Louisiana State University Media Conference Monday, October 7, 2019 On defense Todd Grantham is one of the best defensive coordinators in football. He is an outstanding defensive line coach, he knows how to blitz, knows how ED ORGERON: Welcome, everybody. A good win for to attack and I think he's a done a tremendous job our football team. Couple of things. Obviously 601 everywhere he's been. I've known him for a long time. yards on offense, 248 yards rushing, 41 minutes' time They're a four-three, they return seven starters, they of possessions, third down we were 61 percent, kept only giving up 9.5 yards a game, 276 total yards. drives alive and were 4-4 for TD's in the red zone, and Outstanding against the rush, 93, 183. They got some so we're very pleased with that. great pass rushers up front, Greenard, Zuniga, C.J. Anderson is one of the top cornerbacks in the game. On defense three interceptions, held them to 19 yards. Rushing, 159 was our best output of the whole season Very solid on special teams. As always, have a lot of on defense. We went 92 percent of our third downs, we speed. This is going to be a very good week for us. improved our tackling and run fits and pass rush. We This is always a physical football game. We went back met as an offense today and we were really wasn't and looked at our game against them last year and it pleased with our performance. Although we scored 42 was a physical football game. We have to do a well on points, there were some things, ball security things that the line of scrimmage, have to tackle and have to tackle we got to get taken care of. Some blockings that we well in space. But we look forward to this week. I can't missed, some balls, we missed some routes, we wait for this week in preparation. Any questions? wasn't, our timing wasn't exactly like we been. We wasn't as sharp on offense. So it will be good. It gave Q. So far it looks like Todd Grantham has been us some good things to work on this week. blitzing a lot less than in years past. Does that make it more difficult to prepare for being more On to this week. Obviously we're excited about this unpredictable? game, excited about ESPN Gameday being here. 7:00 ED ORGERON: Yeah. We have to go back in his Saturday night, Tiger Stadium, LSU-Florida. It doesn't history, we have to look at the things that he's done, we get much better than that. It's going to be a wonderful have to be prepared for line stunts, be prepared for night for the LSU family of Tigers. This is going to be a four-man rush, be prepared for blitzes. We have a lot of big recruiting weekend for us. We have two big-time work to do this week. There will be a lot of walk- official visits coming in, as of now. We talked to most of throughs, there will be a lot of film study. We have to be our recruits last night, we'll talk to more tonight. We are prepared for everything that he comes after. But the going to get as many recruits to this game as we can, biggest thing that we have to do in practice is simulate so it will be a big night recruit being. the speed of their defensive line. So we're going to put our fastest guys on the rush team and rush our guys all Dan Mullin has done a tremendous job. This is a well- week, obviously. coached football team. We have a lot of respect for Coach Mullin and his whole staff. I know most of those Q. On a similar note about their line, do you think guys on the staff, they do great job, they're good guys this is the toughest pass rush you guys have faced in football, and I've been knowing them for a long time. this year and what did you think of Ed Ingram's performance in his first game back? On offense they're scoring 34 points a game, 430 total ED ORGERON: I thought he played pretty good. He yards for a game, 141 rushing, 288. Kyle Trask is their did good assignment-wise, he was good. He didn't get quarterback. Perine had a big play, as you saw. Kyle tired. He played well. We're going to see this week how Pitts is a good tight end. They got a lot of speed at he feels. I'll go, usually go with his gut feeling on that wide receiver. Ben Jefferson, he can make the big decision, him or Adrian. We'll see how the week goes. plays. Second in targets, 31 receptions. All their receivers are good and fast and they have a bunch of This is by far the best pass rush we have seen. I think them. I've said it every day in our press conference that I can, that we're going to be tested and this is just what I was

