Tag: Brian Thomas Jr

LSU finally found the explosiveness it has been searching for

LSU’s offense erupted on Saturday night. Here’s how it happened.

LSU’s offense has been hard to pin down. It’s been inconsistent and just when it seems like an issue is solved, another one emerges.

One of the most pertinent issues was a lack of explosive plays. LSU had been decent on a down-to-down basis but had yet to really find a way to create big plays.

Against Florida, LSU finally found some. The Tigers tallied eight explosive plays against Florida, according to GameOnPaper.

[autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] looked comfortable standing in the pocket and delivering the ball down the field. He had seven passes that traveled 20 or more air yards and completed four of them.

He only has nine such completions all year, meaning nearly half of them came against Florida. It began on LSU’s opening series, with Daniels finding [autotag]Kayshon Boutte[/autotag] for a 40-yard gain on third and eight.

On the first play of the second quarter, Daniels found Boutte again, this time for a gain of 21. On LSU’s third drive of the night, Daniels connected with Kole Taylor for a gain of 26 and finished the drive with a 24-yard touchdown to [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag]

LSU’s fourth drive was finished with a 56-yard touchdown to [autotag]Jaray Jenkins[/autotag] after Florida jumped offsides. In the second half, [autotag]Josh Williams[/autotag] broke free for a 50-yard run and Daniels would find Boutte and Nabers a couple more times for a significant gain.

LSU’s offense looked confident and comfortable. It looked like a group that was working in sync. For the first time all year, the unit played a complete game. Daniels, who has held the ball for too long at times, had his quickest time to throw of the year against Florida, per PFF.

He was trusting his receivers and not afraid to put the ball into tight windows. We saw some of that in the Tennessee game, but the timing looked much better in Gainesville.

Boutte finally having his breakout game helped and LSU got contributions from top to bottom, with guys like [autotag]Kole Taylor[/autotag] and [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag] getting involved too.

Daniels was good under pressure, too. His passer rating under pressure was the best in the SEC in Week 7.

[autotag]Will Campbell[/autotag] and [autotag]Emery Jones[/autotag] didn’t have their best night, allowing eight combined pressures, but it never became a talking point thanks to Daniels’ ability to either get the ball out quick or scramble.

In the run game, Daniels and Williams combined to force 13 missed tackles. LSU’s explosiveness was a result of players stepping up and making plays. Receivers were winning one-on-one battles, and Daniels was trusting them to make a play.

It didn’t matter if it was first down or third down. It didn’t matter what side of the field they were on — plays were made that needed to be made.

Whether or not it will continue is to be determined, but this was a good start. LSU will need more of the same with a top-10 Ole Miss team coming to town.

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What’s wrong with LSU’s receiver room?

LSU’s talented receiver room has struggled. What’s next for this group?

LSU’s wide receiver group has been disappointing. Entering the year, some had pegged this group as the best in the SEC. So far, it’s been far from that.

The talent remains. [autotag]Kayshon Boutte[/autotag], [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag], [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag], [autotag]Jack Bech[/autotag], [autotag]Jaray Jenkins[/autotag] and [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag] are all there.

As far as a list of names goes, that’s pretty good — despite the struggles. It can be difficult to pinpoint why an offense is struggling. In the case of LSU, you could find a few reasons.

Everything has been shaky. That doesn’t mean there hasn’t been good to find. There’s been a lot of that too, but the lack of consistency has held this team back, especially at the receiver position.

Talking about Boutte’s lack of production is beating a dead horse at this point. Halfway through the year, he has just 17 catches for 130 yards. He’s catching less than 60% of his targets and has five drops on the year.

There have been times when [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] has missed him, but Boutte hasn’t gotten open enough and hasn’t finished enough when given the chance.

Boutte hasn’t produced against man coverage or zone coverage and his results have been similar in the slot and on the outside. Plus, he’s being used in the slot at the same rate he was in 2021.

Boutte needs to get going. He doesn’t need to rack up 100 yards per game but LSU’s offense is much more explosive when he is rolling. The offense has had a severe lack of explosiveness, and Boutte’s lack of production is a part of that.

