LSU coach Les Miles swore it was the same team, but when LSU’s’ defense awoke from a six-week slumber to outshine the Tigers’ new prolific offense against Florida, they sure didn’t look the same.
Following the first solid performance from the Tigers’ defense, No. 6 LSU (6-1, 3-1 Southeastern Conference) has its first opportunity to put the defensive and offensive puzzle pieces together Saturday against Ole Miss (3-3, 1-3 SEC).
LSU senior quarterback Zach Mettenberger said all aspects of the Tigers’ game looked near perfect at some point in the season, but never at the same time.
Mettenberger and the passing game carried wins to start the season, sophomore running back Jeremy Hill broke out against Auburn and the defense came to save the day last Saturday.
Who shows up against Ole Miss is anyone’s guess, but if and when the pieces come together, it will be an unfortunate day for the Tigers’ opponent, said senior safety Craig Loston.
“Whenever we do click and the offense is on and the defense is on at the same time, whatever team we’re playing at the moment, I feel for them,” Loston said. “I know what type of guys we’ve got and how we get things done around here, and it will be something special to watch if we’re both on.”
To duplicate the defensive success from Florida, the Tigers have to contend with Ole Miss junior quarterback Bo Wallace and wide receiver Donte Moncrief, who both gave LSU all it could handle last season in Tiger Stadium.
Wallace found Moncrief six times for 161 yards and two touchdowns, keeping a game in which the Tigers were 20-point favorites to a 41-35 decision. Moncrief leads the Rebel Black Bears in receiving yards again this season, but he and Wallace aren’t sneaking up on anyone this time around, Miles said.
“[Wallace] is the reason that Ole Miss offense is successful, so we’re going to have to defend him with multiplicity,” Miles said. “You can’t just sit on the run and let him throw, and you can’t just cover and let him run. It’s a mixture.”
Miles said his team worked on disguising defensive fronts in practice this week in hopes of confusing the Ole Miss quarterback, but junior defensive tackle Anthony Johnson said he wouldn’t worry about any offense on a day when the Tigers’ defense is executing.
“We were a really young defense at the beginning of the year, but from last week on we’re taking it personal because we know LSU is known for defense,” Johnson said.
For five of LSU’s first six games, it didn’t need its vintage lockdown defense. Take away the Georgia loss, and the Tigers’ offensive resurgence led by Mettenberger was more than enough to secure victories.
But Florida became the first defense this season to corral Mettenberger and his two star junior receivers, Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry, holding all three to season lows in most statistical categories.
Mettenberger said he expects more from himself than what he showed on the field last Saturday, noting he inexplicably missed throws he completed easily in the Tigers’ first games.
But it might be Hill and the rushing attack’s day to shine against Ole Miss, which ranks 91st among FBS schools in rushing defense, allowing 4.59 yards per rush and 244 rushing yards per game.
No matter who shows up or doesn’t show up for the Tigers on Saturday, Miles said he feels confident where his team is currently, having shown they can win in a variety of ways.
“I think they understand what they need to do to have success,” Miles said. “… I think the personality of our football team is one where they’re ambitious, they’re looking to the future, and this week it’s all about Ole Miss.”