Rev #1 by #176 at 2019-10-07 18:21:00 GMT page 1 of 6 talking about. I watched the game against Miami. It showed it to our football team and told them how much was a tremendous pass rush. Last year we did not we appreciate them. I always try to compliment them block their pass rush very well. It's going to be a on the way they work. And assimilation is key for us, challenge for us. and the more we get into the season, the less hitting we're going to be doing in practice or these walk- Q. Seems that Dan Mullin and Todd Grantham have throughs, assimilating and being in the right spot the had some success against LSU in recent years no right time, gives our team a winning edge. So those matter where they've been. As your game planning, guys are awfully important. And plus, those guys are are there some things that you're taking to mind friends with our starters. As you know, it's about one that you maybe don't? team, one heart beat. Everybody has a role, and their ED ORGERON: We're looking at the Mississippi State, role's just as important. we looked at the Mississippi State film two years ago, we watched it. We're look at the history, we're looking Q. Both teams playing this week are great on third at -- Dan is big formation guy, and he's going to see down conversion -- how he lines up in a certain formation, and he's going ED ORGERON: What's your probability for the game? to try to hit you where your weaknesses are at, so that's going to be a key for us this week. Q. I'm going to see how it goes. It's doubtful. ED ORGERON: I'm going to ask you every day. But after looking at the film this morning, it's going to come down to blocking and tackling. They ran the (Laughter.) speed option on us, we were out of position. They ran the quarterback throw back, we were out of position. Q. Ask these guys. You guys are really good at We just got to be in position and we got to make plays third down conversion, both you and Florida. You when we need to make plays. guys were phenomenal this past weekend. Is there a magic formula that goes into third down or is it Q. Last week you talked about how the warp speed really just down, distance, and play call? offense helped you prepare for Utah State. You're ED ORGERON: I think it's game planning. I think our talking about the defense kind of doing the same guys do a tremendous job of game planning. And I thing for your offense this week. Is there anybody think it comes down to protection. Third down is, to me on the defense that kind of helps you get that good is always about protection. It's always about pass rush. look? If you can protect, I think that you give enough time for ED ORGERON: Well, if they were they would be a quarterback to throw the football, there will be open starting for us, I can promise you that. But I'm not going spots. I think if you can pass rush and not give the to put K'Lavon on against our first team every day. He's quarterback enough time, you'll win. the closest one. Justin Thomas, Justin Thomas can pass rush. , hopefully he's back this Q. You guys are No. 1 in the country right now in week. I'm going to see how he is today. Hopefully he red zone offense. Last season you were can rush again, but guys like Marcel Brooks, Justin disappointed in that. What has made the biggest Thomas, those guys are going to have to help. difference and why you're able to score fro that? ED ORGERON: First of all, No. 1 right now is good for Q. Can you update us on the health of your out there. It doesn't mean nothing to us. We got to get defensive line and who might be able to make it better. The work that we do today, we do red zone on this week? And was , zero snaps, Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday morning. So can you explain what happened there? we work more in the red zone. I do believe that the ED ORGERON: Saahdiq Charles is going to play this schemes that we have and the game planning that we week. It was a coaching decision. Michael Divinity is have in red zone have been phenomenal. And we have going to practice this week. Hopefully he's ready. good players and our quarterback can get the ball to is going to practice this week. them. Hopefully he's ready. Glen Logan is going to be limited this week. Don't know if he's going to be ready. Q. With a new offense it seems like you always have to prove yourself. People say we want to see Q. We talk about the stars and everybody a lot. But you in the game. And then they say we got to see it is there anything you can say about the importance at Texas. And now some people are saying this the of those guys on like the scout team and in the first real legitimate tough defense you're going to practice squad and things like that? play against. Can you talk about that challenge and ED ORGERON: Yeah, one team, one heart beat. We for Joe, especially, at quarterback? made a highlight of those guys at the end of camp and ED ORGERON: Yeah, well, we know how it is in the

Rev #1 by #176 at 2019-10-07 18:21:00 GMT page 2 of 6 SEC. It's going to be like this every week from now on. running backs last week. Do you feel comfortable It's going to be a challenge but I think these guys are enough with them for this kind of big game? going to be up for it. Or are we going to score the same ED ORGERON: Yeah, yup, let them go. Let them go. I amount of points that we have been scoring every think they're ready to play. And so is Chris Curry. I think week? I don't know, we may, we may not. The object is we have four backs that can go and play, and they have always to win the game and to play a full team. to understand that and so does Clyde. Clyde had a has had two fumbles the last two weeks. I'm very So I think that our guys understand