Etling still the starter, Brennan to play more
Published 6:00 pm Tuesday, September 26, 2017
LSU quarterback Danny Etling runs the ball against Syracuse during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, in Baton Rouge, La.
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LSU’s Ed Orgeron reiterated Monday that Danny Etling is the Tigers’ starting quarterback.
But he also said that true freshman Myles Brennan will continue to see action — regardless of the situation — as the season goes on.
Brennan replaced Etling midway through the third quarter against Syracuse, although Etling did return for the final, gameclinching drive in a 36-26 victory.
“Danny is our starting quarterback and that’s why we put him back in,” Orgeron said. “I’m grateful that drive was beneficial to us, and we did the right thing there.
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“Danny has had an excellent year, in our opinion, for us,” Orgeron said. “He’s missed a couple balls, but he’s run the offense exactly like we want him to.”
Still, you can expect to see more of Brennan.
“I told Myles the day we signed him, I said, ‘Be ready. I’m going to put you in,’ ” Orgeron said. “I thought he did fantastic for us first time they were under fire.”
Although both are straight dropback quarterbacks who aren’t much of a threat to run without being provoked, Orgeron insisted there are differences beyond Etling being a fifth-year senior and Brennan being a true freshman.
“Obviously. Danny has a lot of experience. There are some things that Danny does better than Myles right now because of experience. There are some things that Myles does better than Danny because of the quarterback that he is.”
Orgeron hinted that Brennan brings some things over Etling, especially if the Tigers continue to struggle in pass protection.
“Myles has a very quick release,” he said. “That’s what you’re seeing right there. He can see the field very fast and make decisions. He does that very well.
“Obviously, there is a package that we can do with Myles. There is an expanded package that we can do with Danny because he knows all of the offense. I think that’s the difference.”
Brennan had played in two of the three previous games, but only after the BYU and Chattanooga games were well in hand.
Saturday he entered in the third quarter with LSU up 21-10.
“I didn’t think much (about it),” Etling said of being replaced. “We just do whatever the coaches say and go on from that.”
Brennan led the Tigers to a touchdown drive on his first series, highlighted when he beat a blitz with a thirddown swing pass to Darrell Williams that turned into a 43-yard gain.
But LSU suffered a safety on his second drive and the third ended with his interception that set up the Syracuse touchdown that cut the Tigers’ lead to 28-26 with just over five minutes to play.
Etling returned to the game and led the Tigers on the game-clinching drive.
“I just focused on going in and doing my job,” Etling said. “That’s what I’m here to do. I wanted to try and win the game for my team and the coaches put the ball in my hands so I was focused on trying to make the best decisions when I was out there. I was glad I was able to get us out of there with a win.”
Brennan finished 4 for 6 for 75 yards, one interception, and his other incompletion was almost picked off. Etling was 10 of 17 for 188 yards, including touchdown bombs of 43 and 87 yards.
“I didn’t want to put the pressure on (Brennan) to go win the football game,” Orgeron said. “That’s why we put Danny back in.”
But he was encouraged with Brennan.
“The interception that (Brennan) threw was between him and the receiver,” Orgeron said. “The receiver moved out a little bit, and it could have gone either way. No blame on anybody else. It could have been executed better.
“That’s going to be expected. They’re going to make mistakes. I thought he threw the ball very well, great release, made great decisions.”
PUNT CHANGE: Zach Von Rosenberg, a Lake Charles native who spent three years of high school in Zachary, has won the LSU punting job, at least for now. The 27-year-old Von Rosenberg, who originally signed out of high school with LSU as a baseball pitcher but pursued a pro career instead, is back in school after ending that career. He was given a chance Saturday after Josh Growden misfired on his first three efforts. Von Rosenberg responded with punts of 49 and 40 yards. “Zach had shown that he can punt during the week,” head coach Ed Orgeron said. “Wanted to give him a chance. He did a very good job for us. He’s going to be our punter until he gets beat out.”
OUT FOR THE YEAR: LSU starting free safety Ed Paris, who injured a knee in an accident in practice last week, underwent surgery on Monday and will miss the entire season, Orgeron said Monday. Orgeron hopes to get a medical reshirt to give Paris, a senior, another year of eligibility. Redshirt freshman Eric Monroe or junior John Battle could fill Paris’ void. Battle has also been battling injuries.
OUT FOR THIS WEEK: LSU’s best defensive lineman, Rashard Lewis, returned last week after missing the previous two games. But he injured his other ankle and will sit out this week’s game with Troy. “We hope he’ll be back for Florida next week,” Orgeron said. Also, RB Derriuis Guice will not practice early this week and Orgeron is extremely doubtful he’ll play. Guice was originally scratched from last week’s game, but talked coaches into letting him play after an encouraging Thursday practice. He was largely ineffective against Syracuse with 14 yards on eight carries, and backup Darrell Williams carried the bulk of the load. “We’ll see how he goes day to day,” Orgeron said, “but he’s hurt a little bit right now.”
MIS-KICK: Syracuse coach Dino Babers said Monday that the “onsides” kick with just over five minutes to play that set LSU up in good field position for the game-clinching TD drive wasn’t supposed to be a onsides kick. The Syracuse kicker, he said, was instructed to do more of a deep sky kick that LSU would have to return because Babers didn’t think LSU blocked well on returns. The kicker, he said, mis-hit it.
TUBING: Next week’s LSU game at Florida on Oct. 7 will kick off at 2:30 p.m. and be televised by CBS. It will be LSU’s first day game of the season.
