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There was quietly sad news at LSU this week.
Safety Rickey Jefferson, a two-year starter and the little brother of former starting quarterback Jordan Jefferson, reportedly broke his ankle at practice, ending his senior season.
If it’s true, it may end an era for LSU. The Jefferson brothers have been around LSU football for the better part of the last nine seasons. The youngest Jefferson brother, Justin, is a two-star 2017 prospect but hasn’t drawn SEC level offers yet.
So here’s to Rickey Jefferson returning to health. As for the free safety position, John Battle is likely to move into the starting role and Dwayne Thomas figures to see more playing time while there are reports that Ed Paris, who started a game at cornerback this season when Kevin Toliver was injured, would be moved to safety.
Jefferson’s injury does create a scramble for LSU as safety is not the deepest position for the Tigers.
So look for Southern Mississippi, with its high-powered offense, to try to exploit the injury this week.
Here are some keys for the LSU-Southern Miss game:
Southern Miss
1. Protect Nick Mullens: Let’s assume for a minute that Mullens, who has been questionable this week with an injured thumb, is going to play. A competitive team like USM needs to put its best foot forward this weekend coming off a 55-32 loss to Texas-San Antonio.
Given that, USM has to stand strong against LSU’s daunting pass rush led by an All-American candidate in outside linebacker Arden Key (7 sacks, second in the nation) and keep Mullens as upright as possible. He’s been sacked seven times this year, and the Golden Eagles haven’t seen a pass rush near the ability of LSU.
2. Make plays downfield: As mentioned above, with Jefferson out, a protected Mullens could have the opportunity to make some chunk plays down the field and the Eagles will need those in an upset bid. Allenzae Staggers and Isaiah Jones are both big-play receivers for USM.
If they can take advantage of breakdowns in coverage for more than a few big pass plays, it could make things interesting. But it won’t be easy. The other three starters in the LSU secondary, Jamal Adams, Tre’Davious White and Toliver, are pretty talented cover guys.
3. Beg, borrow or steal to stop the run: After giving up 339 yards rushing to Texas-San Antonio last week, USM faces a better rushing attack from LSU.
Derrius Guice will probably be the best back USM sees, but that’s assuming Leonard Fournette does not play for the Tigers. Southern Miss has to find a way to slow them down and force Danny Etling and LSU’s modest passing attack to win the game.
And if Southern Miss has to sell its soul to stopping the run, that could be all the edge Etling needs to look like an All-American.
LSU
1. Turn Mullens over: Wednesday was LSU’s third “turnover Wednesday,” meaning the third practice since Ed Orgeron became the head coach where the emphasis for the defense was to create turnovers.
The Tigers will be facing a quarterback in Mullens who has been prone to turn the ball over this year with 8 INTS in six games. USM has turned the ball 15 times and is minus-8 in turnover margin. That’s a stat Orgeron, who calls turnover margin the most important statistic in football, has to have his defense focused on this week.
If the Tigers, who are even this year in turnover margin, have a big day with that stat, this could be a blowout.
2. Make big plays in special teams: Playing against teams from the non-power conferences is usually a way to pad special teams stats in regards to returns and coverage. While USM has some pretty good players in kicking and punting, LSU should be able to make a play or two in the return game as the power conference teams usually have better depth to have better players on special teams.
Look for punt returner Tre’Davious White — who ran a punt back for a touchdown against Jacksonville State — or the kickoff team to make a big play for the Tigers. If they don’t, consider that a win for USM.
3. Offensive progress: This is the second game for Orgeron and offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger. USM will likely be adequately prepared for what the Tigers threw out in Orgeron’s first game, a 42-7 win over Missouri.
LSU needs to show new wrinkles this week and execute them well enough to keep the offense moving forward into the heart of the SEC schedule. That’s especially true in the passing game, where the Tigers are still waiting for a breakout game from Etling and his receivers.
