Etling ‘hurting’ before Arkansas
LSU coach Ed Orgeron said in a weekly SEC teleconference that senior quarterback Danny Etling had re-injured his back during pregame warm ups against Arkansas.
Etling underwent back surgery in the spring.
“He reinjured his back throwing the ball before the game,” Orgeron said. “Got knotted up a little bit. He’s better this week.”
At player interviews on Monday, Etling addressed the comments about his health and status before the team takes on Tennessee.
“I feel healthy and ready to play,” Etling said. “Hurting is not the same as being out so I’ve kind of recognized that difference and I know where my body is at.”
Etling was also asked where he had been hurting but declined to comment on specifically where the injury took place.
“I’ve already called Tennessee and told them where they could hit me at,” Etling said. “I was going to play regardless and felt good by the time the game started.”
LSU facing Tennessee, interim coach
LSU will face a team with an interim head coach after Tennessee and Butch Jones parted ways last week.
After former LSU coach Les Miles was fired, many players learned quickly what that feeling was like. Sophomore linebacker Devin White said it helped that Orgeron was with the program before taking over as interim head coach last season.
“You don’t know what to expect,” White said. “We knew who he was and knew what he was like. He was all about us and we were all about him so it worked hand-and-hand.”
The Tigers are also preparing for two freshman quarterbacks, Will McBride and Jarrett Guarantano, after Guarantano has thrown just one touchdown in seven starts.
Mad scientist
Junior defensive back Donte Jackson said making adjustments in game to accommodate for what Tennessee might throw at the Tigers is Dave Aranda’s strong suit.
“He’s like a mad scientist,” Jackson said. “When he sees something that we haven’t practiced, he’ll draw up a play they might run. It takes about two or three minutes but he’s so technical so we like to call him a science project.”
White earned his third SEC Conference Player of the Week award after a 14 tackle performance against the Razorbacks Saturday. White said as long as his play translates to wins, the awards will speak for themselves.
“I’ll take it every week if I deserve it,” White said. “I just go out and play and I guess when you play well good things will happen.”
LSU Associate Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator Dave Aranda instructing players on Tuesday Oct. 11, 2016 during the Tigers' football practice at the LSU practice facility.
