With the loss to Alabama Saturday night, LSU is now 6-3 on the season with three SEC games remaining on the schedule. However, the Tigers still believe they have a lot to play for.
Etling on Alabama performance
Danny Etling threw 12-for-26 for 137 yards and an interception against the Crimson Tide on Saturday night.
The senior quarterback had some big moments but struggled to connect on deep throws.
Etling said location of the deep throws depended on the coverage being presented and that the execution wasn’t always there.
“You just kind of have to feel for it,” Etling said. “If the the safety is in zone over the top you’re not going to throw it.”
Despite the loss, Etling and the team believe there is still a lot to play for this season and the book of this LSU team is still being written.
“We can still make a pretty big bowl game,” Etling said. “Finishing high in the SEC rankings, so I think that’s something this team can really work for and a goal to play for.”
Defense on Arkansas two QB system
The Tiger defense will have its hands full in practice this week preparing for the two-headed monster Arkansas presents at quarterback. The Razorbacks are expected to play either senior quarterback Austin Allen or 6-foot-7-inch, freshman Cole Kelley or a combination of both.
Senior defensive end Christian LaCouture said each will cause the LSU defense with problems, but the team has the players capable of slowing them down.
“Kelley’s a big guy with a huge arm,” LaCouture said. “We’re preparing for both of them, and now that we have film on both of those guys it makes it easier to see their reads.”
Senior nose tackle Greg Gilmore added that LSU has enough quarterbacks on the roster to prepare for any kind of attack Arkansas could throw at them.
“I was watching film on [Kelley] and was like who is this guy,” Gilmore said. “You have to tackle big guys like a back so that’s what we’re going to do.”
White continues impressive play
A theme this season seems to be the great play of sophomore linebacker Devin White. White led the Tigers in tackles against Alabama with nine including one tackle for a loss.
White said a key to his successful play has been due to the work the front four as a whole has performed this season. LSU was able to hold the formidable Alabama running backs to just 82 yards.
“They keep some of the offensive lineman off of me,” White said. “They did a tremendous job Saturday night rotating in, and I can play a lot faster when they’re doing a good job.”
White’s excellent play should continue against the struggling Razorbacks, a team he is familiar with. White said there are many Razorback fans in his hometown of Springhill, which is located on the Louisiana-Arkansas border.
The two teams play for the “Golden Boot” trophy each season, and the Tigers lead the series 38-22 all-time.
“We don’t want to give them the chance of talking smack,” White said. “We won it my freshman year, so we just want to keep this thing rolling.”
