LSU-MState Articles

SEC Blog Info on LSU MSU.

LSU 21, Mississippi State 17:

*LSU needed a goal-line stand a year ago to escape in Starkville, and the Tigers have a way of keeping things interesting in the second half. To their credit, they did put away Vanderbilt last week on the road, but the Bulldogs will put up a considerable fight to keep from losing two in a row this early in the season. In the end, they won’t be able to handle LSU’s defensive front, coming up just short … again.


**Going by feel: For the time being, it sounds like Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen will play it by ear (or feel) with his quarterbacks. The Bulldogs will continue with their rotation of junior Chris Relf and redshirt freshman Tyler Russell this Saturday at LSU. Neither was real effective in throwing the ball in the loss to Auburn. Relf started the game, and he was also the one Mullen decided to go with on the final few possessions when the Bulldogs had a chance to either tie the game or take the lead. Relf and Russell combined to complete just 45.7 percent of their passes against Auburn. Russell has the bigger upside as a passer, but never found a rhythm in the last game. If the Bulldogs fall behind again in this game, it will be interesting to see which quarterback Mullen goes with in the second half.

*** LSU’s sack party: LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis felt good about his defensive line coming into this season, even though the Tigers were going to have several new faces up front. He’s not caught up in sack numbers, but he did want to get more pressure on the quarterback after LSU finished with just 21 sacks a year ago. So far, so good. The Tigers have 10 sacks in their first two games, which leads the country. The enforcer in the middle of that defensive line has been senior tackle Drake Nevis, who already has 3.5 sacks and is playing the best football of his career. Not many people have blocked him to this point. But the Tigers have also spread the wealth. Seven different players have at least half a sack heading into Saturday’s home opener against Mississippi State.

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