The time is here: LSU football’s biggest test so far.
The No. 13 Tigers (4-1) host No. 9 Ole Miss (5-1) on Saturday for a rivalry matchup at 6:30 p.m. in Death Valley.
Two seasons ago, LSU fans rushed the field after an exciting 45-20 win over the Rebels. Last year, Ole Miss fans got their revenge, storming the field in Oxford after the Tigers lost 55-49.
This matchup is always a battle, and last weekend’s unpredictable SEC games proved anything is possible in this tough conference.
In his Monday press conference, head coach Brian Kelly previewed the Ole Miss game, including the Rebels’ talent and how LSU used the bye week to prepare.
The challenge of facing Ole Miss
This exciting matchup is “between two teams that are certainly familiar with themselves and certainly a team that we have a great deal of respect for,” Kelly said.
On both sides of the ball, the Rebels pose threats to LSU. Quarterback Jaxson Dart leads the SEC in passing yards with 2,100 and averages 350 yards per game. His main target, wide receiver Tre Harris, is topping the charts across the SEC in receiving yards (885) and average yards per play (17).
Dart not only will challenge the Tigers secondary with the deep ball; he’s also fast and can use his legs to create offensive opportunities.
“He’s not afraid,” Kelly said about Dart. “I mean, he’s fearless. It even seems when they need a big play, he’s not afraid to tuck it and run … I just think he’s a tough kid, tough minded.”
Kelly said this year’s Ole Miss team has made one major improvement.
“If you look at their team last year to this year, they’re just playing great defense, coupled with, you know, the weapons that they have on the offensive side of the ball,” Kelly said.
The Rebels rank No. 2 in the nation for red zone defense and No. 3 in team sacks.
Controlling the game from start to finish
In last year’s game against Ole Miss, LSU gave up a fourth-quarter lead and couldn’t keep the Rebel offense contained.
This year, Kelly said the key to the game on Saturday is shutting down this offense.
“If you keep Jaxson Dart, if you keep Tre Harris, if you keep that offense off the field, that is definitely part of the success that team’s can and will have against an outstanding scheme and a great play caller … It’s a really difficult offense. They have really good schemes,” Kelly said.
Controlling an offense that moves so quickly will take defensive discipline during every play.
“You’ve got to get lined up. You’ve got to get your cleats in the ground. You’ve got to tackle,” Kelly noted.
When playing a team with this amount of talent, Kelly said LSU will have to control the ball late in the game.
Using the bye week for improvement
In a season with two bye weeks, LSU used this first one as a chance to “shore up some things offensively, defensively and special teams,” Kelly said.
The bye week allowed the team to assess its performances before heading into the heart of SEC play, which will truly be an uphill battle.
“The first thing you do is an exhaustive self-scout … Are there tendencies you can break, and are there things you’re doing really well that you want to build on?” Kelly said.
The coaching staff also evaluated the past five weeks of play to narrow in on “who are the guys that you want on the field” when facing seven back-to-back SEC opponents.
Kelly also explained how younger players on the team benefit mentally from a bye week by gaining confidence in their knowledge and skills.
“I think the bye week allows them to say, ‘I know what I’m doing, I’ve been coached, I have the technique down. Now I just need to let it go,’” Kelly said.
