PALMER: One problem after another for LSU

By Hunt Palmer

Saturday was a microcosm of Brian Kelly’s tenure in Baton Rouge.

When LSU’s offense performed, the defense faltered. By the time the defense showed up, the offense fell apart.

In his time in Baton Rouge, Kelly has produced elite quarterback play, high flying wide receivers, NFL draft picks on the offensive line, defensive domination, wins over Alabama, Clemson, Texas A&M, Florida and South Carolina.

It just hasn’t all come together at one time.

When Jayden, Malik and BTJ were torching defenses, the Tiger defense imploded. When LSU boasted the best group of pass protectors in the country, they couldn’t pave the way for the run. When the offense and defense played well in 2022, the special teams were atrocious. Early this season the defense figured it out, and the offense couldn’t crack 20.

Saturday’s effort was a sobering reminder of it all.

LSU’s offense scored on five of its first six drives. The lone exception was a long field goal miss. The Tigers would have gladly taken that type of output in Oxford or at Clemson. Finally, it showed up. Meanwhile the defense fell asleep and allowed Vanderbilt to simultaneously score on five of its first six, and four of them were touchdowns, three from 75 yards out.

LSU allowed three total touchdowns in wins over Clemson, Florida and South Carolina.

Complementary football has been Kelly’s refrain for four years, and Saturday in Music City his team was off key again.

The reality is setting in that LSU just isn’t good enough. This era has allowed Indiana, Ole Miss and Vanderbilt the opportunity to compete with the tops of their conferences.

LSU went out in the transfer portal to patch holes, but they still exist.

Problems at offensive tackle cost LSU one fourth quarter drive. DJ Chester, playing tackle in place of injured Tyree Adams, was bullrushed for a sack. Weston Davis was flagged for holding two plays later to negate a third down conversion. That position has been a sore spot all year.

Problems in the running game persisted. LSU managed 100 rushing yards which was 139 short of Vanderbilt’s total.

The defense may have some issues after all. This group has played two offenses ranked in the top 54 in the country, and both essentially had their way.

Ole Miss rolled up 480 total yards and 24 points. Vanderbilt averaged six yards per play and scored 31 while voluntarily sliding at the one to seal the game.

Injuries are piling up, as well. And they could have contributed to all of the problems above. Playing without your left tackle, defensive captain, best defensive tackle and a pair of defensive ends is a tall order, but this staff has had three years and $18 million to stock the shelves with enough talent to withstand a season’s worth of injuries.

The result looks like a team destined for seven or eight wins.

Kelly and his staff now have to return to Baton Rouge and find a way to keep this group together long enough that the rope isn’t completely released.

At SEC Media Days in Atlanta, Kelly mentioned playing for championships. When asked why he transferred to LSU, Josh Thompson mentioned playing for championships. Garrett Nussmeier said the same in his return video announcement.

That stated goal feels like a distant dream at this point.

Championship teams generally don’t have Vanderbilt’s quarterback flashing the Heisman pose or the Music City PA Announcer playing Callin’ Baton Rouge.

Both happened to LSU on Saturday.

Nussmeier was shown in tears on the sideline as the time expired. He’s been beaten pillar to post since August. He’s not blameless here, but he’s far from the core problem.

That’s an inability to plug every hole.

LSU is now 7-5 in its last 12 SEC games after a 12-4 start to the Kelly era. While 7-5 is a long way from pathetic, it’s a long way from Playoff.

LSU may only be favored in one remaining conference game, the home matchup this Arkansas. Barring a handful of upsets, that 7-5 mark is headed for .500 with the No. 1 ranked portal class that is headed out the door in January.

The next batch of players will cost money, and it will need to come from the booster base. That’s another aspect of the program that always needs to be managed.

The list is long, and the problems are many.