There’s no place like home.
The adage echoes the general consensus around the LSU football locker room this week as the Tigers prepare to defend their home turf for the first time this year.
No. 15 LSU (2-0, 1-0) hosts Mississippi State (1-1, 0-1) Saturday night in Tiger Stadium for the annual Gold Game, in front of a home crowd calling for change.
After two games, junior quarterback Jordan Jefferson has completed 23 of 41 passes for a mere 247 yards — last in the Southeastern Conference and 92nd in the nation. The LSU offense as a whole ranks 76th in the nation and ninth in the SEC with 352.5 yards per game.
“The quarterback play — we have to get better at it,” said LSU coach Les Miles. “I think everybody knows that, and certainly our quarterbacks do. I think the advantage is that both guys are competing.”
Miles said Jefferson will get the start but didn’t shy away from the idea of junior quarterback Jarrett Lee seeing action, saying Lee has earned the right to play.
“There’s a point in time where the guy that works as hard as Lee needs the opportunity to get on the field and play because he has competed really well,” Miles said. “I don’t know that it’s even with regard to how Jordan’s playing. I don’t necessarily think it’s a negative if I go with another guy.”
Regardless of who’s taking the snaps this Saturday, junior running back Stevan Ridley said the team is going to support whoever is under center.
“We’ve got to get Jordan in a groove,” Ridley said. “But if Coach [Miles] wants to throw Jarrett in there, then so be it. We’re going to be behind whoever is behind that center, and that’s all we can really do is support this team.”
Ridley got into a groove last week, running for 159 yards on 17 carries at Vanderbilt. Overall, LSU sits 28th in the nation in rushing, averaging 221 yards per game.
Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen complimented LSU’s stable of running backs and said the production starts with the talent on the offensive line.
“Traditionally LSU is always a very strong power-running football team,” Mullen said. “They have very productive backs who do a nice job running the ball, and a lot of that to me comes from the offensive line. They’re going to play power football and grind you out.”
While the running game seems to be the bright spot in the Tiger offense this season, it was a struggle in last year’s clash against State in Starkville. The Tigers allowed 151 rush yards in that game while only mustering 30 yards for themselves in the stormy scuffle.
But State’s stingy defense wasn’t a fluke. Through two games this season, the Bulldogs have held opponents to only 21 total points and 292.5 yards per game — sixth in the SEC.
“That’s one thing that State has done throughout the years — their defense has been good,” said sophomore wide receiver Russell Shepard. “Against Mississippi State you have to play smash-mouth football and be able to get in there and make the tough plays.”
The LSU defense has been making those tough plays this year. The Tigers lead the NCAA with 10 sacks and are currently fifth in the SEC allowing 285.5 yards per game.
Senior defensive tackle Drake Nevis, who leads the team with 3.5 sacks, credited the success of the defensive line this year to coaching staff.
“As a unit you want to be productive, and as a defensive lineman one thing you dream of is having sacks,” Nevis said. “We’ve just been in the right position at the right time, and it’s an honor to have the sacks we have.”
Overall, the team is excited to kick off its home campaign. Shepard said there is nothing like playing in Tiger Stadium and called Tiger fans some of the best in the nation.
“The stadium is like a 12th man on the field,” Shepard said. “To hear those fans and when you can’t hear yourself it’s pretty neat. I’m excited but kind of sorry for Mississippi State.”
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Contact Mark Clements at [email protected]