The Daily Reveille sports staff shares their thoughts before LSU’s game against Florida

Glen West | The Lines
To say the Tigers have struggled on both the offensive and defensive line is an understatement. LSU is expected to get sophomore defensive end Rashard Lawrence back on a limited basis. Lawrence has made his presence felt in every game he has played in but ankle injuries have kept him out of the rotation.
Junior outside linebacker Arden Key is expected to play as well, but will have a tough matchup against Florida’s offensive guard Martez Ivey, who has only allowed one sack on the season.
On the offensive line, freshman guard Saahdiq Charles is set to start at right tackle with Toby Weathersby’s status questionable.  Protecting senior quarterback Danny Etling will be the priority in this game, as he has been on the move much of the time the past three weeks.
These changes need to work out for Ed Orgeron and company or it could be another long night for the team and Tiger fans.
 

Hannah Martin | LSU-Florida Rivalry
The LSU and Florida matchup is always one of the more anticipated games of the season. Whether it was in 2007 when a No. 1 LSU team defeated Tim Tebow and the Gators 28-24, or last year’s loss in Death Valley.
This will be the first time LSU has played in Gainesville since 2014 and only four players on LSU’s current roster were at that game. Florida is without its starting quarterback and junior running back Derrius Guice will be limited.
If you’ll recall, last year’s game started with a scuffle from both teams that prompted Leonard Fournette to suit up with an ankle injury. The trash talk was inevitable after the Gators celebrated their win on LSU’s field, and was even brought back up during the College World Series between LSU and Florida.
This year’s rivalry seems to be less hyped up, especially after LSU’s traumatic loss to Troy. But the matchups are still there whether it be LSU’s receivers and Florida’s cornerbacks or the return of defensive end Rashard Lawrence.
Perhaps my favorite part of the LSU-Florida rivalry is that both teams claim the ‘DBU’ title. This year, each team is starting two freshmen in the secondary which changes things. Freshman cornerback Greedy Williams has three interceptions through the first five games and Florida’s CJ Henderson is right on his tail with two picks.
 

Kennedi Landry | Kicker Controversy
LSU needs to fix a lot of things going forward this season, but arguably the most important is the field goal kicking.
Contrary to LSU’s “quarterback controversy,” neither kicker seems to be up the task this season. Sophomore Jack Gonsoulin and freshman Connor Culp, who will start against Florida, have gone a combined 3-for-7 total and 1-for-5 on field goals longer than 30 yards.
The kicking problem came to a climax when Gonsoulin missed a 35-yard field goal that could have made the difference in LSU’s 24-21 loss to Troy.
Orgeron asserted the need to go out and recruit a kicker, but this is a problem that needs to be solved sooner rather than later if the Tigers want to be able to compete in close games.
With an offense that often struggles to score in the red zone and loses momentum once across 50-yard line, field goal kicking needs to be better to keep LSU in tough games.
 

Brandon Adam | Tigers need a win
After fans called for Orgeron and athletic director Joe Alleva’s head following the team’s loss to Troy, the team can ill afford another loss. It would be the third loss for LSU in the last four games.
The Tigers are 2-1 in their last three trips to Gainesville, but are slight underdogs to Florida this Saturday.
This game gives LSU a chance to get its first conference win of the season and turn around its season. If the Tigers lose, it will be the first time since 2001 LSU has a .500 record heading into the second week of October.
The game may be the most pivotal of the season, considering that LSU has to play No. 12 Auburn next weekend in Tiger Stadium.
 

Jarrett Major |  Being competitive
If you watched a LSU game last season, then you probably remember the annoying commercial that went “At LSU, we are pretty competitive.”
Well, against Troy, LSU wasn’t competitive, until the very end. Troy simply outplayed and outcoached the Tigers.
Now, the Tigers are traveling to Florida for a homecoming game, usually reserved for the likes of Sun Belt Conference teams, such as Troy. It is one of the most grave insults sent to the football team this year. Yet, it seems like Florida has found its perfect cupcake.

LSU was unable to stop a two-star running back from Troy, and Florida is averaging nearly 200 yards rushing in three SEC matchups. LSU will need to stop the Gators rushing attack if they want to be competitive and regain the confidence of the Tiger fanbase. Because at LSU, “we are here to win,” and right now, we are not winning.