LSU Tigers

Several of RecruitingNation's SEC sites took a look this week at the players headed to the NFL combine, which begins today in Indianapolis, and other predraft camps. Click here to read the entire predraft series. Today: Defensive backs and special teams.

LSU Tigers

The obvious acronym for Louisiana State University is "LSU." But to many, the Baton Rouge school gets the title "DBU" for its mass production of NFL defensive backs, from cornerbacks like Patrick Peterson and Morris Claiborne to safeties like LaRon Landry. This draft will do nothing to harm that reputation. Three LSU defensive backs -- including the booted-from-the-team Tyrann Mathieu -- were invited to the NFL combine this week, a year after three (Claiborne, Ron Brooks and Brandon Taylor) were taken in the draft.

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It had to be surreal for LSU coach Les Miles to see the events that unfolded Saturday in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. That No. 10 Florida upset Miles' No. 4 Tigers, 14-6, wasn't a huge surprise. What was shocking was the way the Gators did it: They beat the Tigers at their own game.

Florida attempted a measly 12 passes for 61 yards and scored only 14 points, forgoing the high-flying offense that has long defined Gators football for a smashmouth, powerful running game and a hard-hitting, opportunistic defense. The Gators looked overwhelmed by LSU for much of the early going but overcame a 6-0 first-half deficit to roar back and make a statement in the SEC pecking order.

Here's how it played out in front of a sold-out Swamp:

It was over when: Just like in the Sept. 8 win against Texas A&M, Florida quarterback Jeff Driskel rolled out on third-and-3 and picked up a crucial first down with his feet in the game's dying minutes. Driskel managed just six yards as opposed to his 21-yard run against the Aggies, but it was enough to kill three minutes off the clock and end LSU's chances of a game-winning drive.

Game ball: Florida running back Mike Gillislee. Stop if this sounds familiar: The senior got stronger as the game went on, tallying an absurd 34 carries for 146 yards and both Gators touchdowns. Gillislee had a hard time running against a stout LSU defensive front in the first half, but he kept pounding and wore the Tigers down. He averaged 4.3 yards per carry.

Game ball, part II: LSU linebacker Kevin Minter. The junior was a one-man wrecking crew on the Tigers' defense, smashing his way to 20 total tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble. It's not a coincidence that Florida pounded its way to its first touchdown of the game while Minter was briefly out injured.

Key stat: Take your pick from several telling ones. LSU notched just eight first downs -- three of which were earned via a Florida penalty. A big reason for that was the Tigers' atrocious performance on third down, a horrendous 1-for-13. Meanwhile, the Gators' halftime adjustments were almost breathtaking in comparison. Florida went into the break with 49 yards of total offense and finished the game with 237 yards -- 176 of those coming on the ground. Florida won the possession battle 37:17 to 22:43.

Perhaps the craziest stat of all: After shutting out the Tigers after halftime, Florida has outscored its six opponents 78-13 in the second half this season.

Key play: It looked as if the Tigers had grabbed hold of the momentum when, trailing 7-6 in the third quarter, LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger found wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. open for a 56-yard gain to the Florida 23-yard line. What looked like a huge gain for LSU quickly turned into a momentum swing for Florida, though, as safety Matt Elam stripped the ball and recovered it at the Florida 21. What followed was an 11-play, 77-yard Gators touchdown drive to grab the game-winning 14-6 margin.

What it means: With either Georgia or South Carolina guaranteed to lose tonight, Florida controls its destiny in the SEC East. The Gators leave Florida only one more time this season, which has to make them a contender for the division championship. The Tigers' offensive struggles were concerning while they were still winning games, but the ineptitude on display in Gainesville has to be sounding some panic alarms. LSU still has games against South Carolina, Alabama and Mississippi State -- all of which boast equally stout defenses. That said, one loss won't sink the Tigers if they can handle their business the rest of the way.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- If you want pretty, maybe you should stop watching LSU.

In a defensive slugfest at the Swamp, LSU took a 6-0 lead over Florida to halftime, thanks to a Drew Alleman's field goals of 31 and 22 yards.

It's a game with more combined quarterback sacks (7) than points. It's college football's counterbalance to last week's West Virginia-Baylor game.

Stat of the half: 0, the number of first downs by LSU after its first possession.

