LSU All-America corner Derek Stingley Jr. could return to practice on Tuesday and will most likely play Saturday at Vanderbilt, coach Ed Orgeron said.
Stingley, who also returns the clearings and is considered one of the most productive players in all of school football, missed the opening of the LSU season, losing 44-34 to the state of Mississippi last Saturday after being hospitalized for a sudden and acute illness on Friday night. LSU officials did not provide the main points of Stingley’s diagnosis, but under pressure that his illness was not COVID-19.
LSU had to create a true freshman and a sophomore to open the season in a corner reserve role and allowed Bulldogs quarterback K. J. Costello to pass for a 632-yard SEC record, adding five touchdowns.
“The fact that Derek wasn’t there actually hurt us, obviously, but I’m glad he’s fit,” Orgeron said Monday. “Obviously, it’s making a difference in our team. We love him. It’s a position of desire. ” We’re very short there, but we’re going to prioritize your fitness.
“I’ll pay attention to the doctors. I’m going to get in with his mom and dad,” Orgeron continued. “If doctors say he can play and Derek says he can play and his mother and father say he’s fine, he’s going to play. Otherwise, he won’t. But I hope he plays.
Stingley, who also returns clearings, the 15 games of the 2019 LSU National Championship team as a rookie and led the Southeast Conference with six interceptions, which finished fifth nationally.
Stingley’s 21 defended passes led the SEC and placed moment at the national level.
Orgeron also noted that defensive lineman Glen Logan, who went to the bench on Saturday for undefied reasons, will also miss Vanderbilt’s game, but is expected to have it when LSU receives Missouri on October 10.
LSU rose from 20th place in the AP Top 25 after the Tigers lost in the first game of the season.
After reviewing the game’s video, Orgeron said the Tigers did a lot of things right, forcing four ball losses into two interceptions and two loose balls, scoring a landing in defense and getting five catches.
But the coach said that wasn’t enough to make up for pass policy failures that allowed the Bulldogs 383 yards after receipt.
Defensive functionality was well reflected in new coordinator Bo Pelini.
“He was the first guy that came to see me in my locker room,” Orgeron said of Pelini, who was also the defensive coordinator for the 2007 LSU national championship team before taking over as head coach at Nebraska. Do not wait. He is an extraordinary coach. He’s in pain like everyone else. “
LSU ended up with more than two in ball losses and new quarterback Myles Brennan was able to complete several deep passes while pitching for 345 yards and 3 touchdowns, but fired seven times.
Orgeron said he was satisfied with the facets of Brennan’s game, but added that his new opener needed to feel comfortable avoiding the pass race by getting into his pocket and unloading the ball faster and decisively when the catchers first seem open. LSU’s offensive line, which has 4 new headlines, wants to block more so Brennan can get into rhythm.
“All I need is for him to understand our team, and I said in the locker room, ‘When you win, I give you credit. When we don’t win, I take it (the blame), but it’s my job to solve the problem,” Orgeron said. “And I assure you, we’ll start solving it this week.
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