Evaluating the importance of LSU getting pressure on Jordan Travis in Week 1

For On3’s JD PicKell, the key to an LSU victory in Orlando this week comes down to one specific area of the defense: the pass rush.

Over on the On3 YouTube channel, PicKell looked at last season’s poor performance by the Tigers in the pass rush department, explaining that LSU simply has to find a way to get to FSU. QB Jordan Travis. Now, PicKell thinks Harold Perkins could provide that spark, but knows that FSU is a good and veteran team up front, so penetration will be tough for the DL.

You can watch his full breakdown of LSU needing to pressure FSU right here, or you can read his comments below. Take a look:

PicKell says QB pressure is key for LSU vs. FSU

“A lot of it’s going to be about applying pressure. Some numbers here, LSU against Florida State in 2022. LSU had zero sacks in this game a season ago. Zero sacks.”

“Now keep in mind Harold Perkins had not yet stepped into a role for this LSU defense and we all know what he did last year, especially in the back half. If you are unaware, I would encourage you to go watch some highlights from that Arkansas Game and just enjoy the clinic that Harold Perkins puts forth in that game.

“So if LSU is able to apply pressure, they’re able to get to Jordan Travis and make him uncomfortable, that would be huge. Because it would help the secondary out. That’ll be a key matchup.

“But even more so, I’m curious if they can make Florida State unbalanced, because Florida State, that’s been kind of their bread and butter. They want to run the football first, based on the percentage of how often they ran a season ago.

“Make no mistake, they want to be multiple, they want to keep you guessing, they want to stay ahead of the sticks — which is a cliche, everyone wants to stay ahead of the sticks.

“That was one of the reasons why I think Florida State was so good last year, because Jordan Travis is setting up shop in second-and-six and is able to distribute the football and the defense was not able to really key on some tendencies, if you will. There was very little tendency last year for Florida State.

“Now, you add the personnel. If you can’t apply pressure to Jordan Travis, he will be able to pick you apart and I think we’ve seen that from him to this point.”