LSU will line up against the South Carolina Gamecocks on Saturday in its first SEC clash of the season. The Tigers’ first two performances this year against USC and Nicholls State have not inspired confidence, but their opponents deserve credit for the positive plays they created. LSU’s next contest in South Carolina’s underrated Brice-Williams Stadium is not only the latest litmus test determining who these Tigers are. It’s a must-have game if LSU is to come anywhere close to its admitted expectations. Here, we’ll take a deeper look at how LSU stacks up against South Carolina.
Strength on Strength
South Carolina has terrorized opposing offensive lines to this point and looks like one of best pass-rushing teams in the country. Senior defensive end Kyle Kennard and freshman phenom Dylan Stewart both have sack numbers that put them in the top 20 in the nation individually. TJ Sanders is also disruptive from the defensive tackle position for the Gamecocks. LSU’s offensive line has not allowed a sack this season, and Garrett Nussmeier leads the country in touchdown passes. The matchup between the celebrated LSU tackles Will Campbell and Emery Jones against South Carolina’s pass rushers could very well decide this game.
Typically, coordinators call quick passes and screens to counter an overly aggressive defense, but the Gamecock defensive backs are aware and coached to nullify the short game. They don’t wait to get blocked on wide receiver screens; they attack. Defensive Coordinator Clayton White banks on quarterbacks not having adequate time to throw deep, so he puts the onus on his back seven to quickly diagnose, tackle well, and prevent yards after the catch. Wide receiver Aaron Anderson has been dynamic for LSU in gaining yards after the catch. Those yards won’t come easily on Saturday.
The best way to overcome a great pass rush is to avoid obvious passing downs. Kentucky had success running between the tackles against South Carolina, at one point running the ball an astonishing eighteen times consecutively. Currently, we don’t know if LSU is able or willing to run the ball enough to reduce the heat on Nussmeier. The Tigers leaned on the run to their detriment against USC, then unfavorable box numbers discouraged running against Nicholls State.
LSU Defending South Carolina
Nicholls State averaged four yards per carry against LSU. The average isn’t mind-blowing, but it’s enough to keep a team out of third and long. To make things worse, the Tigers allowed Nicholls State to go an alarming 7-7 passing in the first half. To be fair, these weren’t bombs down the field in which the cornerbacks couldn’t run with the receivers, but they were completions nonetheless.
The Tigers will face a similar approach in Columbia. This offensive staff wants to protect its redshirt freshman quarterback by controlling the game and time of possession via the running game and short passes. LaNorris Sellers is physically a Goliath of a quarterback and ran the ball well in his first start against Old Dominion. Arkansas transfer Rocket Sanders is a proven running back who’s been held to minimal explosive plays by his standards. The outcome of this game will lean heavily on the Tigers if they contain South Carolina’s running game. This task becomes significantly tougher considering the loss of LSU’s best defensive tackle, Jacobian Guillory.
While Sellers won’t force the ball down the field often, he tends to get careless in the pocket. Kentucky forced fumbles from Sellers on two successive plays. Buying time and keeping his eyes downfield is great but only if he’s secure with the ball while doing so. Whether Sellers is running or passing, there are game-altering plays to be made if LSU defenders go after the ball consistently.
How it Plays Out
The most important aspect of this game that hasn’t been mentioned is the forecast. LSU trusts its passing game and rightfully so, but thunderstorms aren’t exactly conducive to spectacular passing games. The rain chances in Columbia have decreased since earlier in the week, which helps the Tigers’ chances. Rain, sleet, or snow, LSU will have to run the ball more effectively.
More passes give the Gamecocks more chances to get after the quarterback, and they’ll inevitably win some of those matchups. Joe Sloan knows this and also knows he has a new toy in Ju’Juan Johnson who recently moved to running back. Johnson gives the Tigers a nice receiving threat out of the backfield, but the former quarterback could also present problems out of the Wildcat formation.
Despite their 31-6 win over Kentucky, the Gamecocks finished with only 79 total rushing yards. LSU gashed Nicholls for a whopping 64 rushing yards. The difference between these teams is South Carolina wants to form an identity as a running team while LSU needs to run to create balance. Sellers has yet to pass for over 170 yards in a game. There’s enough of an offensive gap between the teams for LSU to fight off South Carolina for its first SEC win while its defense continues to grow.