Nabers has been LSU’s best receiver thus far, becoming Daniels’ favorite target. Daniels repeatedly targeted Nabers in big moments against Mississippi State to help put that game away.

Nabers has been particularly good against man coverage, averaging 3.10 yards per route run. He’s still young, and I’d look for him to continue to progress.

When it comes to the remaining guys — Thomas, Bech, Jenkins and Lacy — LSU needs more consistency.

They don’t have to be game-breakers, but they need to deliver in big moments. If Boutte is going to continue to struggle and Nabers is yet to become a true, dynamic No. 1 threat, then LSU needs something from the entire room.

Thomas is headed in the right direction, but like Nabers, he’s still young and needs some time before emerging as a top-tier target. Bech, Jenkins and Lacy are experienced players who have demonstrated competency.

The coaching staff needs to do a better job at putting them in situations to succeed. The passing offense needs to be more than just hoping Boutte, Nabers or Thomas can win in man coverage. Defenses with a strong secondary will have no issue defending that.

This group lacks an identity right now. LSU is going to need them to find one and find it soon.

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LSU WR Chris Hilton Jr. out for the year following shoulder surgery

LSU’s receiver depth takes a hit with Hilton sidelined for the remainder of 2022.

LSU’s wide receiver room took a hit this week.

[autotag]Chris Hilton Jr.[/autotag] underwent shoulder surgery that is expected to end his season. Hilton didn’t get a ton of action in LSU’s crowded receiver room, but he has played 70 snaps this year and got the start against Mississippi State. He’s been targeted 10 times, catching seven passes for 109 yards.

Hilton, a highly touted recruit in the class of 2021, added another dimension with his speed and was able to stretch the field. This won’t make or break LSU’s passing game, but the depth takes a hit. Hilton was a guy with the talent to make plays against SEC opponents.

LSU still has depth in place at receiver with [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag], [autotag]Kayshon Boutte[/autotag], [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag], [autotag]Jaray Jenkins[/autotag], [autotag]Jack Bech[/autotag], and [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag].

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Grading every LSU position group through five games

Here’s how we’d evaluate things approaching the halfway mark of the season.

Five games in, LSU sits at 4-1.

The theme this year has been fresh faces. From [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] to freshmen starting offensive tackles to a novel group of corners, LSU is breaking in the new.

At 4-1 in a rebuilding year, there aren’t many complaints from an expectations standpoint, but you can still find plenty of areas where this group needs work.

It’s been a mixed bag this far with some inconsistent performances from game to game. Over the last four weeks, it’s been enough for LSU to get the win.

With the schedule getting tougher, starting this week with Tennessee, LSU will need to find some more consistency.

Here’s how each position group grades out five games into the season.

Instant Analysis: Tigers shut out New Mexico for third-straight win

The Tigers outgained the Lobos 633-88 in a 38-0 blanking.

LSU delivered another impressive performance in its last tuneup before it enters the meat of its SEC schedule in Week 4. The Tigers blanked the New Mexico Lobos in a 38-0 win as they move to 3-1 on the season.

Coach Brian Kelly’s team has now won three-straight games since dropping its season opener against FSU in New Orleans.

It was about as dominant a performance as you’ll see at this level of football. Though the final tally on the scoreboard wasn’t anything spectacular, LSU outgained the Lobos by a stunning 633-88 margin, entirely controlling the game on both sides of the ball.

The offense looked sharp once again, and it was another efficient performance from quarterback [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag], who completed 24 of 29 passes for 278 yards. He didn’t find the end zone through the air or on the ground, but he is still yet to throw an interception this season.

Early in the third quarter, Daniels exited the game and entered the medical tent with an apparent injury. He left the tent and grabbed a helmet, seemingly being cleared to return, but the game was already out of hand and the coaches would hold him out as a precaution.

In his place, Garrett Nussmeier looked much better than he did in his previous action against Southern in Week 2. He completed 9 of 10 passes for 135 yards and a 57-yard touchdown pass to [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag], who finished with three catches for 76 yards.

