Georgia has one huge advantage over LSU. Can Ed Orgeron solve it?
Georgia has more quality depth than LSU, but Orgeron warns that the Tigers can’t just rotate players to rotate players. The Dawgs are too good for that.
LSU coach Ed Orgeron has a tricky situation on his hands.
The No. 13-ranked Tigers play No. 2 Georgia on Saturday afternoon in Tiger Stadium.
That’s tricky enough.
But Orgeron’s team is coming off a physical battle in the heat and humidity in The Swamp, losing to Florida last Saturday 27-19.
Now comes another afternoon date. It won’t be quite as hot and humid in Baton Rouge as it was in Gainesville. In fact, a cool front could make things milder than they have been in Baton Rouge, but it’s still going to be warm – and physical.
Orgeron knows the Bulldogs (6-0 and 4-0 in the SEC) are one of the deepest teams in the country. He knows Georgia coach Kirby Smart will rotate players in and out and keep them fresh throughout.
He knows he needs to do something similar to prevent his players from wilting before the game ends, probably before the sun fully sets along the Mississippi River.
“We have to keep our guys fresh,” Orgeron said.
But it’s not that simple. The Tigers aren’t as deep as the Bulldogs.
Their depth wasn’t as good as Georgia’s when they reported to preseason camp in August. And injuries and suspensions have taken away several players, most notably on the offensive line and linebacker.
“We have to make sure that the guys that we rotate can handle the player that they’re playing against,” Orgeron said. “So I think that it’s a fine line there. We just can’t rotate to rotate. We have to look at the matchup, see if we put some guys in.”
LSU didn’t win its first five games and climb to No. 5 in the AP poll without having a lot of good players, including some quality depth. It just doesn’t have it across the board.
“We feel that we have three corners that can go in at any time,” Orgeron said. “That’s going to be important to us. We have some defensive linemen that have done a good job, not a great job, but they can go in.”
That’s the good news, depth wise.
But …
“We are thin at linebacker, we’re thin at outside linebacker,” Orgeron said. “So it all depends on what position you’re talking about.”
The Tigers suffered a blow in the season opener against Miami when linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson suffered a season-ending injury. Andre Anthony has filled in adequately, but he’s not the playmaker Chaisson was.
Another linebacker, Jacob Phillips, who has emerged as a playmaker this season, missed the loss at Florida because of an undisclosed injury. He’s questionable for the game against Georgia.
Orgeron said Travez Moore, a junior college transfer, performed well with additional reps against the Gators and he’ll continue to get more work.
“He rushed the passer better than anybody,” Orgeron said. “You’re going to see more of him. I thought he did very well.”
Georgia obviously has taken note as it tries to protect QB Jake Fromm and allow the passing game to stay hot. Fromm passed for a season-high 276 yards and matched his season-high with 3 TD passes against Vanderbilt.
Freshman linebacker Micah Baskerville also seems ticketed for a bigger role.
“We’re going to have to mix and match the things that we do on defense to match their personnel the whole game,” Orgeron said. “It’s going to be another chess match.”
Speaking of mixing and matching, there has been a whole lot of that going on along LSU’s offensive line.
Starting left guard Garrett Brumfield will miss his third consecutive game this week, but might return for next week’s game against Mississippi State.
“Hopefully we can get Garrett Brumfield back next week,” Orgeron said. “That would give us some flexibility with Adrian Magee but right now we can’t do anything.”
This week’s depth chart shows the starting line from left to right as tackle Saahdiq Charles, one of the Tigers’ better linemen who struggled with some rust against Florida as he returned from a 2-game absence due to injury; Magee, who’s playing guard but is more comfortable at tackle; center Lloyd Cushenberry II and guard Damien Lewis, the mainstays of the line; and tackle Austin Deculus, who stepped in when Magee was moved to replace Brumfield.
The backups have little experience as junior college transfer Badara Traore is next in line at both tackle spots and one sophomore (Donavaughn Campbell) and two true freshmen (Chasen Hines and Cole Smith) provide the depth on the interior.
Beating Georgia has proven difficult under the best of circumstances. These clearly are less than that for the Tigers.
As Banged up as LSU might be on the offensive Line, UGA is twice as banged up on the Defensive line. I’m hoping UGA stick to the ground game in this one and wears LSU down by the 4th quarter. It’s gonna be a tough one though. I might not be able to relax in the 3rd quarter like I have in other games.