the challenge, our concerned with that. We're going to work -- just like we guys understand the teams that we have played. Some attacked tackling last week. We attacked it, we got of them were not as strong as the ones we're going to better at it, we went back and looked at the film, what play, but we have been gearing up for this and we're we were doing right, what we were doing wrong. And ready. we were a much better team tackling. I expect us to be a much better team holding onto that football this week Q. You said Saturday you wanted to take a look at and it's going to be addressed every day, I promise you the film before you made a decision about that. Christian Fulton working in the slot, I guess, kind of after work, looking at that, do you like that? Q. The last three years against Florida, I think you ED ORGERON: Yeah, it looked pretty good but scored 46 points total. Did your struggles in this Cordale Flott is out, so. Stuff like that looked pretty game push you even further to going to what good, but I hate to cut you short, but Cordale, Cordale you're doing now offensively, was that a big thing, is injured. I don't know if Cordale is going to play this did it convince you that had you to move? week, so I don't know if you're going to see as much of ED ORGERON: Sure, no, all the SEC teams, I knew it. that they were scoring points and we weren't. I knew that we had the athletes, I knew we had the coaches, Q. Neil Farrell doesn't get a lot of the hype as a lot we just had to change our system. But it just took of these defensive guys but he's been quietly awhile. And finally we hit it right. I think that I couldn't putting up a lot of really good numbers. What do ask for a better coordinator for right now, for Coach you attribute that to and how important is he going Ensminger and what he's doing, he's the general. And to be? then have a young guy like Joe Brady come along to ED ORGERON: He's very instinctive. Neil's tougher teach the offense, and Steve just kind of monitor than an old alligator, man. He's a tough young man, everything and call it. I think it's the perfect scenario for love him to death, from Alabama, great parents, great right now. character. Has stuck with it. Now his opportunity has come. I told Coach Johnson, I said, once Neil becomes And I think is the perfect quarterback for us a first-teamer he's going to be hard to sit down, and he at this point in time. He's smart, he's a champ, he's is. And right now he's still on first team. I don't know if going to stay in the pocket, he's going to take a hit. And Glen's going to play, but I expect Neil to start in this we got outstanding receivers. game. Q. With Cordale Flott, if he doesn't play against Q. Florida's offensive line has been a little suspect Florida, does it just mean more time for Fulton or this year. And with Kyle Trask getting injured last how does that depth work out after that? week with the knee injury, is a pass rush really ED ORGERON: Christian will be our start, to start it, no going to be important this week and really pushing question. the line of scrimmage? ED ORGERON: No question. Controlling the line of Q. But how does depth kind of build around at the scrimmage on both sides is going to be a key to this cornerback there? football game. Again, I watched that film this morning ED ORGERON: We have to see. We have to see if Jay and it was a physical football game. We were doing Ward and those guys are ready. We have to talk about very well but they did some good things too. So it's it. We haven't talked about it as much. We're going to going to be a battle. We're going to have to win our wait to see how Cordale is towards the end of the blocks up front, we have to win our gaps, and we're week, but right as I talked to Jack this morning, we going to have to tackle. Florida has run the ball on us don't think he's going to play. So I might have a better the last two years, very, very well. We have to stop the answer for you on Thursday. run. I think that's my biggest concern right now is stopping the run. Q. More of a lighthearted question. LSU's obviously known for its tailgating a lot of tailgaters Q. You got a lot more work for the two freshmen might be frying up some alligator. Are you going to

Rev #1 by #176 at 2019-10-07 18:21:00 GMT page 3 of 6 feed your team any alligator before the game? his stats aren't as eye popping as they were last ED ORGERON: Yeah, yeah, you know what? I love the year? tradition, I promise you that. And I hope our fans have ED ORGERON: First of all, Grant's a great, great a blast. But there will be no gimmicks about our football player. Great young man. Very unselfish. Look if we put team on Saturday. This is going to be a hard-nosed him back in the post all day he's going to say, Coach, football team. We're going to be focused all week, I'll play in the post, whatever it takes for the team. we're going to block out the noise, we're not going to When he came off the field we thought he may have pay attention to anything that's going on except the had a concussion, and I was a little