Alabama's defensive performance Saturday against Florida displayed that the Gators' two most dangerous playmakers are, at the least, containable.
Florida senior running backs Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps enter Tiger Stadium on Saturday after rushing for a total of eight yards on 14 carries between them against Alabama.
LSU coach Les Miles said he doesn't "put too much stock in their game against a strong and talented Alabama team."
This season, Demps has an 84-yard touchdown run against Kentucky and Rainey has an 83-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown against Tennessee.
Sophomore defensive back Tyrann Mathieu said the Florida duo will be the focus of the Tigers' game plan for Saturday's matchup.
"They've got two of the most explosive guys back in Demps and Rainey," Mathieu said. "I think the game is going to pretty much revolve around those guys."
Mathieu said it's important that LSU stays focused against a reeling Florida team because the Gators will certainly not want to drop two games in a row after falling to the Crimson Tide 38-10.
"Those guys had a tough one this past week, to get a victory against us would definitely get those guys back rolling," Mathieu said. "It's about us making sure tackles and playing assignment football."
Sophomore defensive back Tharold Simon said that he's confident the Tigers can limit Demps' and Rainey's impact on the game.
"We're just as fast [as them]," Simon said. "As a team, we'll get to them."
Simon said he thinks the Tigers' strength and power will be too much for Florida to match up against.
"I saw against Alabama, they had all that speed. But Alabama really destroyed them," Simon said. "I think the whole team is responsible for containing those guys."
The Tigers will be lining up against Demps and Rainey for the first time since 2009, after both speedsters missed last season's game, a 33-29 Tiger victory in Gainesville, Fla.
Demps missed the game with a sprained foot and Rainey was suspended for an off-field incident.
Demps had success against LSU in 2008 and 2009. He ran for 86 yards in 2009 and 129 yards, including a touchdown, in 2008. Florida won both contests.
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Contact Scott Branson at sbranson@lsureveille.com
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