LSU vs Florida: Featured Matchup

The LSU Tigers, 4-2, 0-2, hit the road once again this Saturday night to take on the Florida Gators at The Swamp. The game kicks off at 6:30 CT on the SEC Network. The Gators come into the game with a record of 3-1, 2-1.

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In this week’s featured matchup, Death Valley Voice takes a look at the LSU defense vs. the Florida offense.

The LSU defense has been a huge question mark for much of the season, and it will be no different in Gainesville.  The Tigers are coming off its worst loss under Les Miles, a 41-7 thrashing at the hands of Auburn last week on the Plains. Much like what occurred three weeks ago in LSU’s loss to Mississippi State and quarterback Dak Prescott, the Tigers had difficulty in containing Auburn’s quarterback, Nick Marshall.

A good piece of news for the Tigers this week is that Gators’ quarterback Jeff Driskel, although he has running ability, is no Dak Prescott or Nick Marshall. Perhaps this is just the break the Tigers’ defense needs in turning things around.

Let’s take a look at some stats:

LSU defense

Through six games, the Tigers are allowing 17.7 points per game (17th nationally, 4th SEC); 338 yards per game (32nd nationally, 5th SEC); 153.5 passing yards per game (10th nationally, 2nd SEC); and 184.3 rushing yards per game (90th nationally, 14th and last SEC).

So, in looking at sheer numbers, LSU rushing defense leaves something to be desired. The other numbers aren’t terrible, and do reflect strong defensive efforts against much-weaker teams for the most part. The yardage numbers allowed overall in the two SEC games thus far, though, are through the roof.

In the two SEC games, the Tigers are allowing 36.5 points per game; 568 total yards per game (300 rushing yards per game, 268 passing yards per game). Granted, two games is a small sample size, and the Tigers faced two potent offenses in Mississippi State and Auburn, where both the quarterbacks are experienced and  are Heisman candidates, to boot.

Florida offense

Through five games, the Gators are scoring 33.0 points per game (53rd nationally, 12th SEC); 405 total yards per game (76th nationally, 11th SEC); 215 passing yards per game (85th nationally, 11th SEC); 189.8 rushing yards per game (45th nationally, 8th SEC). Florida’s offense is statistically worse than LSU’s offense in all the yardage categories, although it’s Florida’s running game that will potentially give LSU’s defense problems.

Jeff Driskell will be starting at quarterback for Florida, which does not please much of the Gator fan base. Driskell on the year is 76-of-139 passing with five touchdowns, and six interceptions. It’s the propensity for throwing interceptions that has to be on the collective minds of LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis and the defense.

If the Tiger front seven can get adequate pressure on Driskell, perhaps it will force him into some bad decisions, leading to turnovers. The LSU secondary is arguably still the team’s strongest defensive unit. Expect Rashard Robinson, Tre’Davious White, and company to have a strong game. The Tiger defense has six interceptions on the year.

If LSU is to be successful in this game; however, it absolutely must find answers in keeping the Florida running game in check. The Gators’ rushing leader is Matt Jones, who on the year has amassed 372 yards on 72 carries, with five touchdowns. He’s averaging 93 yards per game, with an average of 5.2 yards per carry.

The interior of the Tiger defense will need to buckle down. Some good news is that Quentin Thomas is expected to play, which helps in terms of depth. The middle linebacker position will now mostly feature Kendell Beckwith instead of D.J. Welter.

The Likely Results

The LSU defense will have an easier time this week with a Florida offense that struggles. The main task is holding the Gators’ rushing attack in check, which does not pose the same challenges as the Tigers have seen in the first two SEC games. This means no read-option from the quarterback, thus hopefully simplifying the defensive assignments and allowing the Tigers to stay in contain.

Now, if the LSU offense can show improvement, the Tigers can prevail in a close one.