So, that’s what a Southeastern Conference game is supposed to look like.
While the matchup was expected to be all about LSU’s (6-1, 3-1 SEC) high-powered offense and Florida’s conference-leading defense, the Tigers’ defense stole the show in a 17-6 victory against the Gators (4-2, 1-1 SEC).
“When you look at how we played today, everyone bought into each other and [defensive coordinator John Chavis] put us in the right positions to make plays,” said junior defensive tackle Anthony Johnson. “Everybody just played unselfishly. We played as one unit.”
After allowing a combined 91 points in the three previous games, the once-vaunted Tiger defense finally showed some teeth as it kept the Gators out of the end zone for the entire game. The Tiger defense didn’t allow an offensive touchdown for the first time in the 2013-14 season.
The pressure the defensive line was able to put on Florida sophomore quarterback Tyler Murphy was key in the defenses’ improvement. Junior defensive end Jermauria Rasco was credited with four quarterback hurries to go along with one tackle for loss.
Sophomore defensive end Danielle Hunter had his best game in a Tiger uniform and was a thorn in the side of the Gators all day, constantly popping up in the backfield to disrupt plays. Even when Hunter couldn’t get to the ball carrier or quarterback, he was able to influence the Gator offense, using his 6-foot-5-inch frame to bat down two passes at the line of scrimmage.
Murphy said the Tigers did a good job of applying pressure, and that pressure pushed him into making mistakes he wouldn’t normally make.
“[Hunter] is just one of those guys who is coming of age,” said LSU coach Les Miles. “Playing in his first year as a starter, he’s a very talented cat.”
The defense combined for five quarterback hurries, four sacks and eight tackles for loss. The four sacks against the Gators equals the total sacks the Tigers racked up in their three previous SEC games.
The pressure allowed the secondary to have its best game of the season, only allowing 129 yards in the game. The pressure applied by the defensive front and the secondary’s success go hand-in-hand with each other, according to Chavis.
“There is a couple of pieces that go together, the pressure and the coverage,” Chavis said. “We got the pressure tonight and that’s what made [the pass defense] work as well as it did.”
The defense was spurned into this performance by Chavis, according to a few of the LSU starters. Chavis had an emotional meeting with his players during the week, which connected with many of the defensive players in a big way.
“Coach Chavis told us all week ‘Big time players play in big time games,’” Johnson said. “He pointed out a couple of guys like myself, Ego Ferguson, Lamin Barrow, Jalen Mills. He told us as a unit it was time to step up and do what we do best and that’s play tackle football. He got really emotional telling us that’s how we play football and I’m really proud of him.”
Sophomore cornerback Jalen Mills said normally Chavis doesn’t talk a lot, so for him to come out of character and get emotional with the team gave them more energy and helped them play better.
“We knew going in we were going to be young and we knew we were going to have some growing pains,” Chavis said. “I never expected them to be as bad as they were. But the good thing is our kids never gave in, they kept fighting, they kept preparing and that’s what it’s all about. Our guys have been willing to prepare, and that’s what you saw tonight, our guys’ willingness to prepare.”
So, that’s what a Southeastern Conference game is supposed to look like.
While the matchup was expected to be all about LSU’s (6-1, 3-1 SEC) high-powered offense and Florida’s conference-leading defense, the Tigers’ defense stole the show in a 17-6 victory against the Gators (4-2, 1-1 SEC).
“When you look at how we played today, everyone bought into each other and [defensive coordinator John Chavis] put us in the right positions to make plays,” said junior defensive tackle Anthony Johnson. “Everybody just played unselfishly. We played as one unit.”
After allowing a combined 91 points in the three previous games, the once-vaunted Tiger defense finally showed some teeth as it kept the Gators out of the end zone for the entire game. The Tiger defense didn’t allow an offensive touchdown for the first time in the 2013-14 season.
The pressure the defensive line was able to put on Florida sophomore quarterback Tyler Murphy was key in the defenses’ improvement. Junior defensive end Jermauria Rasco was credited with four quarterback hurries to go along with one tackle for loss.
Sophomore defensive end Danielle Hunter had his best game in a Tiger uniform and was a thorn in the side of the Gators all day, constantly popping up in the backfield to disrupt plays. Even when Hunter couldn’t get to the ball carrier or quarterback, he was able to influence the Gator offense, using his 6-foot-5-inch frame to bat down two passes at the line of scrimmage.
Murphy said the Tigers did a good job of applying pressure, and that pressure pushed him into making mistakes he wouldn’t normally make.
“[Hunter] is just one of those guys who is coming of age,” said LSU coach Les Miles. “Playing in his first year as a starter, he’s a very talented cat.”
The defense combined for five quarterback hurries, four sacks and eight tackles for loss. The four sacks against the Gators equals the total sacks the Tigers racked up in their previous three SEC games.
The pressure allowed the secondary to have its best game of the season, only allowing 129 yards in the game. The pressure applied by the defensive front and the secondary’s success go hand-in-hand with each other, according to Chavis.
“There is a couple of pieces that go together, the pressure and the coverage,” Chavis said. “We got the pressure tonight and that’s what made [the pass defense] work as well as it did.”
The defense was spurned into this performance by Chavis, according to a few of the LSU starters. Chavis had an emotional meeting with his players during the week, which connected with many of the defensive players in a big way.
“Coach Chavis told us all week ‘Big time players play in big time games,’” Johnson said. “He pointed out a couple of guys like myself, Ego Ferguson, Lamin Barrow, Jalen Mills. He told us as a unit it was time to step up and do what we do best and that’s play tackle football. He got really emotional telling us that’s how we play football and I’m really proud of him.”
Sophomore cornerback Jalen Mills said normally Chavis doesn’t talk a lot, so for him to come out of character and get emotional with the team gave them more energy and helped them play well.
“We knew going in we were going to be young and we knew we were going to have some growing pains, I never expected them to be as bad as they were,” Chavis said. “But the good thing is our kids never gave in, they kept fighting, they kept preparing and that’s what it’s all about. Our guys have been willing to prepare, and that’s what you saw tonight, our guys’ willingness to prepare.”

Gallery • 46 Photos

Richard Redmann

LSU sophomore cornerback jalen Mills (28) tackles Florida quarterback Tyler Murphy (3) on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2013 during the Tigers' 17-6 victory against the Gators in Tiger Stadium.