LSU coach Ed Orgeron met with the media to after practice on Thursday to address the Tigers’ upcoming game against Tennessee.
LSU faces off against the Volunteers for the first time since a 38-7 win in 2011.
“We had a tremendous week at practice,” Orgeron said. “We’re expecting a pumped up team, renewed team with a lot of energy. I know they’re going to play very hard. They’ve got some great athletes on their team.”
Kicker Controversy Again
After going 7-for-7 on field goals following the loss the Troy, freshman Connor Culp missed one field goal and two PATs in LSU’s win over Arkansas.
Culp was then replaced by sophomore Jack Gonsoulin, who went 2-for-2 on PATs.
“Connor’s been perfect all week,” Orgeron said. “We’ll give him another shot and see what he can do. Jack’s ready to go.”
Injury updates
Senior linebacker Donnie Alexander and junior defensive end Arden Key both sustained injuries in LSU’s win over Arkansas and are questionable for Saturday.
Senior offensive tackle K.J. Malone is still listed as questionable and will likely miss his fifth straight game despite the progress Orgeron said he has made.
With Alexander likely out for Saturday’s game, Orgeron must look to a pair of freshmen to step up in his position. Tyler Taylor has played in all ten games this season and started three, while K’Lavon Chaisson has played in nine and started two.
“They’re played before and we’ve started them before,” Orgeron said. “They’re young guys, they’re going to play hard. They’re more experienced than the first game. We feel that they’re physically capable of handling the situation.”
Orgeron also credits the improvement of freshman linebacker Ray Thornton and expects him to get ample playing time for the remainder of the season.
“Ray Thornton’s going to play a lot,” Orgeron said. “Ray had a good game on special teams last week. He’s going to play more on special teams. He’s going to share time with K’Lavon. He’s a guy that’s really matured and gotten better throughout the season.”
Freshman Saahdiq Charles and Ed Ingram will continue to step on the offensive line in the absence of Malone.
“For us to start two freshmen on the offensive line has been unbelievable,” Orgeron said. “Those guys have made tremendous improvement.”
Freshmen, transfers to make big impact in the future
“With most of the freshman, we see them progress,” Orgeron said. “We’ve seen them hit a wall because they weren’t getting that much playing time. Then we see them bounce back. Typical freshman. They have not yet reached their potential”.
Orgeron said a lot of this freshman class hit a wall in the middle of the season where they were not getting the playing time they expected. He met with the entire class to let them know of the coaching staff’s expectations of them.
The exception, Orgeron said, has been freshman safety Grant Delpit, who came back to make big plays after being beat in LSU’s win over Auburn.
“His ability to bounce back,” Orgeron said. “Some guys won’t bounce back from that. His ability to make adjustments and handle pressure and learn all the things that we’re doing.”
Orgeron said the transfer players have made just as much improvement this season as the freshmen have. Defensive lineman Breiden Fehoko and receiver Jonathan Giles are both expected to play big roles for the Tigers next season.
“Those guys have shown a lot,” Orgeron said. “I think they’re going to be really good players. I think those guys are going to be big contributors next year.”