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For the first-half of the 2013 season, the LSU offense made its offensive hay with its explosive, big-play passing attack.
But in Saturday afternoon’s meeting with Florida, the Tigers showed that they can still win a crucial SEC game with their customary ground and pound running game.
LSU completed just nine passes, but rushed for 175 yards against the Gators’ stout defensive – which came into the game ranked No. 2 in the country.
The more conservative approach, combined with a stout defensive performance all added up to the Tigers’ 17-6 victory.
With the win, LSU improved to 6-1 on the season and 3-1 in SEC play. The Tigers are now bowl eligible.
“We were so dominant up front running the football,” senior quarterback Zach Mettenberger said following the win. “We pushed the ball vertically (with the rush). Florida is very good in the secondary and they showed that today. With the way we ran the ball, there’s really no reason to pass. … This offensive line is pretty outstanding.”
Even a word as bold as outstanding may not do the LSU offensive line justice in Saturday’s win.
Coming into Saturday’s game, Florida’s defense was allowing just 65 rushing yards per game – a fraction of the 215 yards per game they allowed in the first give games of their season.
But on the very first play from scrimmage, the Tigers showed Florida that they could match wits with them up-front, rushing for 16 yards on a dive to sophomore halfback Jeremy Hill. They pushed forward for other big gainers throughout the rest of the drive to let Florida know early-on that they could have running success.
Hill was the leading culprit on the day, pushing forward for 121 yards on 19 carries. But Kenny Hilliard (28 yards), J.C. Copeland (20 yards and a touchdown) and Terrence Magee (8 yards) all averaged four yards or more per rush in their limited opportunities.
Florida coach Will Muschamp said his defensive line got punched in the mouth throughout the defeat.
“They got movement up front,” Muschamp said. “Our guys just didn’t get off blocks. … We didn’t do that enough tonight.”
Hill agreed and said it was LSU proved against the Gators that it possesses a “pick your poison” offense that can harm opponents in many different ways.
“We can win all types of games,” Hill said. “We can win shootouts and we can win tough, physical running games. That’s what kind of game it was today. Each team’s running game had to be successful for them to win the game. I think our running game was a little more successful, and that’s why we won.”
Masked behind the tough, gritty rushing attack was the Tigers’ best defensive performance of the season.
The LSU defense disrupted Florida’s offensive rhythm throughout the game, holding the Gators to just 240 total yards – easily the best SEC performance for the Tigers on the season.
They found the success by generating high levels of pressure on Gators’ quarterback Tyler Murphy.
The Tigers limited the Florida quarterback to 15-of-27 passing with only 115 yards. They also sacked Murphy four times and hit him many other occasions throughout the game.
Defensive end Jermauria Rasco said that the dominant performance was an extension of last week’s second half during which LSU limited Mississippi State to just three points.
Rasco was a major rascal to Murphy and the Gators’ plans, recording four tackles, a half-sack and four quarterback hurries in the victory.
“A lot of people say that started at the end of the Mississippi State game last weekend,” Rasco said. “We are all getting into a groove. Everyone is saying how young we are, but we’re not young. We’re all just getting comfortable with each other and starting to play LSU football.”
Miles agreed and said that the Tigers are beginning to round into form – just in time for the stretch run in SEC play.
LSU plays Ole Miss on Saturday – a team that pushed Texas A&M to its limit this past Saturday in a close defeat.
Following that game, the Tigers will play Furman and then Alabama and Texas A&M. The outcome of the latter two games will likely determine whether LSU’s season is a success or a failure in the court of public opinion.
“Florida requires us to play better, and they challenges us,” Miles said. “Certainly we answered the challenge. … That’s kind of how it’s supposed to look. It was kind of an average scoring night – a night that defense won, offense won and special teams won. At the end of the game, if that recipe continues to hold up, we’ll be awfully good.”
The Tigers’ meeting with the Rebels will kick off at 6 p.m. Saturday. It will be televised nationally on the ESPN family of networks.
LSU halfback Jeremy Hill barrels through the Florida defense during Saturday afternoon’s 17-6 win for the Tigers. The LSU offense slugged the Gators for 175 rushing yards in the win – an output that most experts didn’t expect against Florida’s top-tier defense. With the win, LSU is now 6-1 on the season and 3-1 in SEC play. The Tigers return to the field on Saturday night at 6 p.m. against Ole Miss. The Rebels will provide a much stiffer test to LSU’s defense.
