The Tigers bounced back from a season-opening loss to secure their first win on Saturday night against Nicholls, but it was a more sluggish showing than you’d like to see against an FCS team.
The game remained tight into the second half before the Tigers pulled away. While the record book doesn’t know the difference, the numbers don’t lie.
And in On3’s latest SEC power rankings — which are based on the Massey Ratings — LSU has fallen one spot out of the top half of the standings to No. 9.
It’s a bit harsh, but here’s what On3’s Thomas Goldkamp had to say about LSU.
It took a little while for LSU to pull away, but the Tigers eventually managed to do so in a win over Nicholls. Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier was once again sharp, throwing for 302 yards and six touchdowns in the win.
The real concern for LSU at this point has to be the run game, which hasn’t produced much through two games. That’s a real surprise behind an offensive line that many analysts thought might be one of the best in the country. Coach Brian Kelly acknowledged the issue and said his staff has to find a way to coach better.
The run game is certainly a concern for an LSU team that has to replace a 1,100-yard rusher at quarterback in [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag]. Nussmeier doesn’t bring that same element to the table, and inconsistency in the run game is hurting the offense despite Nussmeier playing well.
The defense also remains a bit of a concern, which is only exacerbated by the season-ending Achilles injury to defensive tackle Jacobian Guillory, one of the most experienced players on LSU’s line.
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