nervous, to be task at hand and that's beating Florida. That's going to honest with you. But he went back in, I don't know, be a big monumental task for us and we plan on couple of plays later, and played very well. We would getting it done. like to get grant closer to the ball, blitz him, use him in a fashion where we're rushing the quarterback, making Q. Derek Stingley and Jamar Chase seemed so different plays. And I think you started to see that last effective in one-on-one matchups going up and week. You saw him on the line of scrimmage, blitzing, getting the ball. What's it like when those two are making more plays than you'll see more of that but going against each other in practice? wherever we need him he's going to play and he's ED ORGERON: Yeah, it's the first thing I watch when I basically effective where we put him. come in. I love it. Those guys, they compete every day. One day Ja'Marr will win, one day Derek will win. And Q. I know you said you're thankful to be the LSU that's what makes them better. We talk to our recruits, coach every day and when you got a game like iron sharpens iron, that's why you come to LSU this, two undefeated teams you got your first cool because the game is supposed to be harder on the front coming in, ESPN Gameday, all those things, practice field than it is on Saturdays. does this really get your juices going? ED ORGERON: Yeah, it's fun. It's fun. I'm still waiting Q. What are the statuses Badara Traore and for that darn cold front. That's going to be nice. It's Charles Turner right now? going to be -- I think it's going to be a great game day -- ED ORGERON: How does he look? I'm happy for the players and the fans, man, this is what you come to LSU for. This is why you want to play (Laughter.) in this game. I watched LSU/Florida, whatever school I would be, I remember when Tebow would come in, I Badara, he's out. Who else? remember when we upset them, we went for it on fourth down, I watched every one of those games. And Q. Charles Turner. even though we played them over there the last two ED ORGERON: I think he should be ready to go. I'm years it was, it's a great rivalry, it's a great teams, it's not sure on that. great players, the speed on this field is about as fast as you're going to see on a college football field on a Q. How does that kind of depth going to -- Florida, Saturday night. you've talked about the defensive line and just how does that kind of play out? Q. The last two years some of your players have ED ORGERON: The depth on the offensive line? If we gotten social media Twitter wars with Florida go with Ed coming back and with Chaisson is now the players. Have you talked to your players about this second team center and he can swing to the right or do you feel like it's something that your guard, and then can, you know, upperclassmen will take care of also? Saahdiq's going to play this week so now we got, we ED ORGERON: Yeah, I'm going to talk to them about it have a little bit more depth than people think. today, see what happens. But I know this, that I think it was several years back we had as tussle before the Q. Sure you were happy to see Grant get an game. I don't want that. That distracts from the football interception finally this season, but could you kind team, that distracts from the task at hand, so we're of explain how maybe his role has evolved since going to make sure that our guys understand that. For last week? some reason this is a heated battle, emotions are flying ED ORGERON: Who is that? high, we want to use those emotions in the right way, I don't think there's anything I can say today or this week Q. . or anything our players can say today or this week that ED ORGERON: Yeah. will make us win the game, besides work hard, keep our mouth shut and be ready to play Saturday night. Q. And kind of describe his importance or contributions to the defense in a year where maybe Q. You mentioned your young running backs

Rev #1 by #176 at 2019-10-07 18:21:00 GMT page 4 of 6 earlier on. In the Utah State game after watching getting to go to McNeese and see your son win a film what did you see from John Emory and Davis- big game there against Southeastern. Talk about Price that maybe impressed you? that experience. ED ORGERON: Sort of the same thing we have been ED ORGERON: Yeah, first of all I was proud of our seeing in practice. They're two different backs, they're team. We don't blink. Just tell us what time we're going two good backs. John can put his foot in the grass and to play and where we're going to play and we're going make a cut about as good as most people I've been to show up. The guys, again, we had an early morning with. Still needs to hold on to the football. He was trying meeting everybody was there early all the coaches to give extra effort and all it is is putting two hands on were there early, shoot I felt like it was 3 o'clock in the the ball when he gets in traffic. Tyrion is a bull, he's afternoon. Our guys were ready to go, so we showed going to go north and south and he can run you over no signs of mental weakness. I think