Between blowouts and bomb threats, it’s still the same message from Bennie Logan.
On the heels of LSU’s first road trip of the season to open Southeastern Conference play, the Coushatta native and junior defensive tackle had a familiar battle cry for the underclassmen.
“Stay focused and prepare to dominate,” Logan said. “You dominate at practice, you dominate in the game.”
Fresh off of three non-conference romps to open the season, the Tigers (3-0) will meet a fragile Auburn club in Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday, where the Tigers are 1-2 under coach Les Miles.
After Monday’s bomb threat and the ensuing campus-wide evacuation that forced the Tigers to call off film study and practice, Miles predicted the team will feel no ill effects, pointing to his staff’s overemphasis of certain points.
“The good news is we over-coach it,” Miles said. “We never get to a game when we don’t think there’s something we need to coach some more.”
Even with last week’s lackluster showing against Louisiana-Monroe, Auburn (1-2) is still a potent, capable team according to Miles.
“They have great speed,” Miles said. “They are a little bit different than the spread teams that Auburn has had in the past.”
Logan lauded Auburn’s veteran offensive line and its knowledge of opponents’ tendencies, all while dispelling Auburn’s slow start.
“They’ve been struggling in the past week or so, but you can’t just say they’ll struggle against us,” Logan said. “This is Southeastern Conference play, we can’t get complacent.”
Led by shifty senior running back Onterio McCalebb and coaches’ preseason first-team All-SEC defensive end Corey Lemonier, Auburn will look to continue the visiting Tigers’ long-standing troubles in Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Continuing the misery will take a Herculean effort, according to Auburn head coach Gene Chizik.
“There’s no weak links to their team — offensively, defensively or special teams,” Chizik said in the SEC Coaches teleconference. “For us to be successful Saturday night, we’ll have to play tremendous on both sides of the ball.”
Chizik added that his “inconsistent” offensive line could get a boost from a former LSU commitment, 6-foot-7 freshman Patrick Miller.
Miller and the rest of Chizik’s offensive line will have their hands full contending with the premier front four of the SEC, highlighted by junior defensive ends Barkevious Mingo and Sam Montgomery.
Chizik also lauded junior quarterback Zach Mettenberger, calling him “efficient” and praising his pocket presence.
“He’s a big ol’ guy that can stand up in there and see the field,” Chizik said. “He makes very accurate throws.”
In his first road start, Mettenberger will be without starting running back Alfred Blue, sidelined for the foreseeable future with an injury to what Miles called a “lower extremity.”
Junior Spencer Ware and sophomore Kenny Hilliard are presumed to shoulder the load in the backfield, with junior Michael Ford and redshirt freshman Jeremy Hill chipping in with fresh legs.
Blue’s injury and Mettenberger’s road inexperience don’t worry Miles, who said his team’s “strong personality” will carry it through its first road test.
“I think road games are kind of an extension of the personality of the team,” Miles said. “It’s the same 100 yards, just a different stadium.”
Away from the friendly confines of Tiger Stadium, sophomore defensive tackle Anthony Johnson said the Bayou Bengals are focused on simply playing “LSU football,” wherever the road takes them.
As for Saturday’s game, Johnson had a favorable premonition.
“I think this team is going to come out and play a hell of a game Saturday,” Johnson said.
