The #3 LSU Tigers (2-0) and the Florida Gators (1-1) are coming off games that are disappointing to both of their standards, especially the Gators. Last week, the Gators were humbled at home by South Florida 18-15 while the LSU Tigers were able to win at home and defeat the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, but not in the sharpest fashion by a final score of 23-7.
“Getting beat. That can go both ways. I’m anxious to see how we are going to respond.”
Florida HC Billy Napier
“We are happy with the win, but not happy with the production across the board. We have to coach better. Tonight, we didn’t coach well enough and got outcoached in a lot of areas. Hats off to Coach Cumbie and his staff at Louisiana Tech. They did a great job tonight. We didn’t run the football effectively tonight and did not make great decisions. Players have to make plays and coaches have to coach better, but it is a win. You always have to measure this in the outcome that this is what we wanted, but certainly not the way we wanted to get there. We have a lot of work to do and will get back to work on Monday and work on getting better.”
LSU HC Brian Kelly
After analyzing the film and getting a chance to cool down, Brian Kelly actually saw a lot better out of the game than he originally thought as he explained on Monday’s press conference.
“Today, I feel a lot better. We won the game. We dominated them statistically within that game. Our defense until late in the game when we made some substitutions was poised for a shutout. Anytime that you can get that, you are really pleased. From an offensive standpoint, Barion Brown was outstanding. It was good to see Harlem Berry get involved and do some really good things. Zavion was multi-dimensional running the football. 9/16 on third down conversions so we did some good things. Overall, we did not underperform. If we underperformed, we probably put that game in reach for Louisiana Tech and maybe even lose the game, but it was not an elite performance. As I mentioned, that performance was everybody. I have to coach better. Our coaches have to be better teachers and coaches. We’ve got to be a lot more organized in certain areas and our players have to reach our standard of what we expect and what they expect from themselves. We didn’t have that across the board.”
LSU HC Brian Kelly
Regardless, the Tigers are 2-0 also coming off a big season opening win against the Clemson Tigers. Brian Kelly hopes the team raises up to their standard starting with SEC play against the Florida Gators.
Meanwhile for Billy Napier, there is once again a lot of outside noise by the fan base about his job security after a sloppy 18-16 loss to South Florida at home.
“Not good enough and it’s my responsibility. I think when you evaluate the game, the red zone missed opportunities caught up with us, and we let them hang around. Certainly, the penalties contributed to the game. I think we had over 100 yards in penalties. It extended their drives and it slowed down our drives. You add in the bad snap for the safety, and then you lose the turnover margin. You don’t deserve the right to win. We had seven possessions in the second half and punted six times. Ultimately, we let them hang around. They kick a field goal there and they take it down the field and kick a field goal to win it. I want to keep it short and sweet. I think we can do much better. We can coach better. We can play better. Obviously, I don’t like these any more than our fans do. We have to do much better.”
Florida HC Billy Napier
The schedule does not get any easier coming up as the Gators will take on the likes of LSU, Miami, Texas, and Texas A&M, which are all ranked teams in the next four games. The noise was loud surrounding Napier’s job security last year, but it was actually a 27-16 win over LSU last season that got the Gators rolling towards the end of the season with four straight wins. The Gators would need that streak to start sooner, but it is easier said and done going on the road for a night game at Tiger Stadium playing against the number three team in the country.
“Billy’s come in after two or three other head coaches that changed the way the other coaches did it and now he’s starting to stabilize that program so people talk about whatever they want. It’s crazy. It takes you what it takes, and he’ll get that thing where he wants it. I think he’s got it right now. They beat us last year.”
LSU HC Brian Kelly on Billy Napier
The Tigers have something to prove themselves even though they are the number three team in the country. After a shaky performance, LSU wants to show that they are that top five team that beat Clemson and also wants to get revenge on the Gators for ending their SEC Championship chances.
Blake Baker’s defense has been salty through two weeks. Last week, the Tigers were even more impressive than in Week 1 holding the Bulldogs to just 154 yards of offense and nine punts. West Weeks led the team with ten tackles and even shared a sack with his brother Whit Weeks. Jack Pyburn, who will be playing against his former team this Saturday as a Florida transfer, had five tackles and a half sack. Whether it has been on the defensive line, the linebacker unit, or the secondary led by Virginia Tech cornerback transfer Mansoor Delane, the Tigers’ defense has been playing as one.
