LSU Football on X
By Chris Marler and Taylor Sharp
LSU practiced for just over two hours Saturday, starting with drills indoors before moving outside for about 90 minutes of 11-on-11, 7-on-7, and other team periods.
Chris Marler’s Biggest Takeaways
Nussmeier’s Knee
Garrett Nussmeier wore a non-restrictive sleeve, not a brace, on his left knee during practice Saturday. It did not appear serious, and he looked fine throughout the day. In the final team period, however, he rolled left on a third-and-11, ran for four yards and stepped out of bounds before walking gingerly back.
No O-Line Olé
The offensive line looked much better than previous practices. They seemed much more cohesive with each other in both team periods and allowed zero sacks. The offensive line struggled in the final team period, committing five penalties over 15 plays. Four were false starts, including two by freshman Carius Curne, who was immediately pulled after his second pre-snap infraction.
Anderson Absent from Activities
Aaron Anderson was in full pads during Saturday’s practice. However, he did not participate during any of the team activities or 11-on-11.
Taylor Sharp’s Biggest Takeaways
Quarterback Michael Van Buren had his best day of fall camp, making several impressive throws.
Ju’Juan Johnson continues to line up in multiple spots, taking first-team reps at running back, wide receiver and quarterback.
JT Lindsey was not at practice. During the inside portion of the session, Ju’Juan Johnson worked with the running backs during individual drills and has continued to see increased reps in the backfield.
As noted earlier, the Tigers used a wildcat formation with Caden Durham as the lead blocker. Malachi Lane also lined up in the backfield with the first team in that role when Durham was not on the field, leading for Johnson.
Two concerns for me:
- The receivers had several drops during practice. Jelani Watkins dropped multiple passes, Bauer Sharp mishandled the first two throws of camp, Barion Brown dropped a deep ball from Garrett Nussmeier, and TaRon Francis also had a drop.
- The offensive line also struggled with penalties during 11-on-11, committing five infractions, most of them false starts. Notably, four of the five penalties came from the second-team unit.
Red Zone Focus
The only time LSU has gone under center during camp has been inside the 3-yard line. On Saturday, the Tigers unveiled a new wrinkle with the Wildcat formation, with Ju’Juan Johnson taking snaps alongside a mix of running backs, including Caden Durham, Kaleb Jackson and Malachi Lane.
When they threw the ball, regardless of who was at QB, the focus seemed to be on the tight ends. Joe Sloan was very creative in how he lined up the tight ends during red zone playcalls. There were more traditional setups, such as Trey’Dez Green lining up wide and running a post route with high passes to the back of the end zone. The Tigers also used bunch formations, with all three receivers lined up together on the right side of the offensive line running layered routes, notably No. 14 going to the back of the end zone and Bauer Sharp breaking into the flat.
Sharp caught multiple TDs in this period with those routes and Green had another.
Special Teams
During one of the 11-on-11 team periods, the 1s and 2s worked on RedZone offense and play calling. During that time, Aeron Burrell and Damian Ramos worked on long-distance field goals, attempting kicks from 53 and 55 yards.
Ramos was 2-for-3 from 53 yards, with his lone miss hitting the crossbar.
Burrell went 1-for-4, connecting on a 55-yarder while missing twice to the right and once short. One of the right-side misses also fell short. The key takeaway was a mechanical issue, as his 55-yard make had the distance to clear from 65.
7-on-7 Period
Michael Van Buren to Trey’Dez Green on the sideline for 14 yards.
Van Buren Picked off by Mansoor Delane in the flats.
Van Buren No throw. (Great Coverage)
Colin Hurley throw to Phillip Wright (big hit by PJ Woodland knocked the ball loose).
Hurley to Donovan Green for 5 yards.
Hurley across the middle to Jelani Watkins drop.
Michael Van Buren pass incomplete.
Van Buren pass tipped by Whit Weeks.
Garrett Nussmeier to Chris Hilton for 12 yards.
Nussmeier to Barion Brown for 10 yards.
Nussmeier to Nic Anderson for 16 yards.
Nussmeier incomplete to Barion Brown.
Colin Hurley to TaRon Francis dropped.
Hurley pass incomplete (pass interference).
Michael Van Buren to Donovan Green for 6 yards.
Red Zone Period 10-yard-line
First Team
Garrett Nussmeier incomplete to Bauer Sharp in the back of the end zone.
Ju’Juan Johnson in the Wildcat (Nussmeier shifted out wide). Loss of three yards on Johnson run. Mansoor Delane with a great play.
Garrett Nussmeier incomplete to Trey’Dez Green.
