Seven games in, everyone can feel it.
LSU’s high profile injuries have garnered headlines, but the entire roster can use the open date that will follow this trip to Auburn. And a physical football team on the Plains awaits.
“We’re going to have our hands full playing a really physical team on defense and a really hard quarterback,” LSU head coach Lane Kiffin said.
Kiffin has challenged his team, both individually and as a group, to bring the physicality. Whit Weeks embodies it, but he’s been watching from the sideline. Dashawn Spears brings a presence around the line of scrimmage, as well. He won’t play again this season.
Kiffin spoke directly to junior linebacker Davhon Keys last week.
“We’re going to make decisions,” Kiffin said. “We don’t expect you to agree with us. And we’re going to make decisions about playing time that you’re not going to like. And when you get your chance, go prove us wrong. And so, it was awesome to see.”
Keys responded with 10 tackles including 1 1/2 a tackles for loss in the Tigers’ 31-0 shutout of Mississippi State.
In the secondary, DJ Pickett brought the physicality without anyone having to ask. The lanky corner uses his long arms to play the ball in the air, but he’s using them and a frame with added weight to make some tackles and press wide receivers early in routes.
Pickett broke up two passes Saturday and recorded six tackles, including five solo stops. He was physical.
“I could feel that. I could feel players feel that, and I think that’s important,” Kiffin said. “I think that’s important for guys that the number one thing at your position isn’t evaluated to tackle at corner. You know what Deion (Sanders) used you say, you get paid to cover not to tackle…in this situation him being a physical tackler like that it’s great for your team.”
Standing between LSU (5-2, 2-2 in SEC) and its open date is as physical a quarterback the Tigers will see all season. Auburn’s Byrum Brown stands 6-foot-3 and tips the scales at 235 pounds. That’s three inches taller and five pounds heavier than Keys, for perspective.
Brown has carried the ball 107 times for Auburn, 49 more than lead running back Jeremiah Cobb. The signal caller ran 26 times at Georgia in the Tigers’ upset over the Bulldogs.
“Really hard player to tackle, similar to playing LaNorris (Sellers of South Carolina) that way,” Kiffin said. “They’re different styles, but really strong and (run) through a lot of arm tackles.”
Georgia missed seven tackles trying to get Brown to the turf. LSU offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. recruited Brown to South Florida where Brown spent four seasons and set 15 program records.
When Alex Golesh, who coached Brown for three years in Tampa, took the Auburn job, the quarterback’s fit was natural.
“(Brown) seems really smart by the way that he plays,” Kiffin said. “We just talked about getting used to our system and the pieces coming together. He’s coming from the same system. So, there’s that from the offensive coaches and head coaches to him, and you can see that they’re very comfortable.”
Before LSU gets too comfortable on an open date, one more test of physicality.
