LSU football’s recent Week 1 losses have been followed by a familiar theme in Week 2. A “get right” game against an FCS opponent. 2024 will mark the fourth straight schedule LSU’s faced an in-state FCS foe after opening the year — and losing — to a big-name power conference opponent.
It’s not just the opponent, but this serves as a chance for LSU to get back in front of its home crowd as it makes its 2024 Tiger Stadium debut.
LSU should be able to handle Nicholls, even if the Tigers don’t bring their best. But ideally, Saturday is a chance for LSU to work out some of the kinks that led to the USC loss.
Here, we’ll look at five things to watch for when LSU takes on Nicholls. Games like this aren’t about matchups; they’re about LSU establishing an identity and executing it. If you can’t win with your bread and butter against a lesser opponent, you’re in for a long year.
1. Get a downhill running game going
LSU struggled to run the ball vs. USC. The prevailing thought was LSU would be able to show up and run it all over the Trojans. The Tigers offensive line was supposedly the best in the country and the USC defense was abysmal in 2023.
But that’s not what happened. Outside of a couple of explosive plays from John Emery, LSU struggled to establish much of anything on the ground. LSU averaged 4.5 yards per carry while 42% of its runs were stuffed for two yards or less.
Nicholls shouldn’t be much of a test at all for LSU up front, so we may not learn much. But this is a chance for LSU to figure out what it wants to be in the ground game. Without Jayden Daniels, LSU is searching for a new identity.
When it’s 3rd and 1 and they need a yard, what’s Joe Sloan’s go-to run call?
2. Does LSU scheme up ways to get Kyren Lacy the ball?
Again, Lacy won’t be tested here. He’s good enough to win one-on-one matchups with any Nicholls CB, but we might see LSU try out some ways of getting him the ball.
Lacy didn’t touch it once in the second half vs USC. That’s something Brian Kelly says can’t happen.
When Lacy isn’t getting targets in the straight drop-back passing game, is LSU innovative enough to get the ball in his hands?
That doesn’t mean just turn around and run a reverse or throw a quick screen. LSU needs to ensure it has plays that set Lacy up to be open downfield. Saturday is a good time to try some out.
3. What does the cornerback rotation look like?
In the secondary, we know [autotag]Ashton Stamps[/autotag] is CB1. Outside of that, there are questions. [autotag]Sage Ryan[/autotag] started opposite of Stamps, but Kelly has said a move back to safety may be in the fold.
If LSU does move Ryan, true freshman PJ Woodland will see more action at corner. Woodland played just nine snaps and was called for a PI, but he didn’t allow a catch and recorded a PBU.
Saturday is a big opportunity for Woodland. He should play more than nine snaps and LSU will hope to see some consistency out of the young corner.
Veteran [autotag]Zy Alexander[/autotag] is set to return soon, but LSU’s been hesitant to ramp him up to full speed as he recovers from a torn ACL.
LSU’s defense is already better than it was last year, but the size of that jump is dependent on the growth seen from the cornerbacks.
4. Who steps up at wide receiver?
LSU is expected to be without [autotag]Chris Hilton Jr.[/autotag] and [autotag]Kyle Parker[/autotag] on Saturday. That’s no different than the situation LSU found itself in last week’s second half.
Brian Kelly said receiver [autotag]Aaron Anderson[/autotag] had a breakout game vs, USC, catching five balls for 64 yards and a score. If Anderson keeps that up, he’ll be a central part of this offense moving forward.
But without Hilton, LSU needs someone who can make plays on the outside. Perhaps that’s [autotag]Shelton Sampson Jr.[/autotag]
Sampson was a five-star recruit in 2023 and Kelly said LSU needs to get him on the field. This is a good opportunity to work Sampson in before conference play starts in week three.
5. How does LSU finish drives?
Kelly’s talked about it every chance he’s gotten this week, but LSU needs to be better at finishing drives. LSU put itself in position to score touchdowns against USC but came up short.
LSU needs to look sharp in the red zone against Nicholls. This is a chance for LSU to show those red zone struggles have more to do with week one than the offense.
With a veteran QB like Nussmeier and an elite offensive line, LSU should excel when it approaches the end zone.
We talked about LSU establishing the run game and getting the ball to Lacy. Both of those would help in this area too.
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