An LSU defense striving to improve faces its biggest test on Saturday night when the 13th ranked Tigers take on ninth ranked Ole Miss. The Rebels rank second in the country in total offense, averaging 577 yards a game.
LSU Coach Brian Kelly says one way to slow down Ole Miss, is to keep its offense off the field, which means LSU wants to win the time of possession.
“It’s real difficult offense, they have really good schemes, they are really sound and fundamental, and they take advantage of what you are doing, so if you clearly if you can win that game of possession time you are at a clear advantage,” Kelly said.
Last year’s game between these two teams, a track meet broke out as Ole Miss won 55-49 and the two teams combined for 1,343 yards. Kelly does not want to see another touchdown fest.
“We were in a situation last year that we were trying to outscore and that’s not the right way to play, it was the only way to play,” Kelly said. “I think there’s much more balanced in our football team and we don’t want to play that way, we want to play good defense, we want to keep the points down and score appropriately.”
The 706 yards allowed by LSU was a school record. Kelly remembers why it was a long day for his defense.
“Didn’t tackle very well, didn’t get lined up, and didn’t play fundamentally sound football, it starts with that premise,” Kelly said. “Then you move from there, different looks, try to get the quarterback off schedule and at the end of day try to make any offense, regardless of what they do, one dimensional.”
Ole Miss could be without its best receiver and one of the best receivers in the country. Tre Harris suffered an ankle injury in the first half against South Carolina and did not return. The Rebels only scored three points in the second half with Harris on the sideline.
The former Comeaux High star leads the nation in receiving yards with 885 tards and 52 catches. The Lafayette native burned LSU last year as he caught eight passes for 153 yards and a touchdown.
Good news on the injury front for LSU. Running back Cade Durham (foot), wide receiver CJ Daniels (foot), and cornerback Zy Alexander (concussion) are all expected to practice this week.