In its last game, the No. 8 LSU football team rode to victory on the back of sophomore running back Leonard Fournette. This Saturday, LSU coach Les Miles said he expects a new mode of transportation for the Tigers to gain their third win this season — the passing game.
LSU (2-0, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) will face Syracuse University at 11 a.m. in the Carrier Dome for the rubber match between the universities. Last time around, in the 1988 Hall of Fame Bowl in Tampa, Florida, No. 17 Syracuse toppled No. 16 LSU 23-10.
After the matchup, the Tigers ended their 1988 season at 8-4 and Syracuse at 10-2. In their first meeting in 1964, LSU defeated the Orange 13-10 in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1. in New Orleans.
Fast forward 51 years, and it’s 2015.
Fournette, who carried for 228 yards on 19 carried and fell into the end zone on three of those runs, led LSU to its 45-21 victory against Auburn last Saturday.
It was a performance many will remember, and junior left tackle Jerald Hawkins said he still can’t believe it happened.
“Blocking for him and seeing it happen on the field, then looking back at it I just ask myself, ‘How did he do it?’” Hawkins said. “It was unbelievable. He put on his own show out there.”
The sophomore Heisman Trophy candidate seems to be the main ingredient to offensive success for the Tigers this season, but Miles said he expects sophomore quarterback Brandon Harris to take center-stage this weekend.
“We will throw the ball [on Saturday],” Miles said, who is 39-0 against nonconference opponents at LSU. “This weekend will be the opportunity to establish the balance we have been looking for. I wouldn’t be surprised if we threw the ball more than we rush it in this game.”
Offensive balance hasn’t been LSU’s forte thus far, but Miles said he wants to take advantage of the Orangemen’s porous secondary. In its first three games, Syracuse (3-0, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) allowed 863 passing yards, averaging 287.7 yards allowed per game.
As of now, LSU has called three times as many rushing attempts than passing attempts, 95-31. The Tigers’ passing game was overlooked to begin the season, so Harris could settle down in his new starting position. Miles said his settled quarterback is soon to be given more free reign to LSU’s passing offense, beginning on Saturday.
“We have four great running backs,” said junior tight end Colin Jeter. “They make the safeties come down to respect the run, which then opens up the passing windows for us. It opens up the field for the passing game.”
Miles predicts Syracuse will pack multiple defenders along the line of scrimmage to stop the Tigers ground game, giving them opportunities to throw the ball more than usual.
Harris has thrown merely 31 passes to nine different targets this season for 145 yards and one touchdown, but don’t expect the same Tiger offense Saturday.
“It’s good to see the ball get spreading around,” Jeter said. “Brandon does a good job of that. He’s not afraid to throw it to any guy. As long as you have his respect, he’s not afraid to throw you the ball.”