One other week, one other flop from the LSU Tigers offense. Solely this time, it price them.
On Saturday, No. 4 LSU (4-1, 1-1 in SEC) fell in its first highway SEC recreation of the season at No. 13 Ole Miss Rebels (5-0, 3-0 in SEC), 24-19. For the fourth time in as many video games in opposition to FBS competitors this season, the offense did not do a lot, ending with 254 whole yards of offense, in comparison with 480 from Ole Miss.
Offensive ineptitude has been a season-long drawback
Everybody has had a hand within the dismal begin to the season, which has seen LSU common 19.8 factors per recreation in opposition to FBS opponents. Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, a preseason Heisman contender, has regressed after throwing for 4,052 yards in 2024. His accuracy continues to be a problem, and it price LSU a possible landing when he underthrew a move to wideout Chris Hilton Jr. on a deep goal within the third quarter. LSU picked up a move interference penalty on the play, however ended the drive settling for a discipline aim.
The offensive line was an enormous drawback in opposition to the Rebels, persistently conceding strain with three-man fronts, permitting Ole Miss defensive coordinator Pete Golding to drop eight in protection to remove passing lanes. The unit additionally did not open up operating avenues for the dashing assault, with LSU averaging 2.6 yards per carry, gaining 57 yards on 22 makes an attempt.
The dearth of offensive manufacturing has adopted LSU all season and will derail what till Saturday had been a wonderful season from the protection. Ole Miss’s 480 yards had been probably the most allowed by the Tigers this yr. The protection struggled in opposition to the Rebels’ tempo, and the offense did not assist by failing to increase drives. Ole Miss ran 28 extra performs than LSU, which completed 2-of-11 on third downs. Per Stat Broadcast, LSU averaged 8.1 yards to go on third down and was 0-of-4 on third downs of not less than 9 yards.
If the Tigers had been in a position to play complementary soccer, they’d be capable to salvage the season. In any case, one loss is under no circumstances a demise sentence in at present’s faculty soccer. However nothing about LSU’s offense suggests it is able to withstanding the trials of the upcoming SEC schedule, which incorporates video games in opposition to No. 9 Texas A&M (4-0, 1-0 in SEC), No. 17 Alabama (2-1) and No. 7 Oklahoma (4-0, 1-0 in SEC). Even a Week 8 journey to No. 18 Vanderbilt (5-0, 1-0 in SEC) may very well be daunting contemplating how nicely it is seemed on offense in latest weeks.
Except LSU figures out a approach to generate offense, it could possibly as soon as once more be anticipated to wilt by November, very similar to final season when it misplaced three consecutive video games throughout the second half of the yr. That might be a brutal final result for a crew able to a lot extra. However after a no-show at Ole Miss, it is truthful to surprise if LSU’s offense will ever arrive.
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