LSU head coach Lane Kiffin pointed to LSU’s offensive line as a potential issue even after his Tigers trounced Clemson 51-10 to open the season.
“We had over 300 yards rushing,” Kiffin said after the game. “We had no sacks, but at the same time, Sam got us out of trouble a couple times. So, you’ve got to be careful with that stat and thinking, ‘Oh, we played great up there.’ So, we did some really good things, but we’ve got to improve.”
The progress was negligible if at all present in the Louisiana Tech game. The LSU run game failed to get out of neutral much of the night, and Saturday’s 32-24 loss to Ole Miss was a serious struggle in pass protection early and often.
Kiffin hinted some changes could be coming.
“We’re going to look at some different things this week up front,” Kiffin said Sunday. “We need to play better and be more consistent up there.”
POTENTIAL CHANGES
Jordan Seaton and Braelin Moore are safe at left tackle and center, respectively. Neither has been perfect, but they’re proven three-year starters who have held their own.
Bo Bordelon struggled mightily in pass protection on Saturday, and Weston Davis has had more lows than highs over a year and a half in the starting lineup.
William Satterwhite and Devin Harper are the most likely candidates to push Bordelon at left guard. Satterwhite has only played center this year where he’s logged 37 snaps. Harper has played 25 snaps at right guard.
Both initially signed at SEC programs, Satterwhite at Tennessee and Harper, a graduate of Shreveport’s Calvary Baptist, at Ole Miss.
At right tackle, the options would likely be Baylor transfer Sean Thompkins Jr. – Football 2026 – LSUsports.net – The Official Website of LSU Athletics, who played three snaps at right tackle against Ole Miss, or true freshman Brysten Martinez of East Ascension High.
Thompkins has graded out well by Pro Football focus in his 44 snaps this year, 30 at right tackle. His pass protection grade is an 83.0.
Last season at Baylor, Thompkins started at left tackle for the second half of the season with mixed results.
PFF gave him a 50.1 overall grade, 48.1 run blocking and 56.0 in pass blocking. On the Auburn-Baylor telecast opening weekend, the broadcast team commented that left tackle “was a big problem for the Bears last year”. That’s one of those comments that comes from the pregame meeting with the coaching staff.
Martinez is the (pre-portal) favorite to play left tackle for the Tigers next fall. He’s a gifted athlete with a great frame, but he’s young. He’s only played 23 snaps this year, 13 against Clemson and 10 against Tech. He’s allowed a pressure in both games and has a pass blocking grade of 21.1.
HUNT’S CALL
I think Davis holds his spot at right tackle for now. I am not as confident at left guard. Satterwhite has been a swing player in practice since the spring, and I think he would be next up.
Considering the FCS opponent in McNeese next week, a change might make more sense. It would be a softer landing spot, but don’t rule out a move on Saturday.
LSU’s margin for error shrunk in Oxford.
