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By LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
The simple fact I'm typing question marks after the title, "LSU set to rebound vs 4-5 Florida???" should tell you everything about our dipping confidence levels following LSU's disturbing, disgusting, disgraceful 42-13 drubbing at the hands of Alabama.
Even against Billy Napier's Florida, a team that's been so pathetic (2-4 inside the SEC, ranked 12th within the conference) & plagued by constant, biblical injuries, I still feel it's a game.....not because I've lost total faith in 2024 LSU, not because I've lost complete belief in Brian Kelly, but simply due to a pair of overwhelming facts:
The SEC is cannabalizing each other, with wild wins & losses from Vandy beating Alabama, Ole Miss upsetting UGA, Arkansas over Tennessee, A&M's 2nd half mauling of LSU, and of course, the Aggies' own major top 10 upset at the hands of South Carolina........
2024 is becoming more and more one of the most unpredictable college football seasons we've seen in some time.
That said, LSU should not only stomp Florida into the ground, from 1st quarter to last, it should be done with revelry, intensity, ferocity, complete violent release from their last 3 frustrating weeks of football.....
Even though the Gators decided to officially announce their commitment to Head Coach Billy Napier for another year, Florida are still up against the wall, staring down one of their worst seasons in years.
Losing by 13+ points on 4 occasions, already dropping 5 games, beaten handedly by Miami 41-17 to open the season, Texas A&M winning by 13 points, melting down against Texas 49-17, scoring 20 points or less in all 5 losses....
After Graham Mertz played like garbage before succumbing to injury, true freshman dual threat DJ Lagway has taken over the reins, supplying flashes of future success as the team surrounding him implodes.
Lagway is fighting through a hamstring injury, but should be able to start and play vs LSU on Saturday in the Swamp.....and while Florida will likely have a lot to survive throughout 4 quarters if they want to contend in this game, the mere fact I'm even writing about this matchup as anything competitive is a shock.
After Kelly and Co's despicable annihilation at the hands of Alabama & Jeff Landry this past weekend, Brian Kelly's 2024 LSU squad will have plenty to figure out ahead of their trip to Gainesville....
For much of the year, even as they racked up yards at times, Joe Sloan's offense continues to suffer through an identity crisis, incapable or sloppy in many facets of play, ignoring their outside running potential & instead collapsing their own ground game via transparent inside RPO draws; Sloan's group are also wasting drives, ruining end zone quests through turnovers, drops or penalties, costing 2 defeats vs A&M or Alabama...largely because of 5 offensive turnovers over the past 6 quarters.
Blake Baker understands the aggressive, chaos-creating persona of his defense, but is now left without the key personnel to achieve his true, definitive vision.
Currently regressing all the more against the run, as the early season-ending injuries suffered by Harold Perkins & Jacobian Guillory begin to catch up with a much improved (compared to 2023) but still younger, inexperienced, less cohesive defensive unit (allowing over 180+ rushing yards to 3 of their last 4 opponents, while A&M & Alabama combined for over 500 total rushing yards against Baker's first year defense, who were also outscored 73-19 over the past 6 quarters of football).
Simultaneously, even Slade Nagle's veteran-led special teams unit began to make critical, surprising errors or bonehead plays harkening back to the reign of Mad Eyed Brian Polian, circa 2022.
QB Garrett Nussmeier contributed directly to all 5 turnovers over the past 6 quarters; RB Caden Durham busted off a 50 yard run but only finished with 8 carries vs Alabama; the repeated missed tackles by LSU's entire defense became the most alarming brand of slapstick tragedy.
There wasn't a single shred of positivity to take from Saturday night, but thank God, LSU will face off against an SEC basement bottom feeder....Florida....a golden chance in the sunshine state to really open up a whole new can of whoop ass on Napier's Gators.
This is a moment where LSU can administer a blistering beatdown so all encompassing in its savagery, Scott Stricklin even questions his own sanity for keeping Napier.
Against Florida, LSU have a true opportunity to commit something they've been too shy, too inept, too piecemeal to pull off all year....a blowout victory against an SEC opponent, inside the Swamp no less, a Lannister-esque domain forbidden to most non sex-crazed zoologists or NASCAR meth freaks.
On Saturday night, all are welcome, even the honorable Alabama fan, Mr. Governor Jeffrey "Warren Jeffs" Landry, pinkeye elect, will be in attendance among the whistling necrophiles within the gated community box seats.
So far, LSU has won 6 games....despite that reality, LSU's only true blowout arrived vs South Alabama (42-10), where Caden Durham stole the game away on the first play....still, this was 2024 LSU in cruise control.
We found out a lot about what kind of a team 2024 LSU really are against Alabama, but now we'll find out also about the program's future beyond....will Brian Kelly's 3 loss locker room show some intensive fight vs Florida, even when national relevance is gone & criticism is inescapable?
Taking on Florida's 2-4 SEC record, the 12th ranked team in the conference, LSU better grab hold of this opportunity to not only get right after such utter disappointment vs Alabama, Kelly's Tigers must kick maximum ass doing it....show some swagger, show a pulse....Napier's Florida are a team LSU should be able to dominate from start to finish, rope to rope like a leviathan prize fighter....lobbing one unassailable punching volley after another.
Break the running game towards the outside, get the stretch runs going, utilize your offensive line's athleticism, rather than attempting to bang your head against a wall running it up the gut (these useless RPO draws) when this team's red shirt interior guard & center isn't capable of the task yet. Feed Mason Taylor & Zavion Thomas the ball far more often....these two pull off majestic plays almost anytime the ball is in their hands.
On defense, play younger guys and ride with their youthful mistakes, understanding the superior talent they possess will only solidify with time on the field, especially when your veteran starters are already lighting up the field with errors (Burns & Gilbert to name just a few) ....there's no better time or setting.....you'll likely never catch a big name, former championship program / SEC rival when they're this down again.....
If LSU clobber Florida, it would be far from a statement, but it will start to heal their wounds following humiliating performances vs A&M and Alabama.
By LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
©️ 2024 Uninterrupted Writings Inc
I sense a growing lethargy in the program. There is no game where we can count on victory. Even the strengths of the team, ex. the O line have checked out. I think we lose two of the last three games. We might squeak by against Florida. I have supported Kelly in the past, but I do not now. He is not giving his all.