Florida Football: 10 Things You Need To Know about LSU

Jeff Driskel will be just the fifth true freshman in Florida football history to start a game Saturday and he isn’t starting any old game, he’s going against the No. 1 team in the nation. He joins the select crew of Wayne Peace, Donald Douglas, Jesse Palmer and Chris Leak to accomplish that feat.

In 2003, Chris Leak led the Gators to a huge victory over then No. 6 LSU 19-7. He would reel off four more wins after that upset and ended the season with an 8-5 record and a loss to Iowa in the Outback Bowl. Leak blossomed into a great leader and took the Gators, and freshman Tim Tebow to the National Championship in 2006.

Do we see in Jeff Driskel what we saw in Chris Leak? He was thrown into the mix against a viscous Alabama defense and we've learned a few things about him in 2011: he can run out of the pocket and he can throw (more so to the other team, but he’s got an arm). This week gets no easier against an LSU team that’s taken down three powerful offenses already, but before we get to Saturday, there are a lot of things you should know about the Tigers.

Tyrann Mathieu

This is the guy. Him. The star. The stud. The ace. The Honey Badger. The playmaker. The guy with bleached hair. Call him what you may, but Tyrann Mathieu is the real deal. He has made people forget about Patrick Peterson at LSU and he’s the heart and soul of this defense. He is the reason Les Miles hasn’t eaten that much grass so far this season. 

Mathieu has scored two TDs on fumble returns, leads the Tigers with 35 tackles, 4.0 TFL, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, one interception and 1.5 sacks. Both fumble recoveries for touchdowns were fumbles he caused. He’s only played 18 games in his career at LSU and he already has a school-record for forced fumbles (nine). There are still seven games left! What else can this guy do? If there is any defensive player in the country that is a Heisman contender, it's Mathieu. 

If young Jeff Driskel wants to gain any positive yardage in the bayou, he HAS to keep one eye on his wide receivers and the other on Tyrann Mathieu. 

The Rest of the Defense

These guys are good. Real good. The Tigers have yet to allow a team to reach 100 rushing yards and they are second in the SEC in sacks with 12. They allow on average 60.4 rush yards per game (third in the FBS), 12.8 points per game (ninth) and only 262.2 total yards per game (ninth). They are quick, powerful, smart and capitalize on other team’s mistakes. They only allow their opponents 3.8 yards per play and trail only Alabama, Michigan State and UCF in that category. 

Overall, in the 20 quarters they have played this season, the defense has only allowed a touchdown in five of them. No team has scored in the first quarter and they have quieted very powerful Oregon, Mississippi State and West Virginia offenses. Charlie Weis is going to have to use every page in his playbook in this one because these guys come to play and will be licking their lips to get to the young Jeff Driskel. 

Win the Turnover Battle, Win the Game

LSU has won 14 straight games when winning the turnover battle. Under Les Miles, LSU is 30-4 when forcing more turnovers than they give up. So far this season, the Tigers forced 12 turnovers and scored points off of those turnovers nine times (8 TD, FG).  

On the other side, LSU has protected the ball like it was their own flesh and blood. In 337 total plays from scrimmage this season, they have turned the ball over three times (two fumbles and one interception). They lead the SEC and rank fourth in the nation in turnover margin at plus-1.8 per game. They have gone eight straight quarters without a turnover. 

The Resurgence of Jarrett Lee

We may never have seen this coming, but here he is folks, Jarrett Lee. He’s been taking snaps at LSU since 2008, but never quite got in the groove, until now. He’s 10-4 as the starting quarterback, has led the Tigers to a 5-0 start this year and a No. 1 rank atop the AP poll.

At one point this season, he threw 131 consecutive passes without an interception before ending that streak against Mississippi State. That streak is good for second in the all-time LSU record book. He’s completed 59.3 percent of his passes, good for 793 yards, seven touchdowns and only one interception. He’s found great targets in Rueben Randle and Odell Beckham Jr. and is as confident as any QB in the country right now. When you’re down by three with two minutes to go, he’s the guy you want with the ball. 

The Super Sophomores

Call them the Three Musketeers if you want, but these three sophomores are torturing opposing defenses this season. When one comes out, another comes in and one is just as good as the other. Spencer Ware leads the Tigers with 323 yards and three touchdowns. Behind him is Michael Ford with 322 yards and an impressive six touchdowns. Then, bursting onto the scene last weekend against Kentucky, the biggest of the three, is Alfred Blue with 148 yards and three touchdowns. 

This is a pick your poison type run offense as each one offers their own unique style. The Florida defense is very good against the run. They average 90.4 yards per game, good for 19^th in the country and will come ready to try and stop this three-headed monster. 

They Are Almost at Full Strength

Last weekend against Kentucky, the nation saw QB Jordan Jefferson return for the first time after an offseason plagued with legal troubles. Jefferson and teammate, LB Josh Johns were suspended indefinitely after an off-campus fight in late August. All charges against Johns were dropped and Jefferson’s were reduced. Both are reinstated as of last week. Jefferson did not see many plays, but converted on the few he was a part of with a rushing touchdown and 29 yards on the ground.

Once Jefferson gets back into the swing of things, he can be counted on as a change of pace from Jarrett Lee and will be another weapon in their already loaded arsenal. 

Special Teams

Even when the offense and defense are on the sidelines, LSU still has plenty of ways to get you. Special teams has produced two touchdowns already this season and LSU is 13-1 all time under Les Miles when they score on special teams.

Morris Claiborne has been lethal when he is able to return a kickoff. He’s returned 10 kickoffs for 316 yards including one for 99 yards and a TD. The other special teams touchdown came in the opener on a botched punt return by Oregon’s Kenjon Barner.

Home-Field Advantage Is an Understatement

In college sports, home field advantage typically means more than in professional sports. Schools have bands, cheerleaders, rowdy student sections and stadiums that pack 100,000-plus people into the stands.

LSU is the perfect example of a school that takes advantage of the advantage. They have won 13 consecutive games at Tiger Stadium, good for the fifth longest active streak in the nation. During that streak, they have outscored their opponents 429-168.

They have been so good this season that three of their five wins have come on the road or at a neutral location against Top 25 teams. 

Not Much Luck at No. 1 Under Les Miles

15-3 all time as the No. 1 team in the nation is a great stat to brag about. Les Miles is responsible for two of those three losses. Last season, the No. 1 team atop the AP Poll switched six times before Auburn captured the title. This season, LSU is the second team to claim the throne, so if history repeats itself, LSU won’t be here for a while. Once you’ve reached the top, it's tough to stay there and Les Miles knows that. 

LSU Is on a Roll vs. the SEC East

LSU has not lost to an SEC East team since a 13-3 nail-biter to Florida on October 10^th, 2009. They have won four in a row and six of the last seven against the East and Les Miles is 14-7 overall against the rest of the division.