A lot more questions than answers
The thing about being a program like LSU playing a game against a program like Nicholls is that there’s no good outcome.
If you win, like LSU did, well congrats, that’s what you were supposed to do. If you struggle, or God forbid lose, things get a little uncomfortable and we all look a little side-eyed at each other. LSU may have won by 23 points, but make no mistake Nicholls gave the Tigers all they wanted and then some.
LSU never trailed Saturday, but Nicholls was within two points on three separate occasions. LSU led 9-7 in the first quarter, 16-14 in the second, and 23-21 in the third quarter. The Tigers, thankfully, got a safety to get on the board first and they needed those extra two points more desperately than anyone could have imagined.
Garrett Nussmeier built off the success of last week’s start against USC with another 300-yard effort and a career-best six touchdown passes. Three of those six went to Kyren Lacy, while Zavion Thomas, Trey’Dez Green, and Ju’Juan Johnson—now playing running back after being recruited as a defensive back—all caught their first touchdowns as Tigers.
The passing game is clearly working. The running game though? That’s a different story. Behind what was supposed to be the best offensive line, LSU could only muster 64 rushing yards against an FCS squad. Josh Williams had a respectable 19 yards on 4 carries (4.8 yards per carry), while Kaleb Jackson also had 19 yards…but on 9 carries (2.1 yards per carry). LSU’s supposed to have two first round picks at tackle and two other pros at guard, but for whatever reason this group that was supposed to be a Joe Moore Award contender couldn’t generate push against a Southland team.
But while the LSU offense probably will come around, there’s too much talent for them not to…right?, the defense just doesn’t seem good enough.
Nicholls quarterback Pat McQuaide was 12-16 for 113 yards, while Collin Guggenheim was the star of the night with 25 carries for 145 yards and a pair of touchdowns, including a 67-yarder in the third quarter. Now to LSU’s credit, they only allowed seven points in the entire second half, but the deficiencies at defensive line and DB are glaring and there’s nothing LSU can do to better the roster.
This was a bad week for LSU, but as the saying goes “misery loves company.” Notre Dame lost at home to Northern Illinois, Oklahoma won an ugly 16-12 game against Houston, and Alabama had a 14-13 lead over South Florida heading into the fourth quarter. Whatever LSU did at practice this week they had better flush it because next week they’re opening up SEC play on the road against a South Carolina team riding high after beating the brakes off of Kentucky in Lexington.