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December 28, 2016
Legend has it that the LSU football team thrives at night.
But what about mid-morning?
Eh, we’ll find out on Saturday.
The Tigers will kick off the Ed Orgeron Era on Saturday against Louisville at the Citrus Bowl – the final game of the season for the team, but the first for Orgeron as LSU’s full-time head coach.
Kickoff for the game is set for 10 a.m. – about nine hours earlier than the Tigers like to play their games.
But Orgeron said the unusual circumstances won’t stop the Tigers from putting forth a good effort against a quality opponent – something the coach hopes will allow the team to carry momentum into the offseason.
The game will be televised on ABC.
“Our players were excited to see each other,” Orgeron said as the Tigers started bowl preparations last week. “We’re excited to come back and get to work against a tough Louisville football team. … We’re excited for the game and the chance to face one of the best teams in the country.”
LSU’s defense will be stiffly tested against the Cardinals.
Louisville is led by Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson – a run/pass dual threat who can pick apart defenses for big plays on any given down.
Jackson completed 220-of-382 passes for 3,390 yards and 30 touchdowns as a passer this year, but that’s just the beginning of his weaponry.
He’s also a force on the ground, having rushed for more than 1,538 yards and 21 touchdowns on the season.
LSU defenders said this past week that the challenge of guarding Jackson will be huge – maybe their toughest test of the season.
“I’m a competitor,” LSU defensive back Tre’Davious White said. “Anytime I get the chance to go against the best player, or one of the best players in the country, we look forward to it as a DB and also with everyone else in our defensive back room. We’re eager for the challenge, and we look forward to having a great game.”
The Tigers are one of the best defenses in the country, so White’s statement has merit.
LSU has only allowed more than 21 points once this season, and the team allowed just one touchdown in each of its losses.
Jackson said he thinks the Tigers have the best defense he’s faced all season. He added that winning the Heisman Trophy puts a bulls-eye on his chest that the LSU defenders will be eager to attack.
“It’s a great challenge,” Jackson said. “They have a great defense and they have a lot of guys who are going to be playing at the next level. I think we have to refocus, pay attention to the little basics and do things right, because if we don’t, we know they can do us a lot of harm.”
But while national pundits speculate on what will happen in the Jackson vs. LSU defense matchup, the ultimate key to the game may be how the Cardinals defense handles LSU’s offense, which enters the bowl game on a roll.
LSU fixed a lot of its offensive woes under Orgeron, scoring 38 or more points in five of the seven games he was the LSU interim coach.
Quarterback Danny Etling will start the game for the Tigers. He will attempt to end his junior season with a bang.
Etling has completed 144-of-240 passes for 1,906 yards and nine touchdowns this season, relieving opening-day starter Brandon Harris in the middle of the second game of the season.
He will be handing the ball to sophomore Derrius Guice, who will start the game after it was announced junior Leonard Fournette would sit out to rest his body for the NFL.
The Cardinals are stout against the run defensively, and have allowed just 110.1 yards per game on the ground this season – a number that ranks among the best in the NCAA.
But that won’t stop the Tigers from testing the waters and attempting to push the Cardinals around.
“We think we have opportunities to make some plays,” receiver D.J. Chark said. “They have some big, fast guys, but we believe in our coaches and in our planning and think we can take advantage of some things we have going for us.”
Las Vegas favors LSU in the game, albeit slightly, and the Tigers are a three-point favorite over the Cardinals.
Orgeron said regardless of the time, place or opponent, he wants LSU to play with fire as the team attempts to position itself favorably in 2017.
Since Orgeron was announced as LSU’s coach, the Tigers have secured a couple commitments on the recruiting trail, and they’ve also gotten in position to land others, with a little luck.
This game, Orgeron said, will be a chance for LSU to make some of its own luck and end with a bang.
“This is going to be a fun trip – an exciting trip,” Orgeron said. “It will be a big game for our football family. I know our fans are going to be in Orlando, supporting in the great LSU way that we do it.” •
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