Brian Kelly didn’t get to take pleasure in No. 3 LSU’s 20-10 win over Florida so long as he may need hoped Saturday night time.
The primary query of his postgame press convention dragged him again all the way down to Earth. As a result of it wasn’t about his protection’s stellar five-interception efficiency. As an alternative, the primary query was about LSU’s (3-0) ongoing offensive struggles early this season.
Kelly didn’t recognize the angle, inflicting a scene. He referred to as LSU’s media pool spoiled and identified the reason why the offense hasn’t been some big downside.
To be honest, perhaps that shouldn’t have been the primary query.
That’s one you sneak in close to the top otherwise you save for the following availability early the next week.
And to be honest, Kelly started his Monday press convention with an apology to Michael Cauble, the TV reporter who requested the query.
However neither of these issues make it an incorrect query.
LSU could be garnering buzz as an actual contender within the Southeastern Convention early this season, however there’s an simple problem that have to be addressed.
The revamped protection beneath second-year coordinator Blake Baker appears to be like unbelievable. The offense, anticipated to be an asset this season, appears to be like decidedly pedestrian.
Though LSU is one in every of simply 9 top-25 groups that has performed a number of Energy 4 opponents via Week 3, the protection’s six interceptions are tied for second-most nationally whereas the Tigers rank tenth in yards per rush allowed (2.27) and eleventh in scoring protection (9.0 factors per recreation).
Groups have reached the top zone simply thrice and scored three touchdowns in as many video games in opposition to LSU’s protection. Clemson and Florida have been each anticipated to have high-powered offenses coming into the season, however each have been held to 10 factors by the Tigers.
It’s nonetheless early however LSU’s protection appears to be like national-title good. The offense, however, nonetheless hasn’t kicked into gear.
Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier entered his second season with Heisman buzz and a boosted receiver room with three switch additions. He’s averaging 229.7 yards per recreation, almost 100 yards down from final yr’s 311.7 ypg, early this season with three touchdowns to 2 interceptions.
Kelly mentioned Monday Nussmeier is taking part in via a torso harm, which may clarify a few of these struggles. Nevertheless it doesn’t clarify the true downside: LSU’s lack of a run recreation.
The Tigers enter this week’s recreation vs. Southeastern Louisiana a hundred and fifteenth out of 136 FBS groups with 332 dashing yards. Solely 9 groups have much less dashing TDs than their two.
It’s not an enormous crimson flag that LSU struggled to run the ball successfully in opposition to Clemson and Florida, two stout and gifted defensive fronts. Nevertheless it certain appears to be like like a significant downside that the group managed simply 128 yards on 34 carries (3.76 per rush) in opposition to Louisiana Tech.
If you happen to can’t run the ball in opposition to Louisiana Tech, it’s arduous for me to think about you’ll be capable to run the ball in opposition to SEC defenses.
We’ll discover out quickly sufficient if the Tigers can. Seven of their last eight video games are in opposition to SEC competitors, together with 5 video games in opposition to groups at present ranked within the high 20.
It’s arduous to think about the Tigers surviving that and making their first School Soccer Playoff look since 2019 if they will’t get the run recreation, and the offense as a complete, going.
