Ed Orgeron Previews Mississippi State, Talks Terrace Marshall Injury and being No. 2 in the Country

Orgeron said Marshall will go through individual drills this week, not ready to play

LSU coach Ed Orgeron said Monday that it's time for the Tigers to put the 42-28 win over No. 9 Florida behind them, saying the team exhausted the 24-hour rule to its fullest and now it's time to prepare for Saturday's matchup with Mississippi State. 

With so many expectations now surrounding the team, Orgeron spoke with the media to explain how the team deals with acclaim while also previewing Saturday's matchup and providing an injury update on injured receiver Terrace Marshall.

Orgeron previews Mississippi State, loud environment

Two years ago, when the Tigers last traveled to Starkville, Orgeron felt he didn't have the team prepared enough for the environment they were walking into. 

It showed in the results as the Tigers lost in brutal fashion, 37-7 to a Bulldog team that would go on to finish 9-4 and .500 in the SEC.

"We walked into a hornet's nest two years ago," Orgeron said. "That was one of the loudest stadiums we had played in all year and not only the cowbells but the music, the fans were into it. What happens with Mississippi State is they're going to pick one game a year there's a target on and it always seems to be LSU."

Orgeron said the team will prepare a lot better this go around for the expected crowd noise and atmosphere they anticipate to hear on Saturday. 

"We're going to expect their best football game," Orgeron said. "We're going to play crowd noise [in practice] but I'm going to have them better prepared this year because it's very loud in that stadium."

On the field, the Buldogs have gone back and forth at quarterback between senior Tommy Stevens and dual-threat freshman Garrett Shrader. Mississippi State head coach Joe Moorhead said Monday that Shrader would draw the start against the Tigers on Saturday.

In five games this season, the freshman has thrown for 515 yards and five touchdowns while rushing for an additional 439 yards and two scores.

Orgeron said Shrader will look to run the ball a ton and that the LSU defense will need to be prepared for the RPO with running back Kylin Hill, who has accumulated 609 yards on the ground for the Bulldogs in six games.

Mississippi State enters Saturday night averaging 192 rushing yards per game, good for seventh in the SEC. The Bulldogs return seven starters on offense but only three on defense, one that allows nearly 400 yards and 27 points per game to opposing offenses.

"This is going to be about us this week, about us taking that next step," Orgeron said. "Remaining hungry on our destination for where we want to go."

Terrace Marshall Jr. still not ready to return

One of the pregame storylines that had Tiger fans buzzing before the Tigers kicked off against Florida was the notable appearance of receiver Terrace Marshall Jr., who came out fully dressed for the game.

While Marshall wouldn't see a snap in the game, it did leave many wondering if a return to the field could be on the horizon. During Monday's press conference, Orgeron revealed that the sophomore would go through individual drills this week in practice but is still not ready to play.

Marshall was having a breakout season for the Tigers, alongside fellow sophomore Ja'Marr Chase, before injuring his foot in a 66-38 win over Vanderbilt. The injury required surgery that has since left him out of the lineup. 

Orgeron said recently that he expects Marshall to return "sooner rather than later" and with Marshall now doing light individual work, a return could fall into that initial timeline of 2-4 weeks.

In four appearances, Marshall caught 20 passes for 304 yards and six touchdowns. If the Tigers could get him back for Auburn or the Alabama game Nov. 9, it would be a big boost for the passing attack.

Orgeron talks being ranked No. 2 and how the team approaches acclaim 

With LSU's big win over Florida came with it, a jump in the national standings. The Tigers, who entered Saturday's game as the No. 5 team in the country, saw their ranking jump three spots to No. 2. 

Orgeron was asked Monday how the team handles the recognition of being a top-2 team in the country, saying it's "where we want to be" but also recognizing it doesn't mean much in mid-October.

"We want to be mentioned as one of the top team's in the country," Orgeron said. "I want our guys to get hype, but inside our room, it's about fundamentals, it's about the task at hand. It does do something for your program, that's why you come to LSU. You want the expectations to be high but you also want to beat those expectations."

Orgeron added that it doesn't mean a "hill of beans" if the Tigers go to Starkville and lose to Mississippi State, so that's where the main focus of the team lies this week.