By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports
COLUMBIA, S.C. – A week ago, LSU didn’t think it would be stepping into a snake pit here when the 16th-ranked Tigers open their SEC schedule vs. South Carolina here Saturday.
The Gamecocks struggled to beat Old Dominion 23-19 in their Aug. 31 opener, projecting an image LSU had a stretch of four soft opponents it could dominate after losing its Sept. 1 season-opener 27-20 vs. USC in Las Vegas.
Then, last Saturday happened.
South Carolina, a 9-½ point road underdog, began SEC play with a resounding 31-8 at Kentucky. LSU, a 48½-point home favorite, struggled for 2½ quarters against overmatched FCS foe Nicholls State before scoring the last 21 points in a 44-21 win.
Finally, ESPN GameDay decided Sunday to host the live Saturday morning show here just hours before the 11 a.m. CT kickoff between the Tigers and Gamecocks in Williams-Brice Stadium. The game will be televised on ABC.
“There are a lot of guys who have played on the road who understand what it takes to win on the road, whether it was Mississippi State last year or Missouri at Homecoming,” LSU head coach Brian Kelly said of his team. “It just requires a focus, an understanding that you’re in every single play with an incredible sense of urgency.”
Opposing defenses are crowding the line of scrimmage plus LSU’s non-existent run blocking has placed the burden of the Tigers’ offense on junior quarterback Garrett Nussmeier.
The first-year starter averages 311.5 passing yards per game and has thrown for all 8 TDs. LSU’s rushing attack averages 90.5 yards, the worst in the 16-team SEC and 117th nationally.
But Saturday is Nussmeier’s first LSU start in a true road game. He has played as a backup QB for 57 snaps in six road games in his Tigers’ career, completing 16 of 33 passes for 177 yards and 1 TD.
“He (Nussmeier) has been in big environments, but this will be their quarterback’s first true road start,” South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer said. “We need to make life difficult for him and I’m confident our fans will.”
It’s tantamount LSU needing major contributions from running backs Kaleb Jackson, Josh Williams, Caden Durham and Ju’Juan Johnson, who was moved last week to offense from defense after sixth-year senior John Emery Jr. sustained a season-ending torn ACL injury.
“Every guy in that (offensive line) room knows what the problem is,” Tigers’ starting right tackle Emery Jones Jr. said. “We’re addressing it day by day. We’re going into it ready to fight and claw to go get those rushing yards.”
This game matches the strengths of LSU’s pass protection (the Tigers are one of two SEC teams that haven’t allowed a sack) vs. South Carolina’s rush (first in sacks in the SEC, tied for third nationally).
Two games into the season with an all-new defensive coach staff led by defensive coordinator Blake Baker, LSU’s defense is in flux.
Jacobian Guillory, its most veteran defensive lineman, sustained a season-ending torn Achilles vs. Nichols, so the Tigers spent this past week in practice figuring out how to fill such a large void.
Baker’s defenses in his previous job at Missouri were known for making disruptive plays. In Mizzou’s wins the last two seasons over South Carolina, it had a combined 18 tackles for loss including nine sacks and forced three fumbles and broke up three passes.
“We’ve had way too many negative plays the first two games, and this week we’re playing a defensive coordinator who was at Missouri who frankly embarrassed us,” Beamer said.
South Carolina’s offense is led by freshman redshirt quarterback LaNorris Sellers, a 6-3, 245-pound load who has completed 20 of 37 passes for 280 yards, two TDs and an interception, and rushed for 57 yards and a TD on 30 carries.
GO FIGURE
1: Turnover gained by LSU in its first two games
5: Freshmen (1 true, 4 redshirts) have started for LSU in the first two games
6: Turnovers gained by South Carolina in its first two games
7: Consecutive wins by LSU over South Carolina
21-13: LSU’s record when ESPN College GameDay broadcasts from the Tigers’ game site.
110: Career starts for LSU’s offensive line
Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com