cannon on every play. That kind of speed and aggression changes the way you approach passing AND running the ball. Fact is, there are a lot of positions with similar players. ILB’s Jacob Phillips and Damone Clark come to mind. NOBODY else on this defense can affect the game the way Chaisson does. I didn’t realize how significant losing him was last year.

Unsung Hero

Hero isn’t exactly the right word, being that the game was never in question, but this will be one of my awards given after every game so here we go. Dare Rosenthal’s play was very encouraging. Starting left tackle Saadiq Charles was out for the game, leaving Rosenthal to step in. I understand Ga. Southern didn’t have Lawrence Taylor rushing the QB, but Rosenthal moved well. He looked well prepared, nimble, and balanced.

You’d be hard pressed to find a negative take on this game from an LSU perspective. On one hand, LSU should have dominated Georgia Southern because of the gap in talent. On the other hand, I have to appreciate a good performance after seeing Tennessee, Missouri, and Ole Miss go down to smaller programs. This was a great start to the Joe Brady era. BRING ON TEXAS!!

One day away. After months of boredom, waiting, baseball, and other types of torture, the LSU football season is ONE DAY AWAY! It’s always exciting to start the season with a big time opponent, but after seeing Florida/Miami’s embarrassing display of mediocrity I’m glad to open with a “warm up” game. That being said, don’t take Georgia Southern lightly. It’s a veteran team coming off a 10 win season with an offense you don’t see often. This could easily be a close game going into the second half. Ga. Southern has a history of holding their own against Power 5 schools. They won’t be intimidated, and they won’t beat themselves with turnovers. I’m confident LSU will eventually pull away with a win, but there are other things I’d like to see in addition to a 1-0 start.

Discipline

As I mentioned earlier, Georgia Southern runs an unorthodox offense. There are other triple option teams, but this is one of the few that run it from the shotgun and pistol formations. The key for LSU is to be disciplined in their defensive assignments. Every player has to focus on their personal responsibility, and trust that their teammates will do the same. It’s just as important for the defense to tackle well. Option teams lure safeties up to help against the run. When this happens it’s simply a foot race if the runner can get past the second level of the defense, so players must make the tackle when in position. The advantage of playing Ga. Southern in the first game is the team has had extra time to prepare, so I think the defense will be ready. LSU also must be disciplined on offense. The combination of an early game and a new offense will likely result in pre-snap penalties. I’d just like to see these penalties held to a minimum.

RUN THE OFFENSE

Yep, I wrote that in all caps so you would read it loudly in your head. Every year I hear talk of not showing too much of the offense against over matched teams to keep from exposing yourself to more talented teams. I don’t agree. Simply run the offense, and be who you are. If an RPO (run pass option) play is called then take what the defense gives. If Georgia Southern sells out against the run the whole game then pass the whole game. For this offense to be effective the team can’t afford to be conservative or predisposed to hiding plays or personnel. It’s obvious what the Tigers want to do this year; the coaches have talked about it the whole off season. It makes no sense to hide it now then try to flip a switch next week against Texas. Run the offense, get reps, and get better.

Running Back Rotation

Jr. Running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire will finally get his chance to start, but nobody knows how the carries will fall in his relief. Fr. John Emery has the most big play potential, but I think Tyrion Davis-Price could have the edge as the first RB off the bench because of his willingness to run between the tackles. Coaches, OC’s, and schemes come and go, but LSU will always be a physical running team. Toefield, Addai, Broussard, Hester, Ware, Fournette, and Guice ALL seeked contact. I don’t expect the mentality of the offense to change, only the approach as a whole. You can’t count out Chris Curry as a contributor. He doesn’t receive much fanfare, but he’s only a redshirt freshman. He has time to make his mark.

Lastly, I’d like to see Tiger Stadium loud and boisterous for 4 quarters. The newly allowed alcohol sales will definitely help in that regard. Nobody fears playing here when there’s only 12 people in the stands after halftime. In addition to LSU, good luck to my nephew, starting MLB Chase Day, and the ULM Warhawks against Grambling! The thought of Grambling taking an “L” reminds me to wish good luck to the Southern Jaguars against McNeese St. Fellow football fans, our time is finally here. Feed the dog, give the baby some Benadryl, pop a cold one, and enjoy the games! The wait is over.

Welcome back, Tiger fans! With the season only 4 days away I’ve completely checked out of work and anything else productive until Sunday. This will be my last post before my Game 1 preview on Friday. Conveniently enough, Coach Orgeron had his first game week press conference of the year yesterday AND released a depth chart. I found it interesting that Coach O expressed a lot of confidence in true freshman cornerback Cordale Flott, from Saraland, AL. The depth chart reflected his confidence in listing Flott as All-American Kristian Fulton’s immediate backup. Maybe the former 3 star recruit is another case of LSU effectively evaluating talent, ignoring rankings, and stealing a diamond in the rough out of Alabama. Maybe beyond the starting CB’s he’s the best we’ve got out of a group that needs experience (more on this later), and Coach O is trying to build his confidence. Time will tell. I also noticed that DE Glen Logan was listed as a starter and returning starter Breiden Fehoko was not. I’m not reading too much into this as I’m sure both of them will get their share of snaps, but it does say how the staff feels about Logan’s off season. This bodes well for the defensive line.

