Injuries have forced LSU to get creative, and the most intriguing fix might be the one Lane Kiffin has found at tight end.
The Tigers have been hit hard across the roster this season. On defense, they’ve dealt with significant losses at linebacker, including Whit Weeks, Charles Ross II and Tylen Singleton. On offense, Phillip Wright III is out for the season, and Trey'Dez Green is set to miss his fourth straight game this week.
Green’s absence may be the biggest blow of them all. At 6'7", he brings a rare matchup problem that LSU simply hasn’t been able to duplicate. Zach Grace is the only other traditional tight end on the roster with a catch, and that’s left Kiffin looking for answers elsewhere.
One of those answers has come in the form of Roman Mothershed. The 6'5" wide receiver has shifted into a tight end role and lined up in a three-point stance on Saturday, giving LSU a new look when it needs one most.
"It's probably the first time I've put my hand in the dirt," Mothershed said. "That part of it is kind of new to me, to be honest.
I just had to expand my mental and my understanding of the offense, especially in the run game, because I'm in a lot of blocking schemes. So, knowing where to go and what guy I'm getting and being able to move out of that stance, because I'm not really used to being that low..."
Mothershed didn’t just learn the spot - he made an impact in it, catching a touchdown pass from Jackson Harris in Saturday’s game.
The adjustment has come fast, and Mothershed said Green has helped smooth the transition.
"He's like eyes off the field," Mothershed said. "The things that I'm being exposed to now, like the looks I'm getting, seeing linebackers in the box move different ways, he's been able to calm my eyes down - so what I'm seeing, I see slower and I'm able to do my job quicker."
Kiffin’s move was a gamble, considering Mothershed had never played the position before. But it’s paid off better than expected, even if it doesn’t come close to replacing what Green does.
Depth is still a concern after Green went down, and Kiffin would clearly prefer to have him back. Green gives LSU more answers in both the passing game and the run game, and that kind of presence is hard to cover up for long.
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LSU Could Catch A Huge Break In Mississippi State's Backfield
Mississippi State arrives on LSUs schedule with a couple of key offensive questions hanging over its backfield, and both of them trace back to the same injury-hit trip through Alabama. Quarterback Kamario Taylor and running back Fluff Bothwell were each listed as questionable for the matchup with LSU after leaving the previous game hurt, leaving Jeff Lebby and his staff to sort through contingency plans as kickoff gets closer.
For LSU, the uncertainty matters because the Bulldogs offense could look very different if either player is limited or unavailable. Lebby has already identified possible replacements, but the Tigers will be watching to see whether Mississippi State can get either Taylor or Bothwell back in time, since their status could shape how much stress LSUs defense has to absorb on Saturday. [Read more 🡒]