“It starts at the back end. Coverability. Tackling. That stands out right away. Our front seven plays well together. It’s well synched. Having a second gear and being comfortable with Blake’s scheme.”
LSU HC Brian Kelly
The Tigers are currently ranked as the number 13 scoring defense in the country giving up 8.5 points per game and are number seven in rushing defense allowing 44 yards on the ground per game. LSU’s shutdown defense is licking its chops going against a Florida Gators offense that struggled against the South Florida defense a week ago.
“Yeah, good players at all three levels. Obviously, a lot of new players, players back from injury and certainly a lot of portal additions, but Coach Baker does a great job. You know, having played against him a number of times, he has an identity and they do a nice job mixing it up, front pressure, and coverage. In general, they’ve performed well here two weeks in a row so it’s gonna be a challenge and there’s gonna be a tone of individual matchups all over the field, and we respect what we see on the tape.”
Florida HC Billy Napier
Last year, DJ Lagway proved to be a spark for the Florida Gators down the stretch, but is off to a rusty start this season mostly after battling injuries throughout the spring and majority of fall camp. The former five star quarterback has started the season completing 38 of 51 passes for 342 yards and four touchdowns to one interception.
“DJ continues to get exponentially better, by the day. The more work he gets, the better he’s gonna get. So you know, it’s exponential improvement at this point because he’s getting a ton of reps each day with his teammates so I’m excited about that. I think that’s one of the things that I look forward to is watching him continue to get better.”
Florida HC Billy Napier
The run game will be important for Florida this Saturday as Jadan Baugh is the Gators’ number one back with 197 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries with Ja’Kobi Jackson also expected to get some carries. Vernell Brown III, who had a viral one-handed catch against Long Island, leads the team with 135 yards on eight catches. Eugene Wilson III will also be a top target with 12 catches for 56 yards and two touchdowns while Hayden Hansen will be another safety valve for Lagway with six grabs for 67 yards and a touchdown.
While the LSU defense is getting a lot of praise, the Tigers offense is eager to get back on track. Heisman favorite Garrett Nussmeier did not have his sharpest game against Louisiana Tech, but all he cares about is the win-loss record, which is 2-0 right now.
“The encouraging thing is we’re 2-0. We can learn from our wins and don’t have to learn from our losses.”
LSU QB Garret Nussmeier
Through two games, Nussmeier has completed 54 of 79 passes for 469 yards and two touchdowns to one interception. Caden Durham paces the ground game for the Tigers with 30 carries for 103 yards and two touchdowns. Aaron Anderson leads the receivers with 14 catches for 172 yards. Barion Brown is also coming off a great game after receiving the game ball with 8 grabs for 93 yards.
“He’s the same guy. He’s a coach’s son. He has arm talent, he’s accurate, he anticipates well. He is an athlete that can extend the play and he has an unique group of skilled players around him so he does a nice job. I think he’s got good football intelligence, and it’s one of the better quarterbacks in the country for a reason.”
Florida HC Billy Napier
LSU had problems last season against the Florida pressure with Nussmeier getting sacked six times. Defensively, it is not the exact defensive front that the Tigers have to face on Saturday, but there is talent. Jaiden Robinson and Myles Graham lead the team in tackles with 13 while defensive lineman Brendan Bett has eight and defensive back Bryce Thornton has six. The Gators got some great news on the injury front with 6’6, 330 pound defensive tackle Caleb Banks returning back, which will further boost their defensive front.
“From a defensive standpoint, Coach Ron Roberts does a really good job with simulating pressures and mixing things up to make it really difficult.”
LSU HC Brian Kelly
While the Florida Gators received some good news on the injury front so did the LSU Tigers’ offense as center Braelin Moore will play Saturday night. Tight end Trey’Dez Green is questionable for Saturday.
The all-time series is deadlocked at 34-34 and has been a great rivalry regardless of the records between the two teams. Besides the fact that LSU will be starting the home SEC slate against Florida, it is going to be a special atmosphere with running back legend Charles Alexander getting his #4 jersey retired.
“We need to be Death Valley. We need to live up to our resume as the toughest place to play in the country. It’s SEC time. You had your warm up. Now, let’s go get it!”
LSU HC Brian Kelly
The game will be broadcasted on ABC at 6:30 P.M.
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