LSU Football: Ed Orgeron had confidence against Vanderbilt for one specific reason
By Zach Ragan
LSU football head coach Ed Orgeron was confident against Vanderbilt because of the presence of a specific player.
LSU football‘s 2020 season didn’t get off to a great start.
The Tigers were unable to stop Mississippi State’s offense, which resulted in a season-opening 44-34 loss for LSU.
Ed Orgeron’s squad, however, was able to get back on track last weekend. The Tigers cruised past Vanderbilt, leaving Nashville with a 41-7 win.
One of the main reasons LSU was able to secure a blowout win against the Commodores?
The strong play of Bo Pelini’s defense, which wasn’t a surprise, since the Tigers got back a very important player last week.
LSU football receives a boost from Derek Stingley Jr
LSU didn’t beat Mississippi State for a myriad of reasons. But one of the biggest factors was the absence of cornerback Derek Stingley Jr, who missed the game due to a non-COVID related illness.
Stingley is probably the best college football player in the nation. Football is a team sport, but not having Stingley on the field against the Bulldogs was absolutely a key reason that LSU gave up over 600 passing yards to Mississippi State quarterback KJ Costello.
Getting Stingley back for the game against Vanderbilt not only gave the Tigers a much-needed boost, but it also gave Coach O some confidence.
“I think Derek Stingley’s presence helped everybody, including me, to be honest with you,” said Orgeron this week (via 247Sports). “It gave us a lot of confidence. He’s one of the best players in America.”
That comment from Coach O shows us just how great of a player Stingley truly is. Coaches have to deal with players missing games all the time. It’s just part of the game. Obviously, Orgeron wants his best roster on the field at all times. But he understands that sometimes guys won’t be available.
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However, it’s clear that Coach O views Stingley in a different light. He knows the Tigers need him on the field to not only be at their best but to also compete in the SEC.
There’s not a better cornerback in the country than Stingley. I can’t blame Orgeron for feeling a bit more confident with him on the field.