Lane Kiffin accuses Auburn of dangerous tackling tactic on Trey’Dez Green
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Lane Kiffin told reporters in the aftermath of Saturday’s victory at Auburn that he believes the Tigers were taking some, shall we say, not so kind angles at LSU star tight end Trey’Dez Green.
Green was making his big return on Saturday for LSU from a lower-body injury suffered in Week 3. He had missed the previous 4 games but was back for the visiting Tigers as they tried to take down the other Tigers on the Plains. LSU did, winning easily, 38-17, and Green looked in fine form, catching 5 passes for 50 yards and a key touchdown.
But all that didn’t stop Kiffin from believing that Green was put in danger during his strong return. Kiffin believes that Auburn tacklers were trying to “hip-drop tackle” Green, and Kiffin also revealed that Green was “really concerned” about what he perceived those Auburn defenders were trying to do to him on Saturday.
According to Lane Kiffin, Green’s concern led to him not playing much toward the end of Saturday’s game, although the blowout nature of the game also dictated that Green didn’t have to exert himself to the very end. Kiffin’s postgame complaint appeared to be very warranted when considering that the NFL has banned hip-drop tackles because of the increased risk of injury.
Green, a Louisiana native, was forced to be on crutches after suffering his injury way back in Week 3 against Ole Miss. But Saturday he made a triumphant return, not only helping LSU win a big SEC road game but also catching that 15-yard touchdown pass from Sam Leavitt during the second quarter that gave the Tigers a 17-3 lead.
They never looked back while welcoming Green back, but Kiffin came out to protect his player afterward and point to what he thought the Auburn defense was trying to do to Green.
LSU will try to get healthy during its bye week after the Auburn win as it keeps its eyes on an SEC title. Here is what the Kalshi market is currently saying about LSU’s chances to climb the conference mountain and capture that SEC championship in December:
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
