UCLA Football Preview: Passing Game Dominates LSU Offensive Attack
The Tigers like to throw the ball a lot and their running game seems to be an afterthought to keep defenses honest.
Having looked at the coaching staff, let’s take a look at the LSU offense. Based on the list of starters from the Tigers’ first three games, it looks like they will run a spread offense with three wide receivers, a tight end and a single running back.
Of course, with Brian Kelly choosing to promote Joe Sloan to offensive coordinator after the departure of Mike Denbrock following last season, it helps the team maintain the continuity of running the same offense they ran last year. And, it is a high-powered offense.
Last season, Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels became just the second Tiger quarterback to throw for six touchdowns in a game when LSU faced Georgia State.
The other was Joe Burrow who set a school record of seven touchdown passes in a game against Oklahoma in the 2019 CFP Semifinals, though that occurred under the now-departed Ed Orgeron.
Speaking of departures, Daniels also departed Baton Rouge after last season. So, let’s look at the new starting quarterback for LSU.
Quarterback
The Tigers’ new starting QB is redshirt junior Garrett Nussmeier. Two weeks ago, Nussmeier became just the third Tiger quarterback to throw at least six touchdowns in a game when he threw six TDs against Nicholls in LSU’s home opener.
Interesting, his dad has been a quarterbacks coach for a long time, serving in both the college and pro ranks. He’s currently the QB coach for the Philadelphia Eagles after spending last season with the Chargers.
While the younger Nussmeier has played in 18 games for LSU throughout his college career, his only career start before becoming the Tigers’ starting quarterback this season came in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Wisconsin at the end of last season.
Through three games this season, Nussmeier has completed nearly 70% of his pass attempts, and he’s thrown for at least 285 yards in all three of the Tigers’ games this year.
The good news is that Nussmeier doesn’t seem to be a particularly mobile quarterback. He didn’t run the ball at all against Southern Cal while he ran just twice for 24 yards against Nicholls. Then, last week, he had two carries for -11 yards. So, on the season, he has just four carries for 13 yards. So, if he drops back, expect him to throw the ball.
Passing Game
Let’s look at the guys Nussmeier will be throwing to this afternoon.
There are four LSU receivers who have made at least eleven receptions so far this season. The most dangerous member of the LSU receiving corps in Kyren Lacy, who has made 17 catches for 222 yards, but he is the guy that Nussmeier looks to get into the end zone. He has five touchdown receptions this year, which is half of LSU’s TD passes, and he is the only Tiger receiver to have caught more than one ball for a touchdown. So, look for him to be dangerous near the goal line.
The second most dangerous Tiger receiver is sophomore Aaron Anderson. While Anderson has only started one game this season, his 223 receiving yards is the most on the team this season and is just a yard more than Lacy. Anderson’s longest reception of the year was a 46-yard catch that is also the longest reception on the team this year. So, he’s Nussmeier’s biggest deep threat.
The third Tiger with at least eight catches is junior tight end Mason Taylor. He’s tied with Lacy for the team lead in receptions and he’s third on the team in receiving yards with 160.
Grad transfer CJ Daniels, no relation to Jayden, has the fourth-most receptions on the team with eleven. While he has only 143 receiving yards total, he does have the second longest reception of the year, which was a 34-yard catch against Nicholls.
The only other Tiger receiver with more than three catches is junior Zavion Thomas who has made eight catches for 72 yards.
Running Game
LSU certainly seems to be predominantly a passing team. They do throw the ball 60% of the time, but that doesn’t mean they won’t run the ball.
The Tigers’ starting running back is fifth year grad student Josh Williams. He’s been with LSU his entire collegiate career, and while he’s the team’s starter and most frequent ball carrier, his 72 net yards only give him the second-most rushing yards on the team.
But the bigger story in the LSU backfield might be the emergence of freshman back Caden Durham. Durham didn’t play in the opener against Southern Cal, and he barely played in Week 2 against Nicholls. But last week, he had a breakout game against South Carolina when he ran the ball eleven times for 98 yards and a touchdown.
So, look for Durham to play a bigger role in the offense today. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get the start this afternoon against the Bruins because he is responsible for almost one-third of LSU’s rushing yards this season despite only carrying the ball a total of 16 times.
Analysis
The Tigers have tended to rely on Nussmeier’s arm for most of their offense. I don’t see that changing much today, but UCLA will need to be prepared for Durham to play an even bigger role in today’s game plan as they look to become a more balanced offense.
Look for the Bruins to try to put Nussmeier under as much pressure as possible since he doesn’t appear to be a particularly mobile quarterback. In fact, given the fact that Southern Cal poached D’Anton Lynn from UCLA, I expect the Bruin defense today to look very similar to what the Trojans ran to stop the Tigers in Week 1.
If the Bruins can do that, it will go a long way toward a victory this afternoon.
Of course, that also means that the Bruin offense will need to step up and get into the end zone, but that’s a topic for my next article.
Go Bruins!!!
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Hard to believe Bruins can stay in this game against a 16th ranked team after Dimitri gave them an "F" overall grade for last week's game against a non ranked team. We are a 3 touchdown plus under dog. On the other hand, Moses parted the Red Sea if you believe in miracles LOL.
U$C plays Michigan at the same time as the Bruin game. Will be interesting.
Come hell or high water, even if a tsunami is wiping out our team with everyone being swept to the middle of the Pacific ocean awaiting coast guard rescue, I am sticking with coach Foster and our bruin players. They will prove the naysayers wrong in due time.