That’s more like it
Sometimes you just have to go out and dominate a vastly inferior opponent. Ohio State did that to Grambling last week; Florida State’s won its last two games by a combined score of 143-13; it was high time that LSU do that to somebody, and unfortunately Southeastern drew the short stick. Let’s get into this long overdue dismantling.
530: LSU’s total yards of offense
It’s just Southeastern, but LSU either didn’t (or couldn’t) put up numbers like that two weeks ago against Louisiana Tech, so it’s noteworthy that the offense was finally able to have a night like they did.. The Tigers aren’t going to average 500 yards of offense moving forward, but progress was made
9.2: LSU’s yards per passing attempt
If it felt like LSU took more shots down the field last night, it’s because they did. That 9.2 number includes Garrett Nussmeier and Michael Van Buren, so if you just want Nussmeier’s average it was 8.8 yards per attempt. For context, this was Nussmeier in the previous three games:
- 6.4 against Clemson
- 5.8 against Tech
- 8.1 against Florida
I don’t know how severe Nuss’s torso injury really was. Jordan Rodgers said on the broadcast that it was an aggravated ab muscle that “flared up” against Clemson. Whatever the case, the injury obviously wasn’t bad enough to make him miss any time, but last week Brian Kelly insisted that Nuss was “on the other side of it,” and after the win over the Lions he said of Nussmeier “I would say that’s the version you’ll get the rest of the year.” I’m inclined to believe him.
30: Yards of offense for Southeastern in the first half
I don’t care if LSU was playing an FCS opponent or not, 30 yards allowed in a half, including three (3) in the second quarter, is damn near impossible. This LSU defense is legit and it will give them a chance to win each and every week.
8: Consecutive LSU touchdown drives
LSU punted on its first drive of the game. LSU punted on its last drive of the game. Sandwiched in between those two possessions were eight consecutive touchdown drives. “It’s just Southeastern” is the gigantic qualifier, and this is what a top-3 team should do to an FCS school, but firing off eight straight touchdown drives is impressive.
26: Garrett Nussmeier’s longest run
If you need more proof that Nussmeier’s over whatever torso problem that was bother him, here’s Brian Kelly again talking about Nuss and the week of practice he had last week.
“He felt good running the football, and we knew during the week that he was healthy just by the way he was throwing the football.”
We’ve been begging Nuss to take off if the opportunity presents itself, and last night he had the longest rush of his career. Great. More of that, please. He’ll never be Jayden Daniels, but if Nussmeier can just tuck it and run once or twice a game, then this offense will start looking more like what we thought we’d see coming into the season.
Category: General Sports
