LSU Football: Three Observations From The Tigers Victory Over Auburn
Jayden Daniels propelled No. 22 LSU to a key SEC victory over Auburn on Saturday night after the Tigers departed Death Valley with a 48-18 victory in Week 7.
Daniels and the LSU offense continued steamrolling opponents after this unit totaled over 500 yards on the night once again, but it was complementary football for four quarters on Saturday.
Three Observations From Week 7:
The Offense Does It Again...
It’s simple. The 2023 LSU offense is on a different level than the rest of the SEC and it was put on display once again in Week 7 against Auburn. Jayden Daniels continued his Heisman season with another complete performance in Tiger Stadium on Saturday night.
The Tigers’ QB1 ended the day with 325 yards on 20-of-27 passing with three touchdowns. On the ground? He continued carving the defense, totaling 93 yards on 11 carries. Daniels is shining week in and week out for this program with another top notch performance against Auburn.
But he has weapons… The LSU offense has an arsenal of elite-level playmakers with Malik Nabers, Kyren Lacy and Brian Thomas Jr. shining on the outside for the Tigers on Saturday. The trio combined for 207 yards and two touchdowns with yards after catch unlocking a different element to this offense.
Through the air, it was another impressive showing for LSU, but the rushing attack also played a key role in taking down Auburn. Logan Diggs ended the night with 97 yards and a touchdown on the night while wrecking the Tigers’ defense through four quarters.
LSU did what it does best on Saturday night and that’s score points. A lot of them. Daniels and Co. made the most of their opportunities on their way to a critical SEC victory.
Kyren Lacy Breaks Out
LSU wide receiver Kyren Lacy pieced together the best game of his college career on Saturday night. The second-year Tiger reeled in four receptions for 111 yards (27.8 YPC) and a touchdown in the win against Auburn.
It's clear what this program has in Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. The one-two punch has provided this LSU with reliable weapons on the outside, but with the emergence of Lacy, it unlocks another level to this offense.
In the past, we've seen Lacy struggle with drops. On Saturday, he dropped a critical third down pass early in the game, but he immediately made up for his mistake with a touchdown shortly after.
Brian Kelly tested his veteran wideout with Lacy answering the call in a key SEC showdown. The emergence could provide a different element to the LSU offense with this program looking to be playing its best ball of the season come Alabama Week in two weeks.
Complementary Football, Defense Steps Up
There’s much to be said about the LSU defense. It wasn’t perfect by any means, but when game changing plays needed to be made, this side of the football stepped up to the plate. From Zy Alexander being put to the test and coming through to Harold Perkins wreaking havoc all night, this group pieced together a complete game.
Auburn attacked LSU cornerback Zy Alexander all night and he took it personally. The first-year Tiger ended the night with nine total tackles and a pair of impressive pass breakups for the defense. Hugh Freeze wanted to test the secondary and Alexander handled business.
Up front, the LSU defensive line silenced the naysayers. There’s been speculation surrounding this group, and on Saturday, Paris Shand, Maason Smith and Mekhi Wingo made impactful plays when needed. Shand certainly stole the show for LSU in the first half while carrying his success into the third quarter as well. The box score may only say four total tackles, one tackle for loss and a pass breakup, but Shand shined for LSU.
A balanced defense led by Harold Perkins steered the ship for the purple and gold. It was a productive night for the sophomore stud after recording 4 tackles, a tackle for loss, a sack and a pass breakup on Saturday. The “stat sheet stuffer” got it done on the edge for LSU in a big-time effort.
The Numbers: LSU allowed just 293 total yards on Saturday night with Auburn tossing 154 yards through the air with 139 yards on the ground.
