LSU coach Les Miles has faith that his defense can “carry the torch” for the team if the Tigers’ offense continues to struggle.
 
The defense recorded five interceptions that led to 16 points in LSU’s victory Saturday against Mississippi State – one by senior defensive tackle Drake Nevis that earned him Southeastern Conference
 
Defensive Lineman of the Week honors for the second-straight week.
Miles joked that he wouldn’t exactly call Nevis’ interception athletic, as he tripped over an LSU teammate after making the play.
 
“He made one of the most unusual plays and, as he would have described it, a ‘chocolate chip cookie,'” Miles said. “It is hard for me to say ‘Drake, that was a heck of an interception.’ … That defense playing the way it is, if we do the right things with the football and run it and move it when needed and throw it a little better, we will win a lot of football games.”
 
Miles highlighted the performance of freshman defensive back Tyrann Mathieu against the Bulldogs. Mathieu recorded one sack and four tackles.
 
“Those guys that interpret football like he does, with speed and aggressiveness, he’s going to play for a long time,” Miles said. “We’re going to test him. … He looks forward to making a big play.”
 
In the midst of the defense’s ball-hawking play, Miles said junior quarterback Jordan Jefferson is maturing, though he finished with 97 yards passing, just one more yard than he had against Vanderbilt.
 
“Any time the offense is going down the field, it’s based on these things – the quarterback is managing the offense, dealing the ball appropriately, some good calls … and he’s executing,” Miles said. “My guess is if he would have put a little bit tighter of a grip on a couple of those balls, we would’ve thrown for even more yards.”
 
In injury news, junior safety Karnell Hatcher returned to the starting lineup against Mississippi State, and Miles said junior tight end Deangelo Peterson and senior running back Richard Murphy will practice this week.
 
LSU’s home game Oct. 2 against Tennessee is at 2:30 p.m. on CBS.
 
The matchup between Florida and Alabama will follow at 7 p.m.
 
The Tigers will wear white uniforms Saturday for a nationally televised audience on ESPN2. They will don purple uniforms Oct. 16 against McNeese State and Nov. 13 against Louisiana-Monroe.
 
The 1970 LSU football team that won the SEC championship will be recognized before the kickoff of the West Virginia game.
 
The LSU and West Virginia coaching staffs will wear Coach to Cure MD patches this weekend signifying support for the annual effort to raise money in the battle against Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. It is the third year in a row college football coaches around the country are participating in the Coach to Cure MD program, which has raised more than $500,000 for the cause.
 
 
 
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Contact Rachel Whittaker at [email protected]