LSU football has been going through fall camp since July 30, and, as usual, most of the attention has been on the players.
During the offseason LSU returned numerous starters, built one of the deepest receiver groups in the country and added experienced players all over the team. On top of that, the Tigers brought in a top-10 recruiting class.
A common saying in sports is “it’s not the Xs and the Os but the Jimmys and the Joes,” and based on that, LSU is in the position to succeed. But the coaches and coordinators make the Xs and Os so the Jimmys and Joes can reach their full potential, and LSU has a challenge schematically to make all these players and new additions mesh.
On Friday, LSU offensive coordinator Joe Sloan met with media to discuss the Tigers’ offense through camp so far.
Sloan said his focus in the offseason is to “build an appropriate offensive attack around the players that we have to highlight their strengths.”
The 2024 season was Sloan’s first time drawing up the Xs and Os for the offense, as he was elevated to the offensive coordinator position in January 2024 after spending two seasons as the quarterbacks coach.
In his first season, the Tigers ranked No. 2 in the SEC and No. 7 nationally in passing offense, averaging 315.2 yards per game. As an offense, the Tigers ranked fifth in the SEC and No. 25 nationally with 431.5 yards per game.
“Every year, we’re a different team,” Sloan said. “So I think that’s really been the biggest approach, how can we do different things to create maybe some easier opportunities for Garrett and for our offense to create some explosive plays.”
Garrett Nussmeier threw for more yards, touchdowns and completions than any first-time starter in LSU history. He also was a top-five quarterback nationally in yards, yards per game and completions.
The idea of Nussmeier having one of the quickest receiving groups in the country and an experienced tight end group to throw passes to is why many college football analysts have Nussmeier at the top of their list for Heisman contenders and for the best quarterbacks in the sport.
But every football fan knows there’s more to offense than passing.
“You gotta run the football in SEC, and I think that’s critical,” Sloan said.
Last year, LSU’s run game was nearly non-existent as LSU didn’t rank among the top-100 rushing offenses in the nation. Later in the season, true freshman Caden Durham injected life into the run game.
“I’m here to talk about this year, not last year, but we gotta run the football,” Sloan said. “I think having Caden Durham as a second-year player, obviously, he’s an electric and really good football player, but he still was a true freshman last year that came in in June.”
Durham was a Freshman All-SEC player last season who led LSU’s rushing attack in yards, carries and tied-first for touchdowns.
“He’s a lot better football player today than that he was at this time last year,” Sloan said.
As fall camp continues and LSU stares down the season opening game against Clemson on Aug. 30, watch for how the strategy evolves for LSU.
