Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers dropped their Week 1 showdown towards No. 23 USC 27-20 in one other Week 1 thriller for this system.
It is the Bayou Bengals’ fifth consecutive season opening loss with Kelly’s group remaining unable to win in Week 1 ever since his arrival to Baton Rouge.
What are the takeaways from Sunday?
No. 1: Garrett Nussmeier Lives Up To Hype, Carves Protection
LSU redshirt-junior signal-caller Garrett Nussmeier was handed the torch this offseason after Heisman winner Jayden Daniels gave him the keys to the offense. On Sunday, he appeared like the subsequent nice out of Baton Rouge.
Nussmeier ended the day going 29-for-38 by the air with 304 yards and two touchdowns in his second profession begin.
It was merely a surgical efficiency from the veteran quarterback. He is patiently waited his flip to showcase his skills with Week 1 towards USC offering him the chance. Nussmeier took Sunday by storm after showcasing his rising choice making.
“He did some actually good issues. He did sufficient for us to win the soccer recreation, however after we wanted a pair performs, I feel he would’ve appreciated a pair again. He’s going to be actually good for us, and he’ll get higher from at the moment,” Kelly mentioned following Sunday’s loss.
He is been labeled a “gunslinger” at occasions, however the narrative rapidly modified towards the Trojans after proving his consistency is rising quickly.
There was rapport between Nussmeier and Kyren Lacy from begin to end.
For Lacy, he broke his career-high of seven receptions in simply the primary half with Nussmeier going to his WR1 from the soar. He ended the day with seven catches for 94 yards and 1 landing.
Taylor proved he’d turn out to be a dependable weapon for Nussmeier throughout Fall Camp. The connection grew final month and it carried into Week 1 towards USC after Taylor ended the day with seven receptions for 62 yards on Sunday.
All in all, it was a large day for Nussmeier after carving the USC protection from begin to end and displaying why many consider he has subsequent for the Bayou Bengals.
No. 2: Offense Disappears, Speeding Assault Nonexistent
There was important hype heading into Week 1 with the Tigers seeking to make the most of its speeding assault early. Quick ahead to Sunday and it was merely nonexistent at occasions.
Sure, the Tigers completed with 117 yards on the bottom, however it got here in spurts with John Emery breaking open a 30+ yard run within the third quarter.
All in all, it was a catastrophe for LSU on the bottom with this system dropping the battle within the trenches on Sunday.
“Look, we might sit right here and we might go have a look at one million various things, however we had over 400 yards in complete offense. We weren’t capable of put the ball ultimately zone after we actually wanted to,” Kelly mentioned. “That is far more about being a a lot better and environment friendly offense within the crimson zone than it’s the failings of the shortcoming to run. We ran the ball nicely sufficient to arrange the issues we needed to do. We ran the ball nicely sufficient to win this recreation, however you possibly can’t win video games once you come away with nothing from the 3-yard line.”
Within the first half, it was the passing assault that led the Bayou Bengals down the sphere on their first few possessions. Within the second half, the play calling was far and wide.
The Tigers deserted the passing recreation, went with the speeding assault, and have been unable to get yards on the bottom regardless of Emery’s 61 yards on 10 carries.
It was Kyren Lacy who hauled in seven receptions for 94 yards and a landing within the first half, however the second half was a distinct story. LSU went to its WR1 simply two occasions with 0 catches.
No. 3: Protection Taking Strides, Reveals Enchancment in Week 1
It was a new-look protection that the Tigers have been hoping to see in 2024. There have been actually hiccups alongside the best way within the secondary, however there was enchancment proven from Blake Baker’s unit.
The blitz packages have been on full show, however finally it was USC signal-caller Miller Moss who made essentially the most of his probabilities and carved the protection. He was surgical with 381 yards by the air on 27-of-36 passing.
“I assumed our defensive deal with play was a lot better. I assumed our edge play was higher. We tackled fairly good. We have been aggressive. Total, it is related higher. It is a cohesive related group that performs onerous. They performed actually, actually onerous. They did not execute on the finish in addition to we might’ve appreciated, however that is in all probability it.”
There have been hiccups from the defensive backs in Jardin Gilbert, PJ Woodland and Sage Ryan with the secondary inconsistent by 4 quarters. The Trojans averaged 7.6 yards per play with the Tigers protection unable to get snug sufficient to decelerate Moss and Co.
No. 13 LSU will host Nicholls State within the dwelling opener subsequent Saturday with this system seeking to bounce again towards an inferior in-state opponent.
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