LSU is set to face Ole Miss on Saturday for the latest battle in their long-standing, unpredictable rivalry. This year’s matchup of undefeated teams seemingly assures another classic, in which the hype of the buildup is only surpassed by the suspense of the game.
The intrigue of this game surrounds LSU’s dominant defense taking on Ole Miss’s potent offense. Vegas likes the Rebels at home by 1.5 points, but we’re not so sure the right team is favored. Either way, there are four keys to the game in which LSU must excel to come out on top.
LSU at Ole Miss Keys
Make Chambliss Uncomfortable
Austin Simmons had high hopes as he entered the season as the Rebels’ starter at quarterback. He caught a bad break when an ankle injury against Kentucky sent him to the sidelines for the next two games. Speaking of bad luck, LSU is also unlucky, as Simmons’s replacement, Trinidad Chambliss, is the better quarterback at this point.
Chambliss is an experienced senior transfer from Ferris State who has taken the Ole Miss offense to another level. Since taking over the job two weeks ago, the dual-threat signal-caller has a 90.0 PFF grade and the second-most passing yards in the country. He’s also tacked on 171 rushing yards just for fun.
When it comes to the intangibles, Chambliss has the football IQ to quickly understand what the defense is giving him. He’s decisive and composed under pressure. Physically, he’s quick, elusive, and most importantly, accurate. His ball placement has been elite in tight windows.
LSU must speed the game up for Chambliss. Although he’s been great, the defenses he’s faced in Arkansas and Tulane are not exactly steel curtains. The LSU defensive line has to continue to disrupt the timing of offensive plays. It doesn’t hurt that the Tigers have the ultimate spy in Harold Perkins.
Field Position: The Game Within the Game
The Ole Miss offense has had success despite the wide receiver room lacking the top-end talent we’ve grown accustomed to seeing in Oxford. Transfers like Harrison Wallace have been productive so far. But nobody stands out in getting consistent separation without Lane Kiffin using his schematic prowess to get guys open.
Consequently, we don’t expect the Rebels to have much success with long drives the length of the field against the LSU defense. The second key to the game for LSU is to win the field position battle and prevent giving the Ole Miss offense short fields. So, an obvious goal for any team is to avoid turnovers. The not-so-obvious aspect of the game when making a prediction is that the winner could be the team that punts the most effectively.
LSU’s Grant Chadwick has been a bright spot so far. He’s 13th in the nation in yards per punt. Unfortunately, the Tigers have needed him more than they expected due to the inconsistent offense, but he’s proven to be reliable. This isn’t a game in which it would be wise to take many risks on fourth down – a Rebels stop will send the crowd into a frenzy. If the offense fizzles on third and short, our advice would be to punt, play field position, and force Ole Miss to earn every point.
Secondary Depth Must Shine
Now that we’ve established that there is no Tre Harris on this Ole Miss roster, we must assure you that this team still has weapons. This offense spreads the ball around more without a true “go-to” guy on the outside. There are times when this style can present even more problems, because the defense can’t key in on one person.
This is where the new and improved Tiger secondary has to continue to show up in a big way. While we never know what might happen in a battle between LSU and Ole Miss, we can expect Kiffin to dial up shot plays at the perfect times. It’s quite possible that we’ve reached a point where teams are hesitant to challenge Mansoor Delane down the field. If that’s the case, then Mississippi native PJ Woodland and DJ Pickett will be tested.
Safety play will also be paramount as Ole Miss will surely be tactical enough to create the best matchups. AJ Haulcy, Tamarcus Cooley, and Dashawn Spears don’t have to do anything they haven’t done from a coverage standpoint. But it’s imperative that the consistency continues.
Return of the Receivers
The LSU receivers’ production hasn’t matched the hype they received leading up to the season. To be fair, most of that has to do with quarterback Garrett Nussmeier playing through an injury so far. Regardless of the opponent, Nussmeier looked comfortable pushing the ball down the field last week, and that’s encouraging.
However, the fourth key to the game doesn’t simply involve throwing the ball against a vulnerable secondary. The LSU running game was more effective when the receivers were involved, and Ole Miss is 120th in the nation in rushing defense. There is a lot of skill in running backs Caden Durham and Ju’Juan Johnson, but this is a game in which Zavion Thomas can thrive.
Whether it’s from the backfield or quick hitters, the shifty LSU receivers can cause problems for the Ole Miss defense. This secondary is not the most athletic group, so open field tackling has been an adventure at times for the Rebs. Aaron Anderson, with space in a one-on-one situation, will not end well for the home team.
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