Jayden Daniels: 'We're not the team that we thought we were'
LSU left its opening game in Orlando with a 45-24 loss against a talented Florida State team. For the Tigers, it was a disappointing start to the season. In particular, quarterback Jayden Daniels left the game with a new perspective on the team.
After the game Daniels admitted that LSU isn’t the team that the Tigers thought they were going into the game. However, he also added that it’s a long season.
“It’s just something we have to prove to him [Brian Kelly],” Jayden Daniels said. “We have a long season ahead. I agree with him. We’re not the team we thought we were. We thought we were somebody else that we weren’t.”
LSU led at halftime against Florida State but couldn’t withstand the Seminoles’ second half push. In the game, Daniels threw for 347 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. He also led LSU in rushing with 64 yards.
“And, you know, I feel like just as a whole team, we got ahead of ourselves. We thought we were going to come out and it was going to be easy. We have to step back and look back at ourselves in the mirror and how we are going to respond to this at the end of the day. We have a short week coming up, and we don’t really have time to sit back and think about the loss. We have to get ready for Grambling. It’s how do we respond to that,” Daniels said.
“If I know how the team is every day when I’m in the locker room with them, and I know that they’re going to find the right way, but it’s on myself as a leader and a captain of the team to be able to go out there and prepare my guys mentally and physically on the practice field to be ready on Saturdays.”
LSU will return to Death Valley next week to take on Grambling.
Jayden Daniels on what Florida State did to LSU’s offensive line
One of LSU’s biggest issues in the loss was the pressure being put on Jayden Daniels by Florida State’s pass rush. After the game, Daniels explained what led to that pressure.
“We got ourselves in critical second-and-long, third-and-long situations where they know that they are able to pin their ears back and just rush the passer. So you know, staying out of those situations, helping the offensive line out; me getting the ball or me making the right protection call. You know, stepping up, taking a hit, but also delivering a ball. That’s things that could change the defense,” Daniels said.
“And also, pushing the urgency and the tempo, like Coach said. Second half, if we keep pushing that, maybe we tire out their D-Line and we don’t give them a chance to sub in, and just go out there and pin their ears back.”