LSU had a lot of issues on the defensive side of the ball that limited it in 2023. If it doesn’t address those problems, it’s hard to imagine the team takes the leap to competing for a national title in 2024.
But while questions abound defensively, the Tigers arguably face even more on the offensive side of the ball, where they lose a ton of production from the 2023 season. [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag], [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag] are all likely off to the NFL, and those may not be the only losses this offense sees.
Whether it’s a transfer quarterback or [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] leading the charge in 2024, that side of the ball is LSU’s biggest question entering the offseason, per ESPN’s Chris Low.
LSU was a lot of fun to watch on offense this season and incredibly explosive with Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels throwing to Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr., all of whom will be in the NFL next season. The Tigers led the country in scoring offense (46.4 points per game), total offense (547.8 yards per game) and yards per play (8.5). The good news is that LSU locked up offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock with a hefty raise after Texas A&M came after him, and now Denbrock has to go to work in retooling an offense that scored more than 40 points in nine of its 12 games this season. Garrett Nussmeier has waited his turn at quarterback and will get his first shot at leading the Tigers next season. They may need to look in the portal to surround him with some new playmakers on offense, and some of the younger players on the roster will need to grow up in a hurry.
With Denbrock back and the flashes Nussmeier has shown when he’s gotten the chance to play, it’s easy to talk yourself into this unit next year. But as Low mentions, it may need some portal help — particularly at receiver — if it’s going to come close to replicating the production it found this season.
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