Pro Football Focus Grades LSU at Clemson

By Hunt Palmer

For the first time in six years LSU is 1-0.

The Tigers went on the road and controlled the game against a top five team. LSU’s defense smothered Clemson, and the offense controlled the clock and produced enough to get out of The Palmetto State with a win.

As usual, the Pro Football Focus grades backed up the eye test. It was an exceptional day for the Tiger defense, and the offense handled a great defense in a brutal environment.

Pro Football focus isn’t the gospel, but it’s informative. Each week we’ll take a look at LSU’s top five grades as well as the bottom five. Here’s a look at the opener.

TOP GRADES

1. Mansoor Delane, CB – 81.3
2. Aaron Anderson, WR – 79.8
3. Garrett Nussmeier, QB – 75.0
4. Patrick Payton, EDGE – 74.7
5. Braelin Moore, C – 73.9

Delane was a star. The former ACC standout showed up in a big way on the home field of the ACC’s standard bearer.

He was targeted eight times in coverage and only allowed one catch. He was credited with two pass break ups and pulled down an interception, as well. When you catch as many as the offense, it’s a solid day in coverage. That was reflected in his 81.2 coverage grade. Delane is the clear No. 1 cover corner and showed it in his first game in purple and gold.

I was a little stunned to pull up the box score postgame and see that Aaron Anderson had 99 yards receiving. He had those back-to-back catches in the third quarter that made some noise, but it was a great game overall for the junior wide receiver. He made six catches and had 56 yards after the catch. Five of the six catches came for first downs, and he played 25 of his 26 pass snaps in the slot.

Garrett Nussmeier wasn’t asked to do everything on Saturday night. How’s that for a change of pace? He didn’t have to throw for 347 and three scores. He needed to get the offense into the right play, convert some key third downs and operate the screen game. He did so. Nussmeier never once put the ball in harm’s way. With this defense, that’s going to be a huge key. PFF only credited him with one “Big Time Throw,” but that wasn’t the ask on this night. He also tucked it an ran a couple of times to keep Clemson honest. Saturday won’t go down as one of Nussmeier’s most prolific games, but it was a mature one.

Patrick Payton’s biggest contribution was his pressure on Cade Klubnik that resulted in Delane’s interception. He was brought to LSU to rush the passer, and he did on 29 of his 39 snaps. His run defense grade, 70.4, was actually better than his pass rush grade, 69.9. It was a balanced effort from another ACC transfer.

The second of two Virginia Tech transfers in the top five, Braelin Moore anchored LSU’s offensive line like Brian Kelly suggested he could. He graded 85.8 in pass rush and 67.8 in the running game against a great front. He did not allow a pressure on 43 pass drop backs and helped pave the way for a steady LSU ground game that Offensive Coordinator Joe Sloan never abandoned.

LOWEST GRADES

1. Chris Hilton, WR – 36.2
2. Bauer Sharp, TE – 50.9
3. Weston Davis, RT – 51.5
4. Nic Anderson, WR – 53.3
5. Tamarcus Cooley, S – 53.8

It’s no surprise that the defense doesn’t show up until No. 5 on the list and LSU’s deepest position shows up twice in the top four. No one on the roster performed significantly below the standard on Saturday night.

Hilton stumbled and fumbled on his most impactful snap, the fourth and two just before the half. It wasn’t a bad game for Hilton. It was a bad snap. Trust me, you have not heard the last from No. 3 on offense this year. It’s going to be a good one.

Bauer Sharp fumbled, too. Those ding your grade in a big way. His 58.4 run blocking grade needs to come up, but Saturday was evidence that LSU is going to use Sharp a lot. He was targeted seven times and made five catches. Two of those were contested.

Weston Davis allowed three pressures and struggled in the run game to a 48.1 grade. He was also flagged for a holding penalty. It was Davis’s first start. He’s a huge talent with elite measurables. He needs to improve as the season goes along. I’d bet on it.

Nic Anderson played 24 snaps and was not targeted in the passing game. He’s LSU’s best “big” receiver, but those red zone throws went to Trey’dez Green. A low grade for a wideout on this team isn’t all that significant. There’s so much depth there. The most important thing for Anderson is that he’s healthy.

Tamarcus Cooley is the lone defensive player on the list. He missed one tackle and allowed a catch on all three of his targets. He showed his versatility. He lined up at free safety 23 times, in the slot 26 times and in the box eight others.

I’ll be damned if I’m going to find too much to complain about on a defense that just bullied Clemson for four quarters.