The LSU Tigers aim to get back to the win column as they face a top-ranked Alabama team after falling 20-7 to Texas A&M on Saturday.
But that won’t be an easy task, considering that Alabama hasn’t dropped a game and is quite rightfully favored by four touchdowns over LSU.
LSU head coach Ed Orgeron fielded a host of questions on the upcoming matchup, what went wrong against the Aggies and the general state of the team when he met with the media on Monday.
One of the biggest topics of the week was wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr., who opted out of the remainder of the season and declared for the 2021 NFL Draft the day after the loss to Texas A&M.
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Orgeron said he had heard nothing of Marshall planning to opt out until Sunday morning but that he handled the business decision “like a man.”
Ed Orgeron: “Terrace (Marshall Jr.) did come talk to me yesterday morning… he explained his discussion, I respected his decision.”
Says he though Marshall “handles it like a man” and notes the “next man up” mentality at #LSU.
— Crissy Froyd (@crissy_froyd) November 30, 2020
Orgeron says the first he heard of Terrace Marshall Jr. opting out was Sunday morning. #LSU
— Crissy Froyd (@crissy_froyd) November 30, 2020
Orgeron also said the Tigers would be without fullback Tory Carter when they face the Crimson Tide this weekend.
Ed Orgeron announced TE/FB Tory Carter will not be available vs. Alabama.#LSU
— Crissy Froyd (@crissy_froyd) November 30, 2020
Orgeron also said wide receiver Racey McMath would likely be missing.
No Terrace Marshall. No Tory Carter. Racey McMath also not expected to play against Alabama, #LSU coach Ed Orgeron says.https://t.co/VUMA5U5BTi
— Brooks Kubena (@BKubena) November 30, 2020
The original date for the Alabama game was postponed after COVID-19 concerns surrounding the LSU football program, and Orgeron had a candid response when he was asked if the Tigers were a better football team since Nov. 14, when the game was supposed to be played.
Ed Orgeron on if #LSU is a better team now than when they were previously scheduled to play Alabama: "Yeah. We have enough people to play!"
— Brooks Kubena (@BKubena) November 30, 2020
Orgeron had praise for his offensive line, a unit that struggled toward the beginning of the season, and spoke to the defense’s improvements as well.
Ed Orgeron: "This is Alabama. This is LSU-Alabama. We can control us and let's go in and play the best game we possibly can." #LSU
— Brooks Kubena (@BKubena) November 30, 2020
Ed Orgeron says one of the biggest defensive improvements was that they didn't give up any explosive pass plays. They played well in man coverage. "To hold them to 13 points and 267 yards was a great output for our defense." #LSU
— Brooks Kubena (@BKubena) November 30, 2020
Ed Orgeron: "I think our defense played their best game of the whole year." #LSU
— Brooks Kubena (@BKubena) November 30, 2020
We saw both quarterbacks — TJ Finley and Max Johnson — make an appearance on Saturday. The only reason Johnson entered the game was to try some quarterback runs with Johnson, which didn’t work.
Ed Orgeron says the only reason they pulled TJ Finley was to try out some QB runs with Max Johnson. They'd planned that all week. It didn't work. #LSU
— Brooks Kubena (@BKubena) November 30, 2020
LSU and Alabama are set to kick off at 7 p.m. CT on Saturday in Tiger Stadium.
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