When No. 6 LSU (4-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) arrives at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, it will find itself staring into the eyes of an offensive attack unlike any it has seen thus far in 2013.
No. 9 Georgia (2-1, 1-0 SEC) brings a plethora of weapons to the field, and they display them like prized possessions throughout every three-hour contest.
Sophomore running back Todd Gurley has received plenty of hype as the weekend contest approaches, and his 125.7 rushing yards per game leads the SEC. With the
attention surrounding the young, electric Gurley, senior quarterback Aaron
Murray has been slightly
overshadowed.
But if Murray’s numbers this season prove anything, it’s that he shouldn’t be forgotten.
Murray has completed 59 passes in 82 attempts, resulting in a 72 percent completion rate. His 1,040 passing yards rank second in the SEC, and his seven touchdowns to two interceptions make him a potent threat for opposing defenses to handle.
“Murray has been in that program for years and he’s been leading that offense,” LSU senior linebacker Lamin Barrow said. “He’s got a great arm, and he’s a major threat. He’s just as important as Gurley.”
Murray and the Bulldogs’ passing offense should be a new challenge for the young LSU defensive back corps to face.
Last week against Auburn, the Tigers allowed 224 yards on 17 completions against the conference’s No. 11-ranked passing offense. Interceptions by senior safety Craig Loston and sophomore cornerback Jalen Mills helped give LSU a 35-21 win in a rain-soaked Tiger Stadium.
But when the second-ranked Georgia passing offense settles
inside its home stadium, the Tigers’ young cornerbacks, including sophomore Micah Eugene, redshirt freshman Dwayne Thomas and true freshman Tre’Davious White, will have to hold their own against one of the nation’s most potent passing attacks.
“We just have to play our game,” Thomas said. “It’s going to be a test for our secondary, but we’re ready for it. We want to show the country what type of secondary we have. A lot of people think we’re young, but we’re experienced.”
If Murray does one particular thing well, it’s spread the ball around.
Three Georgia receivers have caught at least 10 passes this season, and six have accumulated over 100 total receiving yards through the Bulldogs’ first three games. Sophomore wideout Justin Scott-Wesley leads the group with 234 yards and one touchdown on 10 catches.
Knowing the level of play the Georgia passing offense brings, the LSU defensive backs have been preparing throughout the week, keying in on certain aspects of Murray’s game and seeing how to gain a competitive advantage before Saturday arrives.
“We’re preparing by just
staying mentally focused and playing the technique that [defensive backs coach Corey] Raymond showed us,” Thomas said. “We’re watching a lot of film on those guys. We shouldn’t be covering more than three seconds, so we expect to handle our business in the secondary.”
Keeping Murray in check will take a dual-effort from the LSU defense. While the young secondary is focusing on all of Georgia’s receiving targets, the defensive line will look to snag key sacks to force the Bulldogs off the field.
Georgia has averaged 40.3 points per game this season, so any stalled drives created by the Tigers defense should be a bonus.
Junior defensive end Jordan Allen said this game is no different than any other in terms of breaking into the backfield.
“[Getting to the quarterback] is important every game,” Allen said. “If we can get in his face and make it easier for the coverage, then we’ll have a lot of three and outs and hopefully get some turnovers. That’s ultimately what we’re looking for.”
“We want to show the country what type of secondary we have. A lot of people think we’re young, but we’re experienced. Just handle your job, and you should come out on top.”
59 of 82 passes completed (72 percent)
1040 passing yards
7 TDs
2 INTS
346.7 passing yards per game
Murray’s Men: Murray brings new challenge for Tigers’ secondary
September 26, 2013