By Hunt Palmer
LSU’s offensive woes are rooted in multiple areas.
Often times coaches and players would prefer a singular issue. That can be addressed more directly. This Tiger offense has controlled the ball and sustained drives. No team in the SEC has been better on third downs.
Point production has been the problem.
“Our total yardage hasn’t been the issue,” said junior tight end Mason Taylor. “I think we can do better, of course, but I think those little things like the pre-snap penalties and maybe one guy’s missed assignment. If all 11 guys aren’t doing what they‘re supposed to do, the play’s not going to work…these little things that are biting us on the heels when we get inside the 50 or when we get in the redzone.”
The Tigers have only scored touchdowns on three of their last 27 drives. That type of futility fuels losses. However, to Taylor’s point, it’s not as if everything has halted.
In LSU’s trio of defeats, the Tigers have only gone 3-and-out four times in 34 drives. Against Florida, six of LSU’s 10 drives went 10 plays or more.
LSU only reached the red zone one time, though. And on that drive, an offensive pass interference on Kyren Lacy brought back a CJ Daniels touchdown that turned into a 45-yard Damian Ramos field goal.
Against Alabama, LSU marched into the redzone three times.
Caden Durham’s explosive run down inside the five set up a 1st and goal that resulted in a field goal.
In the second quarter, Ju’Juan Johnson took a direct snap and motored 11 yards down to the Alabama 10 yard line, but that play was brought back by a Will Campbell holding call. Ramos booted a 43-yarder two plays after 2nd and 20.
Later, trailing, 21-6, and bidding to make the game a one-score margin in the third quarter, Garrett Nussmeier was intercepted on the goal line.
If it’s not a lack of push in the run game, it’s a penalty. If it’s not a penalty, it’s a turnover. If it’s not a turnover, it’s a tenacious defense that just makes a better play.
“Since I’ve been here, for three years, I’ve blocked 13 first and second round draft picks,” Campbell said. “This is the NFL of college football…everybody has good players. Everybody can beat you. So, yes, the margin for error in this league is this small. When you have mistakes collectively, you’re just shooting yourself in the foot.”
Even dating back to the Texas A&M loss a month ago, the Tigers managed 429 yards, the second most the Aggies have allowed and the most given up in Kyle Field. Three botched field goal attempts and three turnovers spelled doom on that night.
Following the Alabama loss two weeks later, head coach Brian Kelly spoke about the red zone in broad terms.
“The red zone is about, at the end of the day, having a great running game,” Kelly said. “You just chew people up in the running game, or you’ve got a veteran QB that is smart, savvy experience, and I’ve had both.”
Statistically, this LSU team has neither.
The Tigers rank 12th in the SEC in yards per carry on the ground and 14th in rushing touchdowns, and Nussmeier is in his first lap through the SEC as a starter.
Perhaps Saturday could be a small shift toward the positive for the Tigers. Vanderbilt has allowed touchdowns on 58% of opponents’ red zone trips. That ranks 14th in the SEC.
“If you can run the ball, you can do anything,” Taylor said. “I think you’ve seen the run game start to come alive a little bit, and that’s going to help us. Bring able to run the ball. It opens the door for everything else.”
