Tiger Stadium will host a heavyweight matchup on Saturday, says LSU junior fullback J.D. Moore.
With Mississippi State’s three-man defensive front weighing in at 831 pounds — an average of 277 pounds per lineman — Moore said LSU has tremendous respect for a unit that seems to always be relegated to second-tier status yet is a mainstay as a top-tier competitor in the Southeastern Conference Western Division.
“If you’re not careful, they’re going to eat your lunch,” Moore said.
LSU and Mississippi State’s big guys will face off on the front lines at 6 p.m. on Saturday at Tiger Stadium, in a battle that may significantly influence the season’s outcome.
“They’ve always had big defensive linemen and big linebackers,” Moore added. “They’re built to stop the run, so it’s always a heavyweight matchup when we face them.”
Even with junior quarterback Danny Etling expected to make his first start, many think LSU will be more dangerous through the air. But LSU’s game plan will still center around junior running back Leonard Fournette and the rushing attack, an area Mississippi State has made a concerted effort to shut down in two past games.
The Bulldogs’ front seven have shut opponents down to 64 rushing yards per game — including limiting South Carolina to 34 yards on 31 carries for 1.1 yard per carry, but Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen doesn’t expect to make quick work out of LSU.
“This week will obviously be a much different challenge going on the road in a very difficult environment to go and play against an excellent team that’s got talent all across the board,” Mullen said in a news release. “You look at the personnel, they have as many good players as any other team in America. This will be a great challenge for us.”
Mississippi State’s stingy defense faces an LSU attack led by the return of Fournette, who bursted free for 159 yards and three touchdowns during LSU’s 21-19 victory against the Bulldogs last season.
Fournette’s statline wasn’t as fortuitous in his lone 2016 game, as Wisconsin’s defensive front often got the best of LSU’s.
Moore said the Tiger big men were cognizant of that fact and have worked to reverse their fortunes — first against Jacksonville State and now versus a familiar conference foe.
“Coming off of Wisconsin, we took it upon ourselves as an o-line and group of backs — even the receivers — to say we need to do a better job blocking,” Moore said. “We did a better job of that, just being aggressive upfront … They’re definitely loaded and ready.”
Injuries and absences on LSU’s line have subsided after sophomore offensive guard Will Clapp rolled his ankle days before the season opener and played at “90 percent” and senior offensive guard Josh Boutte was suspended against Jacksonville State.
Sophomore offensive lineman Maea Teuhema started at right guard in Boutte’s absence and performed well, Clapp said, which gives LSU the advantage of being able to move him around and keep fresh legs along the line against Mississippi State.
“[Teuhema] may be a starter [or] he may be a sixth guy,” said LSU coach Les Miles. “The good thing about him is we can move him around in a number of places.”
If the Tigers hope to avoid being another statistic, the line has to maintain a clean passing pocket for Etling, who advanced through his progressions and found the open receiver last Saturday when his line kept defenders off his back. But a defense that has sacked the quarterback seven times this season hopes to disrupt that comfortable throwing pocket.
Senior defensive end A.J. Jefferson — who is tied for first in the SEC in sacks and who Miles called one of the premier pass rushers in the conference — leads the Bulldog charge of getting after Etling.
The Tigers’ focus on keeping Etling upright especially applies on key downs, as Mississippi State’s third-down defense is noticeably frugal, allowing a conversion rate of just 35 percent behind its pass rushing attack.
“We want to come out strong, start fast and be physical,” Clapp said. “[They’re] always a strong team. Up front, it’s just big dudes, and they really know how to hold their gaps and bring power to the defensive side of the field. When it’s an SEC team, you know it’s going to be a battle.”