The LSU defense is No. 1 in the Southeastern Conference in total and passing defense, allowing 242.1 and 158.6 yards per game, respectively.
 
But the unit will face arguably its toughest test of the season in Auburn junior quarterback Cameron Newton during Saturday’s matchup between the two remaining undefeated teams in the SEC.
 
LSU coach Les Miles showered praise on Newton at his weekly media luncheon Monday. The 6-foot-6-inch, 250-pound quarterback is the SEC leader in rushing with 122.9 yards per game and total offense with 305.4 yards per game. Newton leads the nation with 25 combined touchdowns rushing and passing.
 
“You don’t really stop a guy like that. You try to contain him,” Miles said. “If we had a guy like Cam Newton, he might be our third quarterback. … He gives a blow like a fullback, he’s elusive like a tailback, and he has a great touch on the ball. … He’s a legitimate Heisman contender.”
 
Newton spearheads Auburn’s No. 1 rushing offense in the SEC, which averages 283.7 yards per game.
 
LSU will counter the Auburn rushing attack with the No. 1 rushing defense in the conference, which allows just 83.6 yards on the ground per game.
 
Auburn racked up 65 points against Arkansas this past weekend, propelling it to No. 1 in the SEC in scoring offense with 40.7 points per game. LSU is near the bottom at No. 10 with 26.7 points per game and last in passing offense after tallying just 103 yards against McNeese State.
 
Miles again expressed confidence Monday in the team’s dual-quarterback system. Miles said the team “needs both skill sets” of juniors Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee, and he is hopeful the passing game will manifest itself with both quarterbacks against Auburn.
 
“I just watched a film where we scored 31 points against last year’s Auburn team when [Jefferson] was quarterback the whole game,” Miles said. “The year before, [Lee] was the quarterback, so I like what we’re doing. … Would we like to have one guy? Yeah. But honestly, I like the two we have.”
 
When asked if the LSU offensive game plan was more conservative against McNeese State, Miles said Saturday’s offensive look was not the exact range of calls the offense will employ against Auburn.
 
“There are some things we didn’t call in the McNeese game plan. It was something that we wanted to manage certain reps,” Miles said. “We probably were a little heavy in some personnel groups where we aren’t naturally that way.”
 
LSU senior left tackle Joseph Barksdale left the McNeese State game with an injury, but Miles said Barksdale is “fine” and not in danger of missing time.
 
Junior T-Bob Hebert started at right guard Saturday, a move Miles said helps the offensive line.
 
“The veteran mindset T-Bob possesses has really helped the right side,” Miles said. “He and [sophomore right tackle] Alex Hurst have enjoyed the ability to communicate about the scheme, and he brings a very aggressive mindset to his position.”
 
 
 
 
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Contact Rachel Whittaker at [email protected]