For LSU’s upcoming game against Kent State, The Daily Reveille teamed up with the Daily Kent Stater football beat writer Nick Shooks to get his thoughts on the matchup.
How ready is Kent State running back Dri Archer to play on Saturday, and if he doesn’t play, who takes his spot?
Dri Archer will play Saturday, according to head coach Paul Haynes, who said Wednesday that the electrifying back looks ready to go. Although that is a good sign for the Flashes, he might not be at 100 percent, and with a speedster like Archer, a weak ankle does not bode well for him and his playmaking ability. Running back Trayion Durham is a 6-foot, 240-pound bulldozer of a back who will receive most of the carries on the ground, usually between the tackles. Anthony Meray is an average back who will also see some touches but doesn’t pose a major threat to defenses.
Paul Haynes is in his first season at the helm of the Golden Flashes. What can we expect of a Haynes-run team?
Haynes replaces Darrell Hazell, who left to take the head coaching job at Purdue. Haynes is a former standout safety at Kent State and has coached at Ohio State and Arkansas, so he brings a big-time football perspective to a mid-major school. Haynes is a defensive-minded coach, but that doesn’t limit him to bringing a well-prepared team to Baton Rouge. The Flashes put together a solid first half against Bowling Green before the wheels fell off on both sides of the ball. The defense allowed almost 600 yards of offense, so they will look to tighten up their play against a much better opponent. Penalties were an issue in a 17-10 win over Liberty, but the Flashes cleaned up their play against Bowling Green.
Kent State struggled early in the season defending the pass, while LSU has shown a revamped air attack in the Cam Cameron era. How does Kent State plan on stopping quarterback Zach Mettenberger and the rest of the passing game on Saturday?
Kent State’s defensive strength lies in its pass rush. Defensive tackle Roosevelt Nix is one of the quickest linemen I’ve ever seen off the snap, so don’t be surprised if he gets to Mettenberger a few times. However, the defense allowed a ton of yards against Bowling Green, and I don’t expect LSU to do less than the Falcons. The key will be in the Flashes’ secondary, and if LSU coaches have watched their film, they’ll go after senior defensive back Darius Polk, who played a key role in denying Liberty late, but has a penchant for allowing big completions.
Kent State was in the hunt for a BCS Bowl last season. Is this year’s team capable of making another run?
Without Archer, Kent State has struggled offensively in their two games so far. Archer was the X-factor for the Flashes when they needed him most in 2012 and needs to be in top form for the Flashes to succeed again. The defense also needs to improve greatly for them to have a chance at winning the Mid-American Conference, let alone a BCS bowl. Also, with the Flashes having lost one game already, they would likely need to win out, including road wins at LSU and Penn State. That’s a tall task to ask of a first-year head coach of a MAC team.
Prediction for the game?
LSU 42, Kent State 10. Too much speed on the side of the Tigers, and not enough offense to keep up for the Flashes.