LSU hopes to get Garrett Dellinger healthy as offense seeks balance
LSU offensive lineman Garrett Dellinger left the game against Texas A&M in the first half two weeks ago with a high ankle sprain and the offense has not been the same since. The senior guard missed Saturday’s game against Alabama as he continues to rehab his ankle, but entering the final three weeks of the season, it became apparent how important he was to this offensive line.
A hardened veteran, Dellinger is making progress, but his status for Saturday’s game against Florida is in the air early this week.
“Garrett is going to run today, so we’ll have a better sense of where he’s at after today’s workout,” Kelly said on Monday afternoon.
In Dellinger’s place, LSU redshirt freshman Paul Mubenga has been forced to step into some high-leverage spots as the offense looks to keep rolling. Alongside fellow second-year player DJ Chester at center, the interior of the Tigers’ defensive line struggled at times against Alabama, but Kelly says he showed some flashes of potential he can build off of in the future.
“Paul did some good things,” Kelly said. ”He moved his feet very well. His insertion into the lineup, for a first time starter, we were pleased with what he did and he’s only going to improve from that experience.”
Mubenga has the athleticism, but is still growing as a player, appearing in five games this year. He’s allowed seven pressures on 107 drop backs. In comparison, Garrett Dellinger allowed three pressures in 267 dropbacks this year.
Pro Football Focus has graded Mubenga at a 36.7 run blocking grade in 49 snaps this year, further raising concerns as the Tigers look to try to establish a more consistent rushing attack.
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The imbalance of the offense has been on full display the past two weeks as the run game continues to severely limit what LSU’s offense can accomplish. Brian Kelly has talked about it week in and week out, but the inability to find balance and win on the offensive line has put this offense behind the eight ball constantly.
Now, we wait to see if Dellinger is healthy for this week’s game against Florida or if Mubenga can take significant steps forward in his second start of the year. Either way, the Tigers have to find a way to play more complementary football, as Kelly has hammered home the past month.
“We know what we need to do. There’s no uncertainty with what happened [on Saturday],” Kelly said on Monday. “As coaches we have to put our players in a better position through scheme or the ability to move guys in other positions, then we have to execute at a higher level. That is an attention to detail we have to have. If we do that, that’s been a ticket to success for us.
“We need more balance within the offense to take pressure off of Nussmeier so we don’t have to throw it 50 times a game.”
