by LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
FOLLOW US ON X: @LonnPhillips
On a bizarre, fast-paced Saturday morning @ Missouri, LSU QB Jayden Daniels powered through a painful rib injury to deliver 4 total TDs & 389 total yards of offense, while Malik Nabers & Logan Diggs both eclipsed 100 yards receiving & rushing, as the Tigers' under-fire defense made late, timely plays, Brian Kelly's LSU Tigers clinched their 4th win of 2023, staying alive in the SEC following a carnival-esque 49-39 win.
Full of hideous defense from both squads, 22 combined penalties, over 1,000 yards of total offense (533 for LSU, 527 by Mizzou), numerous & egregious refereeing errors that directly cost or allowed points, head-scratching coaching decisions (what was Eli Drinkwitz thinking going for it on 4th & 32 inside his own territory??), it was another topsy turvy Saturday....a game where cheap shots or chippy, at times dirty play became such a norm that LSU almost lost their quarterback.
Toughing through an awful 3rd quarter late hit following a negated rushing touchdown, Daniels was visibly hurting, forced to the medical tent for a few plays. Once he returned for LSU's next drive, his ribs wrapped in a protective vest to protect his deep bruising, JD5 erupted:
Shredding Blake Baker's defense for a 4th quarter 35 yard TD, as well as tossing another late game score over 20 yards for Malik Nabers, Daniels and his teammates overcame significant odds, injury, and mistakes to lift LSU to a 3 point lead they'd secure for good when veteran Tiger DB Major Burns intercepted Mizzou's Brady Cook, racing into the end zone.
But it was never that straightforward...not with this year's rollercoaster 2023 Tigers:
Allowing over 500 yards on defense yet again, Matt House's unit were up against the wall for 3 1/2 quarters, yet these 2023 defenders showcased the playmaking & resilience necessary to win;
When Harold Perkins grabbed an early 2nd half interception, his turnover tipped the scales in LSU's favor, igniting a defense that held Missouri to critical field goals rather than touchdowns, limiting Brady Cook's Mizzou offense to 4/11 on 3rd down and creating 2 turnovers.
Despite being handled by Missouri's offensive line for long stretches of the morning, LSU's new look defensive front under new / old (literally) DL assistant Pete Jenkins displayed renewed intensity, battled for 4 full quarters, and produced enough plays to seal victory.
Jenkins, the DL G.O.A.T himself, would consider it a start in the right direction: 2 sacks, 3 QB hits, 5 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble, 2 passes batted at the line, headlined by All-American LB Harold Perkins, utilized & effective in coverage or as a pass rusher (1 INT, 1 PBU, 1 TFL, all pivotal plays).
Consistent pressure man Bradyn Swinson supplied a strip sack on one of three key defensive plays, plus Maason Smith recorded his first sack since 10/16/21, a tackle for loss, 4 tackles and a batted pass, his 2nd of the season.....the Tower of Terrebonne responding to pressure he was receiving from outside voices.
But it didn't seem this outcome was likely during a 1st half where LSU nearly collapsed under the weight of a 22-7 deficit, buried under nearly 100 1st quarter yards by WR Luther Burden. The highly rated receiver led Mizzou's aggressive offense to a powerful opening, stunning Matt House's laboring defense before they could wake up.
Then, Mizzou started committing stupid penalties (11 total), dropping crucial passes (5 overall, 3 by Tyler Stephens alone), and ultimately bailing out LSU's defense when Matt House's crew appeared lost & dead to rights for 8+ yards on almost every play.
Giving up 395 through the air, 7.8 yards per play, 13.2 yards per completion, 6.2 yards per rush, tacking on 132 on the ground....all signs were pointing to defeat.
Thanks to some key 3rd down stops, the transcendental rushing of Daniels & Diggs, a big TD from Brian Thomas Jr, plus some gutty 2nd & long receptions by Malik Nabers, nearly outgaining Luther Burden (146 to Burden's 149), LSU dragged themselves back into the game.
Then, once Harold Perkins ripped the ball out of the air, things began to flow.
While most expected offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock's offensive attack to abandon the run when facing a 15 point deficit, it was the Tigers' conquistador O-line alongside the legs of Diggs and Daniels that gave Kelly's squad a grip on proceedings.
Logan Diggs' rushing was a highlight on the day, punching in an all-important first drive TD, controlling tempo which allowed the comeback, affording his defense time to adjust, and plowing into or breaking away beyond every Missouri defender in his path, finishing at 134 yards, 24 carries & 1 TD.
In every appearance this fall, Diggs hasn't just impressed wearing purple and gold, he's been priceless (rushing in excess of 100 yards across 3 appearances, with a 4th outing where he recorded 97 yards). Without question, through 6 games, the Louisiana native is one of 2023 LSU's most important Tigers.
But Saturday became an exhibition all about the toughness of JD5:
Faced with nearly every disadvantage, including his arm strength being limited by the 2nd half rib injury, when the "going got tough", Daniels tucked the ball and earned the yards he couldn't pass for....
Time after time, especially after his injury, Daniels made play after play to retake control late, suffering brutal hits as he made gritty throws, accepting shots to the body as he fell forward for more yards....this man was never waltzing out of bounds.....our quarterback was never half-stepping....he was on a mission, possessed by a will to win....Untouchable, even by injury or defender, JD5's inner zen & outer assassin supplied victory.
On the occasion of his 20th Tiger start, LSU's signal caller was electric, conjuring yet another iconic performance, echoing Diggs' effective rushing by racking up 130 yards of his own, rattling off solid gains on critical downs, led by three runs on 3rd down in the 4th quarter: the first arriving on a 3rd and 9 with LSU's backs against the wall, then, a 35 yard game-breaking touchdown came right after his hit to the ribs (also on 3rd & 3), taking another mauling as he rode a tackler into the end zone; Finally, JD5 also rushed for a 31 yard gain on 3rd & 5 at the LSU 40 yard line to take the Tigers inside the red zone.
Although the Tigers focused on the rushing attack for most of the morning, JD5 still produced magic through the air, pumping an economical 15/21 (71%), 259 yards and 3 touchdowns, completing statement scores to Brian Thomas Jr, Mason Taylor and Malik Nabers, all pouncing on busted coverage or seizing filthy attempts from JD5 at will....accepting vicious hits at the end of multiple completions.
Even as he dealt with that nasty rib injury on his throwing side, Daniels still conjured multiple completions over 20 yards to give LSU their 4th win of 2023......beyond gutsy, the So Cal Kid's grace under pressure, infinite poise, responsible decision-making, backed by dual threat versatility are now cosmically matched to a divine passing range, propelling LSU's starchild into a QB pantheon very few are part of.
Leading an offensive alchemy rarely seen in purple and gold, Daniels is on an unbelievable, unstoppable, frankly irresistible run of form since he threw 5 touchdowns in the first half vs Grambling.
Shutting down his doubters by the play, embarrassing DBs, breaking the tackles of LBs or escaping sacks from defensive linemen, repeating his 2022 comeback exploits for a 3rd game this season, all as he leads this squad through what has already been & what will obviously continue to be a week to week gauntlet of fire, Jayden Daniels has a chance to become the greatest non-Burrow QB in program history......but after today, no matter what happens from here on out, he will always be one of the most respected Tigers in recent memory.
"We issue everything but guts......" - LSU Proverb
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By LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
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