Key in this IMO is disguising our coverages. LSU QB has impressed me with reading the defense, if we can bring pressure from where he’s not expecting it I think we’ll win by 3 TDs
Who is going to win by 3 TDs? LOL
I thought this was going to be analysis that UGA has a massive Quarterback advantage over LSU and that the LSU defense has to get after Fromm to be able to stay in the game.
UGA’s Oline is just as banged up could be starting 3 freshman.
While that is true what you leave out is that those true freshman are five star recruits who are gigantic. It is the depth advantage he was talking about
This should be one of the best games of the season. Baton Rouge is about as hot and humid as it gets. I’m sure it was hot at the swamp but would have thought that was no advantage. I’m expecting a close game. Just don’t see UGA running away with it.
I’m going to go out on a limb and say this is a blowout in favor of Georgia. I know we like to be conservative against good teams to make us sound objective, but after watching LSU play two good teams I’m more impressed by Mizzou and SCar.
Yes burrow can make some excellent pre snap reads, but Fromm can too and Fromm is the better qb by far. I feel as though Georgia is going to use the pass to open up the run, short routes and screens to get the ball to their playmakers in open space.
What I don’t see is LSU keeping up pace offensively.
Idk man I was worried about the game pre Florida but then I went back and watched “film” and I don’t see anything in the film that makes this anything other than a blowout for Georgia.
I’ve been wrong before and will be wrong again, so I’m not saying it’s a guarantee. I just don’t see anything to worry about that LSU can exploit. Maybe the dawgs get bored ? They’ve looked bored all year
Blah blah blah
Proud of yourself?
watched film …. ROFL
One way to beat Georgia…run baby run. FL knows
I don’t see how UGA thinks LSU will need to keep pace offensively. LSU already shut down a better offense with better skill players. Why do people keep underestimating LSU’s defense?
UGA wins by 3 TDs? UGA is going to have problems scoring 3 TDs. Beware of the team that has learned how to win ugly games.
MLU, you’re under estimating UGA’s offense. I’m not saying they’ll win by 3 TD’s. LSU’s defense is too good for that.
But if you really think Ole Miss has a better offense? Ga’s O ranking-stats are very deceiving. Fromm has seldom seen the 4th quarter. They haven’t passed the ball much at all in the 4th quarter. Unlike some, Smart doesn’t try to run the score up on teams.
Ga likely has the deepest receiver core in the SEC. They have 4 RB’s who would start for many teams, and be no worse then second off the bench for most. One of the best O-lines in CFB. Fromm is under rated.
Ole Miss has a good QB and two great receivers, and that’s about it.
Ga has the SEC’s best rushing offense. OM is No.7.
This is the best offense LSU will play all year, until they play Alabama.
agreed.. UGA fans are bliss on Cloud 9 right now. UGA will be exposed of weaknesses these next few games. This game will be closer then the dawg fans are dreaming about.
IMHO UGA is a very young team (70% freshman and sophomores) who are visibly improving each week. UGA knows its weaknesses already (consistent run defense, DL depth, not enough pressure on QB, and occasional breakdowns in our OL). None of the teams we’ll face in the coming weeks have the talent to beat UGA, for all of their weaknesses. In my opinion…
I didnt think LSU would blow GA out, but run baby run = win for LSU. Good bounce back LSU. GA fans needs to be more humble and stop thinking they’re an AL. LSU by almost 3 TD’s instead! Time to take a break from the “better than everyone” SDS forum GA fans.
Coach O badmouthing his own team and building up UGA? Who ever heard of a coach doing that? The way for UGA to win is keep LSU’s offense off the field, running plays all day, grind them down to the 4th and wear them out. A few passes here and there, maybe a screen or two to keep them honest. Bring home the W guys!
UGA will down 3 DLs who are starters and/or rotate regularly. UGA will also be down the starting RG and LG. I think that UGA’s advantage is not as vast as people think. I expect this game to be closer than the experts think.
The game in Baton Rouge is not at night. This takes a big Death Valley advantage away. UGA has started 3 freshman OL the last 3 games. I think the depth at running back, receiver and QB will be too much for LSU. LSU was only 4/17 on third down and gave up almost 400 yards to UF. UGA 27-16
So close; 36-16, LSU