LSU junior fullback J.D. Moore is known for his bone crushing blocks.
Moore is prone to opening many running lanes for the LSU tailbacks that junior running back Leonard Fournette labeled him as his “flashlight” guiding his way.
On one of LSU’s first-half drives, newly appointed offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger put Moore in an unfamiliar position.
Even more unfamiliar than it was for him clearing the way for sophomore tailback Derrius Guice, who started for Fournette because of an ankle injury in LSU’s 42-7 win on Saturday in Tiger Stadium.
All 6-foot-4, 241-pounds of Moore jogged onto the field flanked out as a wide receiver, not in his usual spot bent over in a three point stance, behind quarterback Danny Etling and in front Guice.
To Moore, it was “ingenious” from a play-calling standpoint.
“It forces them to respect the personnel that we’re in,” Moore said, “but then we run a different play out of it. It’s pretty smart.”
For now, Ensminger rewrote LSU’s history books by opening up the LSU playbook on the way to LSU posting 634 total yards — the most for LSU’s offense this season and against an Southeastern Conference opponent.
Ensminger and interim coach Ed Orgeron made sure to give Etling “simple” throws, which he connected with nine different receivers Saturday.
“We’re getting mature as an offense and we kind of feel like we can spread it around,” said senior tight end Colin Jeter. “Coach Ensminger does a good job of setting us up with the right plays.”
Orgeron promised change. And there was a change indeed.
Russell Gage, not Malachi Dupre or D.J. Chark, started LSU’s first drive at wide receiver.
Gage, a junior and converted safety didn’t catch a pass, but did his part with run blocking.
“I’m excited for the guys getting out there and making opportunities,” said junior wide receiver Malachi Dupre. “Jazz had his first catch tonight. Russell got attempts. I feel like everything is going in the right direction.”
There wasn’t anything fancy or flashy for LSU.
To LSU fans, the personnel and different alignments were new, but the philosophy was still the same: ground and pound.
With no Fournette, LSU proceeded to rush for 418 rushing yards, the most in a game since rushing 428 yards in 1975 against Houston.
Junior running back Darrel Williams and sophomore Derrius Guice through elusive running, powered their way to a combined 293 rushing yards and six touchdowns.
“He’s just a jack rabbit sometimes the way he makes cuts,” Moore said about Guice. “and refuses to be tackled. He’s just impressive to watch.”
Even with a depleted offensive line, Guice and Williams had no troubles.
“Nobody missed a beat,” Guice said. “Whenever they couldn’t do it I was able to cut … We all just filling in the role of Leonard being out.”
