LSU needs line adjustments heading into Ole Miss

Injuries on the offensive front and a lack of pass rush last week have LSU coach Ed Orgeron looking at some adjustments heading into the fifth-ranked Tigers’ game against Ole Miss Saturday night at Tiger Stadium.

Orgeron said at his weekly news conference Monday that guard Garrett Brumfield will miss the Ole Miss game and that tackles Adrian Magee and Saadhiq Charles are questionable.

One of the players who will have to step up this week is true freshman guard Chasen Hines, who replaced Brumfield in last Saturday’s 38-21 victory over Louisiana Tech.

“Chasen has played well,” Orgeron said. “He’s probably going to have to start for us this week. He’s going to get challenged a little more this week.”

Defensively, Orgeron is looking for improvement up front after LA Tech gained 417 yards, including 330 through the air, last week.

“We didn’t have a good pass rush,” Orgeron said. “We were not rushing the passer we way we should have, and we’ll get it fixed this week.”

Orgeron’s background is as a defensive line coach, and while he provides input to defensive coordinator Dave Aranda, he lets his coaches do their jobs.

“When I step in the room, I’m the assistant defensive line coach,” Orgeron said. “Dave and I work well together. We met on some stuff (Sunday). It’s his defense. When I go in there, I’m just making suggestions.”

In addition to seeking a bounce-back, the Tigers will face an Ole Miss offense that leads the SEC in passing yards. Quarterback Jordan Ta’amu has a talented stable of receivers including A.J. Brown and D.K. Metcalf, who rank second and third in the conference, respectively, in receiving yards.

“Ta’amu is a better dropback passer than we’ve seen,” said Orgeron. “Probably the best set of receivers we’ll see all year, certainly so far this year. We’re going to have our hands full on this offense.”

“It’s hard to double one guy, because you open up a can of worms with the other one. We’re going to have to mix things up to get it covered. It all starts with pass rush.”

LSU was the last team in the country to commit a turnover when Joe Burrow fumbled against LA Tech. The one turnover remains the fewest of any FBS team, and the Tigers are plus-8 in turnover margin, which ranks fourth nationally.

“We start practice with it every day,” Orgeron said. “This program is about the ball. We talk about the ball. It’s just a mindset that we want to go get the ball and protect the ball in everything we do.”

On Friday night, LSU will unveil a statue of the late Billy Cannon, the university’s only Heisman Trophy winner. The 1958 team will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the school’s first football national championship with a reunion Saturday.

“One of the all-time greats to play here at LSU,” Orgeron said of Cannon. “I want to personally thank (the 1958 team) for setting the standard. Those guys are icons in LSU history. This is a big deal.”

Kickoff Saturday night is at 8:15 p.m. ESPN will televise the game.

VIDEO: ORGERON WEEKLY PRESSER