With [autotag]Kayshon Boutte[/autotag] out, [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] unsurprisingly also played a big role in the passing game, leading the team with 65 yards on six catches. Kelly also said the team wanted to work on getting the ball in Jack Bech’s hands, and the result was a seven-target, six-catch night in which he totaled 43 yards.

Jaray Jenkins (five catches, 57 yards), Kyren Lacy (four catches, 41 yards) and freshman tight end Mason Taylor (four catches, 34 yards) all made impacts, as well.

The ground game was dominant once again. In total, the Tigers managed 219 yards headlined by [autotag]Noah Cain[/autotag], who led the team in both yards and carries with 94 on 11 attempts. He found the end zone twice, including a 49-yard touchdown. Daniels contributed as well with nine attempts for 37 yards.

[autotag]John Emery Jr.[/autotag] saw an increased role in his second game back from suspension, leading the running back room in carries with nine for 45 yards. [autotag]Armoni Goodwin[/autotag] got the start and had just 24 yards on eight carries, though he also scored twice.

I could be even more effusive in my praise of LSU’s offense, but the defense deserves just as much credit for holding New Mexico to double-digit yardage. True freshman linebacker Harold Perkins continues to demonstrate his versatility, leading the team in tackles with eight.

[autotag]Greg Brooks Jr.[/autotag], [autotag]West Weeks[/autotag], [autotag]Ali Gaye[/autotag] and [autotag]Saivion Jones[/autotag] all notched a sack, as well.

This wasn’t a very good New Mexico team, but it’s never easy to shut out an opponent in college football. That should give the Tigers a ton of confidence as they prepare for their first true road game of the year against an Auburn team that survived a wild overtime game against Missouri on Saturday.

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LSU will be without Kayshon Boutte vs. New Mexico due to birth of his first child

Boutte has been excused from Saturday’s game to be with his girlfriend.

The Tigers will be down their best offensive player for Saturday’s game against New Mexico.

On Thursday, coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] announced that [autotag]Kayshon Boutte[/autotag] has been excused from the game to be with his girlfriend for the birth of their first child. With Boutte unavailable, the Tigers will look to leading receiver [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag], as well as players like [autotag]Jack Bech[/autotag] and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag]

Boutte was a preseason First Team All-SEC selection, but he’s had a slow start to the 2022 season. In three games, he has just 10 catches for 93 yards and is yet to find the end zone. He had nine touchdowns in six appearances last fall.

On Thursday night, Boutte’s girlfriend gave birth to their son, Kylan.

He’s considered one of the top receiver prospects in the 2023 NFL draft, and though LSU will miss his presence on the field, it shouldn’t be an issue against a New Mexico team that will likely be heavily overmatched.

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Brian Kelly says LSU will get Jack Bech more involved

Bech has had a quiet start to his sophomore year after a great true freshman campaign.

Coming into the year, we knew wide receiver was a strength for LSU. The Tigers could have the best group in the SEC. When you have a pass-catching group that deep, it’s tough to spread the ball around to everyone.

One guy that is waiting on a breakout game in 2022 is sophomore [autotag]Jack Bech[/autotag]. When asked about Bech’s involvement in the offense, Kelly said they want to get him the ball more.

Bech caught 43 passes as a freshman last fall. LSU had a handful of talented freshman at wide receiver in 2021, and Bech was the most consistent. He was a reliable presence in the slot who ran well with the ball after the catch.

Through three games in 2022, Bech has caught just two passes on three targets. Every snap he’s played has come in the slot. Against Mississippi State, Bech was on the field for just three pass snaps.

[autotag]Kayshon Boutte[/autotag] has been drawing a ton of attention from defenses. This has allowed chances for some of LSU’s other receivers.

[autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag] has really taken a step forward since last year. The sophomore was listed as a starter in the depth chart prior to the Florida State game and has caught nine passes on 10 targets.

[autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] has continued to emerge as a dynamic threat, and late in the game against Mississippi State became [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag]’ go-to on third down. [autotag]Jaray Jenkins[/autotag], the veteran of the group, has three touchdowns on the year.

It’ll be interesting to see where Bech fits into this equation and how LSU gets him the ball more. LSU could use a guy that moves the chains over the middle of the field, and Bech could emerge to fill that role.

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LSU receiver corps ranked as the best in the SEC by On3

LSU’s wide receiver room has a chance to be the class of the league in 2022.

LSU has a lot of question marks as it begins the [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] era. The wide receiver room is not one of them.

On3’s Jesse Simonton released his top-five SEC receiver units on Monday, and LSU topped the list.

“LSU has the best collection of perimeter playmakers in the SEC,” Simonton wrote, “They’re built like a basketball team with size, speed, and versatility.”

LSU’s receiver room has been getting hype all offseason with [autotag]Kayshon Boutte[/autotag] being the focus of most discussions. Boutte projects to be one of the best receivers in the country, but LSU has plenty of guys to compliment him.

Big things are expected from slots receivers [autotag]Jack Bech[/autotag] and [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] after they impressed as freshmen in 2021.

[autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag] and [autotag]Chris Hilton Jr.[/autotag] were also part of that dynamite freshmen receiver class last year and have the talent to take the next step at any moment.

[autotag]Jaray Jenkins[/autotag] has been making plays for LSU since 2018 and brings veteran experience to the group. Transfer [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag] adds some experience, as well.

There’s an array of possibilities for how LSU’s season could play out this fall, but this group of wideouts should provide plenty of excitement in games, win or lose.

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Here’s what ESPN says about LSU in its SEC West preview

There’s a wide range of possibilities for LSU in the West this year.

ESPN’s Bill Connelly released his SEC West preview earlier this week. Connelly is best known for his SP+ ratings, a system that uses advanced metrics to predict results.

LSU fans may not be happy to see where SP+ has the team.

The rankings place the Tigers last in the West, projecting them to win just 2.8 conference games and giving them only a 45% chance to make a bowl game. However, Connelly writes that if transfers work out for LSU, [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] could have a top 15 team this fall.

Connelly says LSU’s defensive line has the potential to be excellent and likes some of the transfers LSU brought in on defense. His guess is that Jayden Daniels wins the starting quarterback job, but that could change at any moment.

Continuing to discuss the offense, Connelly pointed out LSU’s strength at receiver and questions at other positions.

The running back position is terribly unproven, as is the offensive line, but the receiving corps — led by a healthy [autotag]Kayshon Boutte[/autotag] and reinforced by [autotag]Jaray Jenkins[/autotag] and a trio of sophomores ([autotag]Jack Bech,[/autotag] [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag]) — is high end.

Whoever the quarterback is, offensive coordinator [autotag]Mike Denbrock[/autotag] might find himself leaning on the passing game in his first season as the play-caller in Baton Rouge.

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WATCH: Malik Nabers makes acrobatic touchdown grab in spring game

Myles Brennan connected with Nabers as the third quarter winded down in Saturday’s spring scrimmage.

Without star receiver [autotag]Kayshon Boutte[/autotag], who is still recovering from offseason surgery, available for the spring game on Saturday, LSU’s other receivers got the opportunity to showcase their skills.

One player who many were excited to see was sophomore [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag], who became the team’s top option after Boutte’s 2021 season ended prematurely.

As the clock ran out in the third quarter of the exhibition, Nabers made an excellent play on a home-run ball from quarterback [autotag]Myles Brennan[/autotag] inside the red zone. The ball was tipped, but Nabers’ concentration allowed him to make the juggling catch and do the necessary footwork to stay inside the end zone and give the offense a 52-28 lead.

Nabers is one of several Tigers pass-catchers to make some nice plays on Saturday, including [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag] and [autotag]Jack Bech[/autotag]. Once Boutte is back in the fold and hopefully healthy this fall, this will be a tough receiver group for opposing defenses to contend with.

The only question is which quarterback will be the one throwing to them.

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