Sophomore defensive end Arden Key has dealt with different tactics opposing teams have used to stop him from sacking their quarterbacks.
Max protection, slide protection, double teams and even chip blocks — it reached a point where the 6-foot-6, 238-pound defensive lineman became frustrated and upset about the blocking attention he was receiving.
Respect, he says.
That’s why other teams are increasing tactics to prevent him from finding their quarterback.
LSU coach Ed Orgeron and defensive line coach Pete Jenkins talked to Key and explained the added attention is coupled with being the Southeastern Conference’s sack leader at seven sacks.
“It’s respect,” Key said. “They have to do it.”
Next for Key, the LSU defense meets a Laremy Tunsil-less Ole Miss offense, which has allowed 12 sacks this season, Saturday.
Key remembers the issues he had with Tunsil last season in LSU’s 38-17 loss in Oxford last season. Key recalled Tunsil being a shifty offensive lineman, forcing him to find new moves.
But none of them worked, as Key didn’t register a sack versus Tunsil, an NFL first-round draft pick in May.
“He was athletic,” Key said. “His footwork was amazing. I would do a couple moves and he would still be in front of me, and I would be like, ‘He ain’t supposed to be there.’ I had to go in the toolbox and dig out some more tools.”
The Rebels lead the SEC in passing offense and pass efficiency in the SEC this season, which allows Key more opportunities to rush Ole Miss quarterback Chad Kelly.
What he’s even more excited about is not facing Tunsil again.
“I love it,” Key said. “I feel like [I’m] supposed to have three sacks. I don’t see a Laremy Tunsil anymore. We went back-and-forth last year, and I feel like they won’t be able to block me.”
Ole Miss’ fast-paced, spread offensive attack isn’t new for LSU.
Jacksonville State, Auburn, Mississippi State and Southern Miss employ a spread offense, but the Tigers were able to hold each of those opponents to less than 21 points.
Sophomore cornerback Donte Jackson said LSU’s preparation is similar for each spread offense, but said Kelly’s scrambling ability presents a new challenge.
“As a corner, you can’t let the scramble game fool you,” Jackson said. “Chad Kelly likes to throw on the run, he likes to throw while he’s moving, get you moving and get your eyes off your man.”
“As we preach with Coach O and Pete Jenkins, no quarterback is going to beat us with his feet,” Key added.
Kelly’s favorite target this season is senior tight end Evan Engram, who leads the SEC with 590 receiving yards and ranks second in receptions, with 37.
Ole Miss has been able to use Engram in a multitude of ways, Jackson said. Engram can line up in the slot, split out wide as a wide receiver and be effective in run blocking — all similar to Wisconsin’s sure-handed tight end Troy Fumagalli, who posted 100 yards on 7 catches in the meat of LSU’s defense.
“They can hide him and just get him the ball all types of ways,” Jackson said. “That really makes him a huge guy we have to key on, with our safeties and our linebackers. It’s just going to be athletes on athletes. He’s a pretty big threat, but I feel like we’ll be able to contain him.”
For LSU, the loss to Ole Miss, which was part of a three-game skid, is still fresh on the Tigers’ minds, and Orgeron said he was using the loss as motivation this week.
Key said he isn’t sure what happened last season but that he is ready to welcome the Rebels to Tiger Stadium Saturday.
“We weren’t supposed to lose to Ole Miss,” Key said. “Everybody in the country knew that … It was a loss and left a bad taste in our mouth. And how they did it at home? Real bad taste in our mouth. So they come see us, we got something for them.”
LSU sophmore defensive end Arden Key (49) prepares for defense n Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016 , during the 42-7 victory against Missouri oat Tiger Stadium.
