As LSU opens up Southeastern Conference action against Mississippi State and begins to face more talented defenses, their running game consistency will become crucial.
Both the No. 8 Tigers and the unranked Bulldogs are coming into SEC play with three non-conference wins each, and both teams’ defenses have shined. MSU currently is 11th in the nation in points against, and most of these points have been scored on passing plays.
The Tigers will need to break through the Bulldogs’ strong ground defense to succeed. Luckily for LSU, running the ball has been one of its greatest strengths thus far.
LSU has been rotating through seniors Kenny Hilliard and Terrence Magee along with true freshmen Leonard Fournette and Darrel Williams, utilizing them at both the running back and fullback position. Through the first three games of the season, each running back has at least 20 carries and picked up more than 75 yards.
“[Fielding four running backs] is just something we have here, it’s a tradition to keep fresh legs and to keep a rotation of backs going in there,” Hilliard said. “It’s something we have to continue to do to make sure everybody stays fresh.”
The Tigers lead the SEC in non-quarterback rushing attempts with 117 and have gained the third-most ground yards by running backs and fullbacks in the SEC with 557, behind Arkansas and Alabama.
Although LSU leads in rushing attempts, it is the 10th-most efficient running team in the SEC, picking up an average of 4.76 yards per carry. The leader in yards per carry — Georgia — almost doubles LSU’s numbers by averaging 8.27 yards.
In three games, LSU has rushed for an average of 185.7 yards per game. To continue to their success on the ground, the Tigers will have to come out strong against a stingy MSU defense.
“They’re opportunistic, they [the Bulldogs] have five interceptions and three fumbles,” said LSU coach Les Miles. “[The MSU]Defensive line, Preston Smith, among others, are big, strong, mobile guys and will be a great challenge for us.”
Allowing an average of only 80.3 rushing yards in its first three games, MSU is second in the SEC in run defense. The Tigers’ offensive line will have to come out strong in order to handle a defense of MSU’s caliber, which they have struggled to do in the first half of games this season
For every passing play, LSU is averaging about three running plays. Despite this statistic, Miles said that game situations determine whether a passing play or a running play will be called.
“I think we’re fortunate to have the ability to do both, and we will certainly in games that that’s necessary,” Miles said. “We choose to be balanced when we can and when we should, and should we take the lead or should the run become more important, then we will certainly press that advantage.”
Hilliard and Fournette have not only combined for more than 60 percent of the Tigers’ total rushing yards — they have been producing almost identically. Hilliard has one more touchdown than Fournette, but both backs are averaging 5.2 yards per carry.
SEC defenses as a whole have allowed an average of 121.9 yards of rushing per game. With players like Hilliard and Fournette receiving the majority of the workload, it will be important for both Williams and Magee to make the most of the carries they receive to get past this threshold throughout the rest of the Tigers’ SEC schedule.
With the most difficult stretch of LSU’s schedule set to begin, Miles said he is confident the high level of play throughout the SEC is important for LSU to succeed.
“If you enjoy competition, you enjoy this division,” Miles said. “This is why you come to the SEC. This is why you compete in the western division. Competition is great.”
You can reach Michael Haarala on Twitter @haarala_TDR.