LSU continues to ride Garrett Nussmeier and the SEC's best receiving room to wins
Sitting at 3-1 and on the cusp of breaking back into the top 15 of polls, LSU can't complain too much about how the results throughout 2024 have gone. Despite some bumpy and worrisome moments through the first month of action, Brian Kelly has his team in the College Football Playoff hunt still. Getting there might […]
Sitting at 3-1 and on the cusp of breaking back into the top 15 of polls, LSU can't complain too much about how the results throughout 2024 have gone. Despite some bumpy and worrisome moments through the first month of action, Brian Kelly has his team in the College Football Playoff hunt still.
Getting there might look different than how anyone expected. LSU has the deepest receiving room in the SEC, and quarterback Garrett Nussmeier has taken full advantage. We're taking a look at how LSU is winning and whether it's sustainable.
Garrett Nussmeier and Receivers Carry the Load
Gone are the uber-physical Tigers who consistently dominate the trenches on both sides of the ball. It's not that LSU is soft, but even with two highly regarded tackles in Emery Jones Jr. and Will Campbell, the passing game has been essential to survive.
Put it this way: Caden Durham is the team's leading rusher at 102 yards, and the team is averaging just four yards a carry. This has put immense pressure on Nussmeier, who is a first-year starter, and his receivers.
Thankfully for Kelly, Nussmeier has answered the bell.
His pocket poise, accuracy, strong arm, and guts have overcome the hiccups of inexperience. While he's had some ugly turnovers, he's vastly overcoming them with positive plays. That's all that LSU can ask for.
"He's not just arm talent, he's QB talent," Kelly said after their 34-17 win against UCLA.
Kelly is spot on. And he has a great array of playmakers to maximize. Mason Taylor was Week 4's leading receiver, but Aaron Anderson, CJ Daniels, Kyle Parker, Durham, and Kyren Lacy weren't too far behind. In total, Nussmeier connected with nine different receivers.
Asking Nussmeier to throw at least 37 times in each game this season likely wasn't on Kelly's season script, but that's what the situation calls for. Kelly has traditionally run his teams like a Big Ten school, mitigating the QB position. But he has a special passer who could be a first-round pick next April.
He's taking full advantage, and the Tigers will soon be tested as they face Ole Miss, Texas A&M, and Alabama over a one-month stretch. We'll see if LSU can continue to defy the odds with a strategy that traditionally leaves a team vulnerable to upsets.