if it comes to and he runs with an attitude. So I think that we kind mental toughness, edge LSU. And I said that and our have a thunder and lightning deal right there going on. guys are mentally tough. We were fortunate enough The more snaps they get the better they're going to be. that we could get to McNeese, I think I got there I was really impressed with Chris Curry I thought he midway in the first quarter. It was a heck of a game, played his best game and showed that he's worthy and Cody threw the winning touchdown at the end. It was willing to play with significant snaps. great to be a parent at that game. Kelly and I was back home at 11 o'clock at night. It was a wonderful Q. I think we saw the atmosphere maybe make a weekend for everybody, I was just fortunate I was able difference in Gainesville this week and for Auburn to do it. does the type of game where you really want the crowd to be in it? Q. To follow-up, how tough is it you being in the ED ORGERON: I will say this to you, their crowd last stands at a game like that that's that close that, just year showed up. That was probably the most hostile to be a parent and not be a coach there, since you place we played and I wish it wouldn't have affected us just came off coaching a game earlier that day. but it did and even the players said it. So I know our ED ORGERON: Well, I was glad I was in a closed-in fans are going to be loud, I know last year when we box. played Georgia our crowd affected the Georgia Bulldogs and we won that game. I would expect our (Laughter.) crowd to be a winning edge, I know they will be, 7 o'clock at night they should be primed and ready to go. Yeah, I think that it was good for Kelly to be in a closed- in box, too. Q. You've always spoken so highly about Joe Burrow and I know there's a lot of games left, but Q. Did you get a chance to watch the did you envision him being able to toss his hat in Florida/Auburn game Saturday at all? the Heisman ring whenever you brought him here ED ORGERON: No, I was, I was -- to LSU? Was that even in the vision? ED ORGERON: No, not really. Not really. We just Q. Maybe you had it in the box or something. wanted a good quarterback. We just wanted somebody ED ORGERON: No, no, I watched it on tape and I to throw the ball, run the spread offense but the thing watched it on tape this morning. that I was most impressed two things most impressed about Joe is his intelligence and his toughness. We felt Q. Was there anything from Auburn's defense line that once he took over the team, we saw him progress -- it looked like they got pressure on Trask -- was and I think he made a lot of progress last year in there anything that showed what you guys might between the first game and the last game. He was a be able to do there? different quarterback. And then in the bowl game we ED ORGERON: Yeah they have about three first round saw him throw the football like we like him to throw the draft choices on the front line that looked very good to ball. And once we saw him in the spring, I felt that he me. No, I need to study it more. Obviously I know was going to have a tremendous year. I never think Coach Steele. Going against them, it's about -- it's about individual awards or that never even crossed my nothing fancy, it's about winning the one-on-one mind but I do know we have a winning quarterback. matchups and I think that's what we have to do, win our Let's see what happens. one-on-one matchups, rush the passer. We got some good rushers, I think Neil is becoming a good rusher, Q. I know that a lot of people don't like 11:00 am is playing his best football right now. kickoffs, but it worked out perfectly for you last Obviously having K'Lavon back, having Mike back, I Saturday. Talk about the experience of not only think that we can get back to our green package, have getting to watch your team win on the field but some speed on the field and it will be fun. But I don't

Rev #1 by #176 at 2019-10-07 18:21:00 GMT page 5 of 6 think it's going to come down to pass rushing against this team I think it's going to come down to stopping the run.

Q. To follow-up, what has Shelvin done that makes him impressive? ED ORGERON: I think he's played very good in the middle. Sometimes you don't see the nose tackle as much because he's causing double teams. But he's playing his blocks well, he's playing with leverage, he's getting off, he's had some good pass rushes, he's playing hard. I think he's become a complete player.

Q. This is a little off topic and looking a couple years into the future, but just can you talk about the possibility of playing Southern and just what that would mean for the city of Baton Rouge? ED ORGERON: I think it's wonderful. I don't do the scheduling, that's not my wheelhouse, but if we play Southern -- I love Coach O, I love Southern, we camped together and he's a great man and I think it's great for the city of Baton Rouge. And again, I think that the more we can stay together with the schools in Louisiana and support each other the better.

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