Nate Bell
By Hunt Palmer
Pressure rarely affected Garrett Nussmeier last season.
The Tiger quarterback was able to survey the field from a clean pocket as often as any signal caller in college football in 2024. LSU finished sixth in the country in passing attempts and 14th in terms of fewest sacks.
Nussmeier was upright and effective as LSU passed for north of 4,000 yards and paced the SEC in completions.
When pressure did come, mistakes tended to follow. Ole Miss pressured him into a pair of interceptions, and Texas A&M’s defense induced three. Alabama stripped the ball free on a sack for a costly change of possession, as well.
In a way, a fall camp with limited pressure due to an underwhelming defense may have been a disservice to Nussmeier. All of August he picked apart the Tiger defense behind an offensive line of four future pros.
Not this year.
“It’s definitely been the most competitive fall camp that I’ve been a part of since I’ve been here,” Nussmeier said of this month. “Just going back and forth, the offense wins the day, then the defense wins a day. It’s something that is so healthy and so good for our football team.”
That back and forth hasn’t existed the last three years. LSU’s offense which has thrown for more yardage than any team in the country over the last two years, has generally torched the defense. While winning reps is generally positive, Nussmeier noticed.
“In the past, when you’re winning every practice and every drill, it’s not necessarily a great feeling,” Nussmeier said. “You feel good about it as an offense, but then you’re a little bit concerned. I think it just speaks to the fullness of our team.”
LSU’s defense has not only pushed back this fall but has had the upper hand over the course of August. The Tiger offense has hit some big plays and won its share of reps, but the defense has won most days.
As LSU prepares to face a supremely talented Clemson defense, perhaps the offense will be better prepared because of the quality of its opposition throughout camp.
“When you’re practicing against a good defense, it helps,” Nussmeier said. “It’s also (Defensive Coordinator Blake) Baker. He’s an unbelievable football coach. Going against him every single day, I feel like he’ll do things just to try to mess with me. I can see it. It’s a challenge every single day because I have to approach practice how I approach games. No days off. If you do, they’re going to embarrass us out there.”
Nussmeier has dealt with dirty pockets throughout camp. He’s seen better coverage than in years past. Windows are tighter. Timing is condensed.
All of those figure to be the case Saturday night at Clemson. With a season under his belt and a fiercely competitive camp now in the rearview, Nussmeier and his offense should be as prepared as any in the Brian Kelly era for a tough opener.
“It’s very different,” Nussmeier said. “There’ s a growing confidence around this building. I think it’s been like that. People have seen that even since spring ball. The closeness of our team has brought out a competitive edge. Guys want to beat each other. It’s been awesome to see.”
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