By Hunt Palmer
Inarguably, Brian Kelly’s teams have improved over the course of his two plus years in Baton Rouge.
The version of the 2022 LSU Tigers that beat Alabama was considerably better than the one that lost on the game’s final snap in New Orleans against Florida State.
Last year, LSU’s offense bogged down against the Seminoles. It never did again.
There is plenty of room for improvement from LSU’s first two efforts of the 2024 season, but maybe we saw a glimpse of that progress Saturday afternoon in Columbia.
No one is going to mistake LSU’s 132 yards on the ground for SMU’s Pony Express, but it was a step in the right direction.
The Tiger offensive line created some creases in a very active South Carolina front, and LSU’s backs found them. Six times Tiger backs gained 10 yards or more. Last week, against an FCS defense, that number was one. In Las Vegas, it was two.
The Tigers doubled their season total in one game.
Caden Durham’s emergence was surprising on multiple levels. In the season’s first true road environment, Josh Williams seemed like the likely choice at tailback. Instead of the sixth-year senior, the true freshman carried the mail for the Tigers early and often.
Durham, known for his track speed, showed toughness, balance and shiftiness, knifing through the South Carolina defense for 8.9 yards per carry.
He got LSU on the scoreboard with an excellent 26-yard jaunt that included a broken tackle and some exceptional body control.
26-yard TD for the freshman @CadenDurham29
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— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) September 14, 2024
His second score of the day showed off a burst of speed and a relentless drive of three Gamecock defenders into the endzone.
THE FRESHMAN
Have a day @CadenDurham29📺 ABC pic.twitter.com/3VXZrh4g5Y
— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) September 14, 2024
Durham was thrust into duty because of the unfortunate season-ending injury to John Emery Jr. But perhaps the freshman’s discovery will become a real positive for the Tiger offense.
LSU has carved teams up through the air for two years now. Even though Jayden Daniels and his dynamic duo on the outside are gone, Garrett Nussmeier, Kyren Lacy and Co. have admirably filled those shoes. Through two weeks, they’ve done it without much of a ground game.
That changed Saturday.
Brian Kelly, Joe Sloan and Brad Davis badly want to run the football. Kelly said at last week’s press conference that crowded boxes haven’t allowed for that. The Tigers found a way at South Carolina.
That ground attack allowed for LSU to use 11:10 of possession time in the third quarter. That type of ball control helps a defense still struggling mightily with big plays.
If LSU can limit that unit’s time on the field, the Tigers can be more dangerous. The offense already features a seasoned quarterback as well as NFL talent at offensive tackle, tight end and receiver. If you compliment that with a competent ground attack, the Tigers become dangerous against anyone.
The defensive breakdowns make any sort of championship aspirations a bit delusional. LSU’s roster isn’t at the level it needs to be on defense. The offense is another story.
When you can score, you’re never out of the game, and that was on display Saturday when the Tigers fell behind 17-0 in front of a stadium threatening to burst at the seams.
LSU chipped away, made some big plays and got it to a one score game late.
Facing first and goal from the four and a four-point deficit, LSU elected to throw the ball two of the first three snaps. It appeared goalline stands against Southern Cal and South Carolina sapped all the confidence out of LSU’s ability to win at the goalline.
Sloan called another run. Campbell sealed the edge. Garrett Dellinger and DJ Chester won a double team. Josh Williams found paydirt.
And maybe LSU found a running game.
