True freshman TJ Finley is set to make his fifth start Saturday night when LSU host No. 1 Alabama in Tiger Stadium.
Finley’s had mixed results in his previous four starts, going 2-2. Orgeron said it will be key for the Tigers' offense to “support” its young quarterback in order to add to the win total.
“We’re going to have the protect,” Orgeron said. “The games he played well, we protected and caught the ball. The games we didn’t play well, we got sacked and we turned the ball over and didn’t catch it well.
“Those young quarterbacks can’t put the game on their back. We have to support ‘em. Guys have to make plays. We have to protect them.”
Orgeron said LSU said he’s encouraged by LSU’s scheme and plan to protect Finley that the Tigers offensive line worked on this week.
“We worked very hard on eliminating free blitzes coming through,” Orgeron said. “Obviously, Alabama always does a good job of blitzing your protection. They were very good at it. We are going to have to make adjustments thought out the game.”
The Tigers will also look to find a new top target for Finley as receiver Terrace Marshall Jr. who lead LSU with 48 catches for 731 yards and 10 touchdowns opted out of the season’s remaining games.
Orgeron said he expects LSU’s remaining pass catchers including the team’s second and third leading receivers Arik Gilbert and Jaray Jenkins to step up.
“Next man up,” he said. “We need to get the ball to Arik Gilbert and I think that you are going to see that and we need to find ways to get him the ball. But you know what, Koy Moore, (Kayshon) Boutte, Jontre Kirklin, next man up, and those guys have done a tremendous job for us and I think they are going to play well.”