Crippled by offensive line injuries and smothered by a much-improved Florida defense, LSU could nothing going on offense, with 17 yards after its first possession and 81 in the half. The Tigers' first possession was a nice, 10-play, 64-yard drive for the 31-yard field goal. After that, LSU was stuck in neutral.

Player of the half: LSU LB Kevin Minter had back-to-back sacks, then stripped Frankie Hammond, a fumble recovered by Kwon Alexander, killing UF's best first-half drive.

Minter had his back-to-back sacks of Jeff Driskel unblocked early in the second quarter.

What's working for LSU: The defensive line for LSU continued to apply pressure to Driskel with five first-half sacks, one forcing a field goal, the other setting up a field goal

The line had three of the five sacks. The other two were aided by UF's preoccupation with blocking the front four.

UF had 47 first-half yards, including a 50-yard drive. Aside from that, the Gators were going backwards. Driskel was sacked just before halftime by Bennie Logan. It was recovered by Barkevious Mingo to set up Alleman's second field goal.

What's not working for LSU: Not much on offense. Quarterback Zach Mettenberger has been sacked three times and the Tigers have struggled to get much going on the running game. After an initial 10-play, 64-yard drive for a field goal, LSU went six straight possessions without a first down.

The offense finished the half with two freshmen, Vadal Alexander and Trai Turner, playing on the right side of the offensive line after an injury knocked starting right guard Josh Williford out for the game.

BATON ROUGE, La. -- Les Miles has not been afraid to play true freshmen in his LSU tenure. Generally speaking, his LSU teams have not been in the business of redshirting incoming freshmen.

Even by his standards, however, starting three true freshmen in last week's 38-22 win over Towson was a lot.

Of the 59 players who played against Towson, 13 were true freshmen, including starters Jalen Mills (cornerback), Vadal Alexander (right tackle) and Kwon Alexander (strongside linebacker). Also playing a key role was true freshman long snapper Reid Ferguson.

While Mills and Ferguson have played their roles all season, the two Alexanders made their starting debuts and impressed Miles.

Kwon Alexander replaced usual starter Luke Muncie, who was limited to special teams duties because of illness, and finished with four tackles, a forced fumble and a pass broken up.

"I think Kwon Alexander played extremely well for a young guy," Miles said. "I think he plays fast. He certainly wasn't perfect by any stretch. I think he's a guy that will come quickly."

Vadal Alexander started instead of left tackle Josh Dworaczyk as the usual right tackle, Alex Hurst, moved over to left tackle.

"I also agree that [Vadal] Alexander is a guy that has ability that will come. I don't know that his immediate play will be in the same position that Kwon's was."

Dworaczyk said he was working at both tackles spot this week and could play more. Muncie's back from his illness and could return to his linebacker spot.

Even if Dworaczyk, a sixth-year senior, and Muncie, a junior, return to their starting positions, Miles said it's important for the two true freshmen who started last week, and others, to be ready to contribute.

LSU has lost four starters, likely for the season, since August camp for various reasons. In three of the five four, a true freshman has started at least one game since the injury: Vadal Alexander at tackle because the loss of Chris Faulk (knee), Kwon Alexander at linebacker because of the loss of Tahj Jones (academically ineligible), Mills at cornerback because of the loss of Tyrann Mathieu (kicked off team).

"It's imperative that the freshman class contribute," Miles said. "It's a numbers thing for us."

Plenty of playbook left: Miles admitted Monday that there is still a lot of LSU's playbook that fans haven't seen yet. He said if the offense moves the ball consistently, you'll see more wrinkles.

"When you move the ball regularly, you can call a lot of things," he said. "When you aren't hitting on all cylinders, there's an opportunity for you to rein it in because you want to make sure the things that you do are successful."

Miles said that the areas where LSU has struggled to execute -- the passing game, for one, which has had multiple issues -- have had a more limited array of play calls. Another factor, he said, has been a schedule where LSU has had most games in hand early.

"That (additional play calls) is for the future anyway," Miles said. "It was never going to be for those games that you have in hand."

Top 10 tussle: When No. 4 LSU and No. 10 Florida meet Saturday, it'll mark the fourth time in the last seven years when the two teams meet with both ranked in the Top 10.

It happened in 2009 (Florida No. 1, LSU No. 4), 2007 (LSU No. 1, Florida No. 9) and 2006 (Florida No. 5, LSU at No. 9). It never happened in the first 52 games of the series.