Through the first few weeks of LSU’s season, the offense felt like it was searching for something — timing, rhythm and maybe even confidence. Drives sputtered. Pass protection broke down. Opportunities came and went.

But after a 20-10 win over South Carolina, quarterback Garrett Nussmeier says that something finally clicked.

“Everything that I was going through in the first couple weeks was obviously very frustrating,” he said in player interviews. “I let it get to me a little bit. A feeling of helplessness at times, a lot of frustration.”

Nussmeier went 20 for 33 on pass attempts and had 254 yards of total offense with two touchdowns and two interceptions in the Tigers’ homecoming night win over Shane Beamer’s Gamecocks.

“Coach [Kelly] challenged me to be myself and bring that swagger back, so I’m just going to continue to try and keep doing that.”

That renewed confidence couldn’t come at a better time. LSU heads into its road matchup against Vanderbilt anticipating a defense that thrives on taking away timing and disrupting quarterbacks.

The Commodores are 5-1 and allowing just 22.6 points per game, which ranks No. 43 in the country. For Nussmeier and the Tigers, it’s a chance to prove the South Carolina win wasn’t an outlier; it was the start of a resurgence.

Head coach Brian Kelly has echoed that same message in his press conferences this week; it’s not about starting fast, it’s about sustaining strength the entire game.

“We ran off the ball for the first time,” Kelly said. “We were physical. Now, we’ve got to sustain [it].”

That word, sustain, has become the mantra of LSU’s offense over the past two weeks. Through the first half of the season, the run game hasn’t been utilized consistently through games, but that has been a focus as of late.

The Tigers established the run greatly against South Carolina, leaning on Caden Durham, who finished with 15 carries for 70 yards.

Durham’s patience and ability to find cutback lanes helped LSU control possession and take pressure off Nussmeier.

“We’ve been trying to get that balance all year,” Kelly said. “We need to run the football effectively so that everything else opens up. When we do that, we can play the kind of complementary football we want.”

That balance also comes with reinforcements. LSU expects to see wide receiver Aaron Anderson back in the lineup after missing multiple weeks due to injury.

Anderson’s return adds a true speed threat to the slot. He’s the kind of player who can vertically stretch defenses and open up the rest of offensive coordinator Joe Sloan’s playbook.

Freshman offensive lineman Paul Mubenga is also probable to return, bolstering a line that’s slowly finding its identity. LSU’s protection improved significantly against South Carolina, allowing no sacks after giving up seven through the first five weeks of the season.

That protection will be tested in Nashville. Vanderbilt’s defensive front features multiple upperclassmen who thrive on stunts and delayed blitzes, forcing quarterbacks to make quick reads. This is something Nussmeier has struggled with, which was especially shown after he threw an interception on the 1-yard line against South Carolina.

LSU’s plan, Kelly said, is to lean into the rhythm that started clicking last week — short passes, controlled tempo and sustained drives.

“We’ve got to stay ahead on first down,” Kelly said Monday. “You can’t let them dictate the game by getting you into third-and-long. That’s where they’re most dangerous.”

The bye week also gave Nussmeier time to heal his nagging torso injury, which seemed noticeably improved last weekend.

“There’s nothing like making a big play and hearing the place go silent,” said Nussmeier, reflecting on the mentality he brings on the road.

Against Vanderbilt, Nussmeier said he hopes to clean up some interceptions and make this week the one in which LSU finally kicks its offense into high gear.

That’s precisely what LSU hopes to see this weekend: a quarterback who looks comfortable, a line that looks confident and an offense that finally looks competitive.

The Tigers will face the Commodores on Oct. 18 in an 11 a.m. kickoff in Nashville, Tennessee. The game will be on ABC.