LSU head coach Brian Kelly watches a special teams session at preseason practice on Monday, August 5, 2024 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In one week, plays . Let that sink in for a moment.
Game week has finally arrived. Kickoff is almost here. Over the past three weeks of practice, our LSU coverage team had time to evaluate the roster, draw conclusions and form a few opinions before the No.
13 Tigers face No. 23 Southern Cal in the season opener Sept. 1 in Las Vegas.
They got together for this roundtable to discuss their impressions of the Tigers, identify strengths and weaknesses, and offer their thoughts on how LSU will play in the . LSU has allowed more than 400 yards per game in a season twice. The first time that happened in 2020, it fielded a top 65 defense the following year.
I expect a similar kind of jump. Not elite, but improved. The , and showed this preseason.
Thanks to the coaching changes, it should be more disruptive, less prone to coverage busts and more fundamentally sound. But does it have enough talent to become one of the top units in the SEC? Not yet. LSU needs one or two more recruiting cycles to solve that problem.
You hate to say this, but how could it be worse? The schematic changes defensive coordinator brought with him after turning around a poor Missouri defense in short order are a good start, and the talent is there. They’re going to be aggressive and attack, but as Kelly has said time and again this past month, it all comes down to execution. It’s hard to imagine LSU’s defense being any worse than it was a year ago when it finished second to last in the SEC in points, yards and first downs surrendered per contest.
A new coaching staff has implemented an that has already started to pay off this preseason. Forcing turnovers and creating more havoc for opposing offenses are the keys to Baker’s new approach. It may not always work, but it’s bound to be better than what they did last year.
It will take an understandable step back after averaging 45.5 points per game. Over the past decade, the only team that led the country in scoring in consecutive seasons was Baylor from 2013-15.
LSU has enough talent to remain productive. It just won’t be as ridiculously explosive. Yes, but only marginally.
The offensive line is too good, the receivers have shown too much promise, and the running game, with a larger role for Kaleb Jackson, has too much potential for the offense to lose its luster. won't win the Heisman, but he will have an impressive season. Having an offense that’s going to be as dynamic and productive as last year’s team is going to be an extra-tall order — which is very similar to what the 2020 team faced after that magical 2019 season.
A lot will depend on how consistent Nussmeier is and if they can get a solid run-pass balance to keep opposing teams guessing. Expecting Nussmeier to play at the level of a Heisman Trophy winner as a first-year starter is a lot to ask. And that’s even before mentioning the two first-round picks the Tigers lost at wide receiver.
However, LSU should still have a strong attack in 2024. Nussmeier’s big arm gives the offense the potential to have an explosive passing attack once again. Four starters also return on the offensive line, and the is as deep as it has ever been under Kelly.
We’ll all probably say the same thing. The . Being able to lean on a unit with 110 combined starts is a luxury, and LSU might have the best tackle combo in the country with Will Campbell and Emery Jones.
The offense, particularly the offensive line. LSU has a new quarterback, a new play caller, a new set of starting receivers and a new run game. The lone constant is the group upfront, a unit malleable enough to help the offense evolve and adapt to its personnel changes.
The four returning offensive linemen were on the field for the first snap in 51 of a possible 52 games last year, which was one of the keys to LSU being the only FBS team to finish in the top 10 in passing yards (third) and rushing yards (10th). Having this group together is like a security blanket. The offensive line.
LSU’s four returning starters are entering their third season together. Campbell and Jones are projected first-round picks. And DJ Chester, LSU’s new center, impressed in relief last season against Missouri.
An unproven group of defensive tackles. Is Jacobian Guillory ready to be a full-time starter? Can Gio Paez produce more than he did at Wisconsin? Neither of them have played 400 snaps in a season. Other players could crack the rotation, but it’s unclear what they’ll be able to provide.
Also, inconsistency at punter could cause problems. The secondary. LSU wants to play more man coverage, but does it have the personnel to do so? and Sage Ryan have helped the corners have a more competitive preseason camp.
They'll need to prove those strides can translate to real action. For me, the running back depth is a concern with only four scholarship players available. I love Josh Williams and Kaleb Jackson, but Williams and John Emery have had injury problems here.
True freshman Caden Durham will have to be ready. Defensive tackle depth. LSU has settled on two starters with Guillory and Paez, but the Tigers don’t have many proven pieces after those two.
Jalen Lee played sparingly last season after transferring in from Florida. Incoming transfers Jay’viar Suggs and Shone Washington are making big leaps in competition to the SEC. LSU may have to rely on Guillory and Paez for a lot of snaps this season.
That could be a problem by the end of the year. The run game has to succeed without Daniels. Even though the defense might improve, the offense still needs to carry this team.
That won’t happen without a productive rushing attack. Run the ball, take well-timed shots and control the clock in close games. That’s the recipe.
A win over USC. Without it, LSU would need to win every game it's expected to be favored in and split with Ole Miss and Alabama to have a shot. Could the Tigers make it without beating USC? Sure, but they'd be wise to save their margin of error.
Nussmieier has to play like the guy who carved up Wisconsin in the ReliaQuest Bowl. He doesn’t have to be Joe Burrow or Daniels, who were extremely careful running the offense and combining for — get this — just 18 interceptions in 1,621 pass attempts in an LSU uniform. There’s no question, not helping the opponent is a must for Nuss.
Generating consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks without blitzing. LSU will blitz more, but that can’t be the only way it creates havoc in the backfield this season, especially considering how much its secondary struggled a year ago. An effective four-man pass rush would go a long way in helping put more bodies in coverage while still forcing opposing quarterbacks into uncomfortable situations.
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