Scouting report: LSU

[WFE12 9,191]

Auburn opponent early scouting report: LSU

 

Posted on July 23, 2017 at 6:00 AM

 

By James Crepea

jcrepea@al.com

We're taking an early look at Auburn's opponents for the 2017 regular season. This 12-part series will feature analysis and insight from beat reporters who cover the 12 teams Auburn will play this year. Today we look at Auburn's trip to Baton Rouge.

LSU

Game date & time: Tiger Stadium, Oct. 14 at TBA

2016 record: (8-4, 5-3 SEC)

Coach: Ed Orgeron, first year (22-29, 6-2 as interim head coach at LSU)

Betting line: LSU by 4.5

Returning starters: 8 offense, 5 defense, 1 specialist

Most important returning players: RB Derrius Guice, DE Arden Key, LG Will Clapp, LB Donnie Alexander

Most critical departures: RB Leonard Fournette, WR Malachi Dupre, WR Travin Dural, C Ethan Pocic, DL Davon Godchaux, LB Kendell Beckwith, CB Tre'Davious White, S Jamal Adams

Insight from LSU beat reporter Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger):

1. How has Matt Canada changed the LSU offense?
   The change is still on-going - and will be all season - but changes are certainly happening. He's, for the most part, eliminating the fullback position, creating an H-back by merging the tight ends and FBs. You'll see more multi-receiver formations, too, and a lot more jet sweeps and QB run-pass options. Basically, he's turning an old-school, I-formation scheme into a spread offense, with a variety of formations and a ton of pre-snap motions and shifts.
2. Is there reason to believe Danny Etling can lead this offense effectively?
   There are reasons, but they're not the ones fans want to hear. He's smart, experienced and accurate. Etling doesn't possess the intangibles of many highly ranked quarterbacks behind him on LSU's roster - arm strength, speed, elusiveness - but he's well ahead of many of them above the shoulders. 
3. More than only on the field, how has Derrius Guice filled in for Leonard Fournette as a leader of the program?
   Guice spoke about this at length during SEC media days. He doesn't have a choice, he said, he's got to be a leader. Guice is more outgoing and likable than Fournette, a louder presence off the field and in the locker room.
4. Do you foresee any lingering effects of Arden Key's spring absence?
   Not necessarily. Several other LSU starters missed spring, too. That's a yearly thing, it seems. The concern lies in preseason camp. He'll miss much, or all, of camp, too, recovering from the shoulder surgery. In fact, Ed Orgeron said that he's not confident enough to say that Key will be ready for the season opener.
5. A win for LSU would mean? A loss for LSU would mean?
   I tend to believe that this year's Auburn-LSU, for how early it is in the season, will determine the team that's still in the hunt to challenge Alabama for the SEC West title. The winner is still in it. The loser is eliminated. It's a big one, and it's in Tiger Stadium. A victory for LSU could propel it into a torrid season-ending stretch in which it plays five straight conference games - three on the road.

Auburn story lines:

• Losing streak in Baton Rouge
  Auburn has not won at LSU since the 1999 Cigar Game. Gus Malzahn has never won at LSU. If this is a night game, and it should be, then Tiger Stadium will be in its usual lively form. Expect silent counts and lots of hand signals.
• Start of a three-game road stretch
  Auburn's season will hinge on the second half and it opens with games at LSU, Arkansas and Texas A&M. If the Tigers get through this stretch unscathed the Georgia and Alabama games will shape up to be as big as 2013.
• Pass protection
  Arden Key is one of the best defensive ends in the country. It'll be up to Braden Smith and whoever wins the battle at left tackle to keep Key in check. Also expect quick routes to attempt to neutralize LSU's defensive front.
• Pettway vs. Guice
  Derrius Guice and Kamryn Pettway will battle it out along with Georgia's Nick Chubb for who's the SEC's best back.
• Pecking order in SEC West
  There's a chance both teams enter this game either 5-1 or 6-0. Who wins will have a huge say in who contends in the SEC West.

 

LSU's win streak against Auburn in Baton Rouge 'crazy' to Derrius Guice

 

Early scouting reports: Georgia Southern | Clemson | Mercer | Missouri | Mississippi State | Ole Miss

LSU story lines:

• QB play
  Danny Etling is expected to retain the starting job to start the season. Whether that continues with two touted freshmen on the roster will depend on how Etling handles a new offense in the first six games, but LSU should be 5-1 or 6-0 heading into this game.
• Ed Orgeron's first full season
  Oregeron had a good run as interim coach but anything less than a 5-1 start and questions will begin to be raised about whether retaining him was the best move.
• Opening of brutal second half of season
  LSU will be coming off a road trip to Florida and an intense game there. But the opponents it faces in the final six games include Auburn, Alabama, Tennessee and Texas A&M. The season is won or lost in this stretch.
• Les Miles
  Because last year's game ended so wildly and led to the ousting of Les Miles, in revisiting it there will undoubtedly be attention on Miles and where he is now.

 

D.J. Chark: 'There's no telling' what would be different if touchdown counted vs. Auburn

 

An Auburn win would mean:

Staying in contention in the SEC West and finally ending the losing streak in Baton Rouge. It will more than likely require an all-around performance or some heroics from either Jarrett Stidham, Kamryn Pettway, a wide out or the defense as a whole.

An Auburn loss would mean:

Dropping in the pecking order in the SEC West and making the games at Arkansas and Texas A&M all the more vital to win to stay in contention. Not to mention the prolonging of the losing streak at LSU.

[corchjay 5,311]

Why is Creepy-a doing a scouting report on a game in Oct.  I understand there's football interest but 20 players could be injured by that time combined on both teams and completely change any scouting.  Stick to the first three games and after the Clemson game let's start looking at some future opponents. 

[ArgoEagle 1,767]

8 hours ago, corchjay said:

Why is Creepy-a doing a scouting report on a game in Oct.  I understand there's football interest but 20 players could be injured by that time combined on both teams and completely change any scouting.  Stick to the first three games and after the Clemson game let's start looking at some future opponents. 

That's what I was thinking. Tell this guy to pump the brakes and wait about a month and a half, then we should have the info to do a scouting report.

[GordoAU 87]

This game scares me more than any other on our schedule. It's been too damn long losing at LSU every single year.

[weagl1 1,781]

Playing down there at night is a tough deal and it will be even tougher with what happened last year.  If we win this one we will know we have something special happening.  

[doc4aday 1,887]

All bad things will must come to an end. Losing in BR is a bad thing, and it is time we go into their septic tank and come out with a clean hard fought win. AU 35 Lsu 17. Pettway will school Juice or Guice or whatever he is called as to how a RB can run over whoever gets in his way.

[Woodstock Tiger 131]

On 7/23/2017 at 11:56 PM, corchjay said:

Why is Creepy-a doing a scouting report on a game in Oct.  I understand there's football interest but 20 players could be injured by that time combined on both teams and completely change any scouting.  Stick to the first three games and after the Clemson game let's start looking at some future opponents. 

He's doing a scouting report on all of AU's opponents right now.  It's that time of year when they run out of things to analyze.  It won't make a hill of beans once injuries start piling up, but I guess it helps pass the time until the tee this thing up.  .

[Win4AU 4,052]

If Auburn can get by Clemson at night then this game isn't as intimidating.  Orgeron is chizik 2.0.  He has done a good job recruiting top coordinators and talent is never an issue in LSU.  How well Matt Canada has the offense ticking will determine LSU's success this season.  If Auburn can get past Clemson and LSU then watch out!