Wildcat: Direct snap to Caden Durham for 2 yards.
Second Team
Kaleb Jackson for 5 yards.
Michael Van Buren to Bauer Sharp in the flats for a touch down.
First Team
Caden Durham beat Mansoor Delane to the corner for TD run.
Nussmeier shovel pass to Zavion Thomas TD (holding on Trey’Dez Green).
Garrett Nussmeier throw away.
Nussmeier to Trey’Dez Green in the flats. Javien Toviano knocked the ball away on what should have been another TD.
Second Team
Kaleb Jackson stuffed by Jacobian Guillory.
Michael Van Buren to Trey’Dez Green for a Touchdown.
11-on-11 Notes
We saw two different 11-on-11 periods. During both periods the three starting receivers were Chris Hilton, Zavion Thomas and Kyle Parker.
The RB rotation was as expected: Caden Durham, Kaleb Jackson, Ju’Juan Johnson, and Harlem Berry in that order.
Starting OL from left to right: Tyree Adams, DJ Chester, Braelin Moore, Josh Thompson and Weston Davis.
Second Team OL: Carius Curne, Paul Mubenga, DJ Chester, Coen Echols and Bo Bordelon.
11-on-11 Play by Play
First Team
1st & 10 (25 yd line) – Nussmeier throw away (good coverage)
2nd & 10 (25 yd line) – False Start on RT Weston Davis
2nd & 15 (20 yd line) – Nussmeier complete to Chris Hilton for 4 yards.
3rd & 11 (24 yd line) – Nussmeier scramble for 4 yards (good coverage, not because of the pass rush)
Second Team
1st & 10 – False Start LT Carius Curne
1st & 15 – Van Buren to Nic Anderson for 9 yards
2nd & 6 – Incompletion PBU by DJ Pickett (bad throw to Anderson nearly intercepted)
3rd & 6 – False Start Ory Williams
3rd & 11 – Van Buren to Kyle Parker for for 13 yards (first down)
1st & 10 – Incomplete pass to Nic Anderson (offsides defense)
1st & 5 – Kaleb Jackson run for 3 yards.
2nd & 2 – False Start LT Carius Curne (immediately pulled out; Ory Williams shift from RT to LT)
2nd & 7 – Harlem Berry run for eight yards and 1st Down (holding penalty on OL)
2nd & 17 – Van Buren complete to Barion Brown for 22 yards (first down)
1st & 10 – Incomplete pass intended for Donovan Green
2nd & 10 – Run to Harlem Berry for -6 yards; blown up by Tylen Singleton; fumble recovered by Berry
First Team
1st & 10 – False Start
1st & 15 – Screen to Hilton for 2 yards
2nd & 13 – Nussmeier complete to Hilton for 8 yard gain
3rd & 5 – Pass deflection by Patrick Payton
One-on-One Notes
On the first rep of one-on-ones, Zavion Thomas beat Ashton Stamps on a go route, and Garrett Nussmeier delivered a perfect pass for a touchdown. Trey’Dez Green continued to be a matchup nightmare for any defender, while Harold Perkins showed notable improvement in coverage. Later in the session, Nussmeier connected with Barion Brown on a deep ball, with Brown making an impressive catch for another score.
Additional Notes
A false start on first-and-10 in the final period frustrated Nussmeier. West Weeks signaled for the defensive line to shift before the snap, drawing the offensive line offside. The move is expected to draw more defensive penalties this season, but Nussmeier’s plea to officials went unanswered.
Afterward, Nussmeier and Weeks exchanged words, getting in each other’s faces before the confrontation carried over to the end of practice, when media were asked to leave. Tempers flared in the heat on both sides.
Of the 15 plays in the period, only two were designed runs, excluding a Harlem Berry run negated by a holding penalty.
Player Notes
Mansoor Delaine played well all day. He had two INTs and also had a TFL for -4 yards during one of the red zone periods
Freshman LB Keylan Moses got in late during the final team period alongside West Weeks
Kyle Parker got a lot of run with the ones at WR which was interesting.
The wide receivers appear deep and versatile, with seemingly any combination of three capable of challenging most defenses on the schedule. The group’s talent allows for flexibility, but the two consistent fixtures with the first team have been Chris Hilton and Zavion Thomas.
Tylen Singleton continues to make plays all over the defense.
Trey’Dez Green continues to be a matchup nightmare: get used to the sideline catches and jump balls.
Jack Pyburn and Patrick Payton did a good job as edge rushers today.
The speed of Barion Brown is on display every practice, he’s hard to cover.
More SEC News
