How LSU Tigers can overcome their flaws to dominate Florida in SEC rivalry game according to the enemy

The LSU Tigers' 2024 college football season has not exactly worked out like many hoped, but they can still embarrass one of their biggest rivals. Brian Kelly continues to harp on the same three issues for LSU every single week: defending mobile quarterbacks, improving in the run game, and more recently Garrett Nussmeier's turnovers.

Can LSU actually solve any of those problems, improving down the stretch like Brian Kelly believes they can?

To help answer that question (among others), we turn to A to Z Sports' Florida Gators expert, Tyler Forness. He answers three key burning questions that will define LSU's chances against Billy Napier and the Florida Gators this week in what should be another exciting SEC rivalry matchup despite the letdown seasons for both programs.

Three burning questions to ask for LSU Tigers vs. Florida Gators

Garrett Nussmeier has struggled with turnovers against tough defenses lately. How can he take advantage of Florida’s defense to avoid throwing picks?

Things are not going well for the Gators defense, but they have had some recent success. Against Georgia, they gave Carson Beck a ton of issues and intercepted him three times. The players asked Billy Napier for a more simplified approach on defense and it’s worked over the last five games. Texas gave them fits with the creativity and misdirection of Steve Sarkisian’s offense but that’s not LSU’s game. If Nussmeier can focus on taking what is there instead of worrying about trying to do too much he should be just fine against Florida.

LSU has struggled in stopping the run and generating rushing yards of their own. How can the Tigers stop Florida’s RBs and where are the weak spots in their run defense?

The Gators running back stable has been dealing with a ton of injuries and they're still not 100%. This might be a surprisingly strong matchup for LSU's run defense in that regard. As for the other side of the ball, the strength of the Gators’ run defense is up the middle. Cam Jackson is an impressive player who could be a day three draft pick this April. Desmond Watson is the biggest player in college football at nearly 450 lbs, and he moves well for his size. The best way to attack the Gators is by hammering the edges. That's also the strength of the Tigers’ offensive line with Will Campbell and Emery Jones Jr. at both offensive tackle positions. Force the Gators to tackle in space and you can create advantages.

Is D.J. Lagway going to give LSU the same kind of “mobile QB” issues that the Tigers have had trouble stopping?

He absolutely will. The Tigers cannot stop running quarterbacks. While Lagway doesn’t have the same explosiveness of Jalen Milroe and Marcel Reed, he’s plenty fast once he gets moving and has the size and strength to bowl you over. My personal comparison for Lagway is Daunte Culpepper and I think it fits him well. Who is going to be able to tackle Lagway in space? Who is going to prevent him from getting his momentum going? His play style is similar to Sellers of South Carolina, who torched the Tigers throughout the game. LSU absolutely must find a way to slow him down or they could blow yet another SEC conference game.

We'll be back with more LSU Tigers coverage here at A to Z Sports all year long! Follow me (@FF_TravisM) and A to Z Sports (@AtoZSportsNFL) on X for all the latest football news!