In my first post I told you all the reasons LSU will be better, but like every other team, there are flaws. For every sunshine pumper there is a negatiger (shout out TigerDroppings), and both will be right at times. Now I’ll address my concerns for the team.

Cornerback

Believe me, I’m not crazy. I realize we have All American Kristian Fulton at one corner and freshman phenom Derek Stingley at the other. I know this is DBU. I also know that no team will go the whole season with both starting corners on the field for every snap. Be it injuries or suspensions, at some point someone will have to step up at one of these positions. Nobody seemed to care when sophomore Kelvin Joseph entered the transfer portal (twice), but Joseph played well as a true freshman last year. He was effective against the run, and good but not great in coverage. He hadn’t attained the comfort level to take his eyes off the WR and find the ball, but he was in position to do so more times than not. His departure leaves 3 true freshmen as backups, Raydarious Jones (6’1″ 161), Jay Ward (6’2″ 167), and the aforementioned Cordale Flottt. Flott’s slim 6’2″, 160 lb frame reminds me of Greedy Williams his freshman year; the difference is Williams was able to redshirt. This team won’t have that luxury. The typical, physical SEC X or Z (outside) WR’s have the strength to create separation as well as the speed and quickness. This puts the freshmen at a significant disadvantage. Let’s just hope neither starter goes down for an extended period of time.

Offensive Line

The offensive line was bad for a variety of reasons last year, starting with lingering injuries to left tackle Saahdiq Charles. Budding star guard Ed Ingram was dismissed and right tackle Austin Deculus struggled. However, the line did get better as the year went on. Lloyd Cushenberry was unquestionably the most consistent lineman, and juco transfer Damien Lewis stood out at guard. It’s reasonable to assume Deculus and backup Badore Traore will be better with experience, and a healthy Charles can return to his freshman form. Obviously, this is not a given. At the very least, the interior of the line is proven this year.

The New Offense’s Impact on the LSU Defense

I expect the uptempo spread offense to present problems for opposing defenses, but LSU also has to consider how it affects their own defense. No offense operates at its full potential 100% of the time. When ineffective, an uptempo offense can mean quick 3 and outs which wears your defense down. When you see defensive linemen with their hands on their hips, bet the over. That defense is in trouble. Of course Offensive Coordinator Steve Ensminger and Passing Game Coordinator Joe Brady (the real OC with a different title) can adjust their tempo when needed. I’ll be watching closely to see how they react when the offense isn’t at its best.

I have other concerns, such as kickers and dropped passes, but that’s already enough negativity in my life for one entry. As the year progresses I’ll provide game previews and recaps, interviews with LSU legends, coverage of other Louisiana college teams, and Saints talk. Come back Friday for the game 1 Georgia Southern preview.

My name is Louis Johnson, and I’m addicted to LSU football. Now that I’ve acknowledged the problem, I can heal. Lucky for me and other college football junkies like myself, the season is here. The purpose of this site is to provide news and opinions about LSU sports. I considered previewing the 2019 football team position by position, but let’s be honest; that’s been done a million times since spring practice. Instead I’ll get straight to the point, telling you why the 2019 Tigers will be better than last year.

1) Joe Burrow

Don’t let the stats fool you; Burrow was better than good last year. Consider the fact that he had one summer to win the job all while getting acclimated to a new scheme and receivers, and it makes last season even more impressive. He will excel with a full year of familiarity, experience, and the addition of…

2) Joe Brady

Much was made of the offensive line’s struggles last year, but not enough was made of the staff’s obsession with max protection to compensate. Far too often Burrow took sacks in spite of max protection because there was nowhere to go with the ball. Enter Joe Brady, former Saints offensive assistant. Brady brings a wealth of knowledge about the spread offense, most importantly ways to quickly get the ball to your playmakers. The key to neutralizing a pass rush is a good run game and getting the ball out quickly, which also helps get your QB in rhythm.

3) Apu Ika/Tyler Shelvin

With Grant Delpit and Kristian Fulton, two possible 2020 first rounders in the secondary alone, it’s easy to overlook key players in other position groups of the defense. The combination of freshman Apu Ika and sophomore Tyler Shelvin at nose guard will help bring LSU back to the run stopping, dominant defense fans are used to. Aranda’s defenses have been good, but not great during his time in Baton Rouge. He brought the 3-4 along with him from Wisconsin, and we simply haven’t had the massive, gap filling, run clogging nose guard that is needed to make the 3-4 reach its potential. I’m expecting a lot from a freshman, but I haven’t seen many 6’4″ 350 pound guys move like Apu Ika. Shelvin was effective when in shape, but now there’s depth. Expect a huge year out of Sr. DE Rashard Lawrence now that the offense can’t put as much attention on him.

Now that I’ve expressed my optimism towards the 2019 season, I’ll dive into potential pitfalls this year in my next post. Stay tuned.