LSU is not ready for SEC play.

It’s true that the Tigers have 2 more weeks of practice and a nonconference game against Central Michigan on Saturday before they begin SEC play.

It’s also true that they look like a team that is much farther than 2 weeks of practice and a game against a MAC opponent from being ready for SEC play.

We’ll see.

LSU doesn’t open SEC play against an elite team or even a ranked team.

But a trip to Starkville to face Mississippi State is looming in 2 weeks, and Starkville was the site of one of the worst performances by any of Ed Orgeron’s Tigers teams in 2017, and State handed LSU another embarrassing loss last season in Tiger Stadium.

Enough about State. That’s next week’s problem.

This week’s problem is LSU.

This Tell the Truth Monday is a reminder that the truth after a victory isn’t always a whole lot better than the truth after a loss.

The Tigers’ 34-7 victory over McNeese on Saturday night did serve its purpose. But there is much work to do.

LSU got a much-needed win after the discouraging 38-27 opening loss at UCLA a week earlier. But it was more like a scrimmage than a tune-up.

Orgeron was wise in his approach to the game against the FCS Cowboys. He wasn’t concerned about the fan base’s desire for a near-perfect, really lopsided, 60-minute steamroller of a performance to cleanse the palate after the UCLA loss.

He was less interested in palate-cleansing and more interested in looking at the long haul.

Nearly 20 Tigers did not play for a variety of reasons, most of which were health-related, some of which were relatively minor. Some of those players would have been on the field if the stakes were higher and their presence would have been needed to compete with a far more talented opponent.

But they weren’t needed against McNeese. So Orgeron let them heal, endured the sluggishness brought on by their absence and watched his team take care of business.

The imperfect 27-point margin against the Cowboys was more than adequate under the circumstances.

But LSU has stuff to fix – starting with the offensive line.

Three injured starters did not play against McNeese and the line struggled, just as it did when all 5 starters played against UCLA.

Maybe one or more of those starters returns this week. Maybe another week of working with first-year line coach Brad Davis, who wasn’t hired until the summer, will help. Maybe a combination of the two will produce better results.

But the truth is, the answer to the offensive line’s trouble isn’t coming through the transfer portal and until that unit starts playing much better, they are not going to be a very good team.

It’s also true that it doesn’t matter who plays running back if the line doesn’t block better, but assuming the line gets its act together, it would help if LSU has a coherent strategy for utilizing its running backs.

John Emery Jr. has yet to play because of an academic issue. Maybe he’ll be back soon. Maybe not.

Tyrion Davis-Price has gotten the most opportunities the first 2 weeks (a modest 21 carries) and both freshmen – Corey Kiner and Armoni Goodwin – got a few touches against McNeese.

Perhaps one of these guys will emerge as the primary back and the running game will start to hum, or maybe the Tigers will find an effective tandem, or maybe a committee of 3 of 4 will convene once SEC play starts.

It doesn’t really matter as long as roles are clearly defined and the runners are ready to roll if and when the blockers come around.

Max Johnson and Kayshon Boutte have connected for 5 touchdowns in 2 games without much of a running game or consistent pass protection. Imagine what they can do if both emerge, but also imagine how difficult it will be to maintain that pace against SEC defenses if the running and blocking don’t improve.

Now for the defense. It dominated McNeese – as it should have. The line showed why it is expected to be the strongest and deepest unit on the team.

The Tigers had 8 sacks and the back 7 played well also.

That was encouraging but certainly not defining.

Overall, being SEC ready is still a ways off.