- If Garrett Nussmeier is playing hurt, that’s a problem for LSU. If he’s healthy, then where’s his usual zip?
- Brian Kelly insists his quarterback isn’t hurt. His quarterback insists he won’t answer that question.
- LSU offense struggles again, this time in defeat, to Ole Miss.
OXFORD, Miss. – Brian Kelly insists his quarterback is healthy.
His quarterback, Garrett Nussmeier, insisted he’s not answering any questions about his health.
Interesting.
I insist if LSU’s quarterback is healthy, then he’s not the elite talent some of us once thought. And if he’s not healthy, then the No. 4 Tigers have problems on top of problems after a stinging 24-19 defeat to rival No. 11 Mississippi.
“I’m not going to answer any questions about my health,” Nussmeier said.
Very interesting.
Is Garrett Nussmeier injured? Here’s not saying
Nussmeier showcased a howitzer earlier in his career. He never saw a coverage window he thought too tight to zip a completion into. Whatever deficiencies Nussmeier had in his game entering his final LSU season, arm strength wasn’t one of them.
Until this season. He doesn’t look right, and his 197 passing yards Saturday were a season low.
It’s not that he forced an interception into thick coverage. I’ve seen that mistake before. New this season, though, is Nussmeier just doesn’t show the same firecracker of an arm he’s had previously.
So, it’s worth asking again: How’s Nussmeier feeling physically?
“I’m not going to answer anything involving my health, sorry,” Nussmeier said.
Very, very interesting.
Minutes before Nussmeier spoke, Kelly said his quarterback is healthy.
“The quarterback is going to get (scrutiny after losses). I get that,” Kelly said. “Look, all I can tell you is, he’s healthy.”
Then, why isn’t Nussmeier saying that?
Nussmeier had multiple opportunities to clarify the situation and demurred. He limited his remarks to the game itself.
“Obviously, I’m frustrated about the loss,’ Nussmeier said, after another game in which LSU’s offense couldn’t find momentum.
Brian Kelly: ‘Garrett Nussmeier’s gotta play better’ for LSU
Two weeks ago, Kelly said his quarterback was “fighting through” a torso injury. But, in the leadup and aftermath of this rivalry loss, the coach said the quarterback is healthy. And the quarterback himself isn’t saying much, at all.
“Garrett Nussmeier’s gotta play better,” Kelly said. “Every player on offense has gotta play better, and then we have to be more consistent on defense.”
“This is not a Garrett Nussmeier problem,” he added. “This is an entire football team of guys needing to do their job at a higher level.”
Kelly fumed earlier this month at the idea LSU’s offense wasn’t playing up to snuff. Praise LSU’s defense, he implored. Praise be, indeed, because LSU might have multiple losses if not for the way its defense performed the first few weeks.
LSU’s offensive showing performance against Florida, though, served as a canary in the coal mine. This problem isn’t going away. It’s festering.
Kelly’s right: Nussmeier must play better. He’s also right Nussmeier’s not the only problem.
LSU’s receivers did not get open at the same rate the Rebels’ receivers did. The Tigers mounted little attempt at a ground game. An injury sidelined starting tailback Caden Durham, but it’s not as if the Tigers were running wild and free the previous four games, either. Against Ole Miss, a wide receiver led LSU in rushing attempts at halftime. So, yeah, that’s what Kelly and Co. think of their run game, sans Durham.
As for LSU’s offensive line, put it this way: Those fellas wouldn’t be asked to moonlight as bouncers at a night club. Nothing intimidating about them.
Some of this does come back to a quarterback not playing up to his billing.
Nussmeier’s touchdown pass became a product of gameshow-like good fortune. His toss into thick coverage deflected off a defender. The ball ricocheted over the outstretched hand of another defender, and into the mitts of LSU’s lounging receiver Nic Anderson, who wasn’t the intended target. The officials called it a touchdown. Bob Barker would’ve called it Plinko!
Nussmeier connected on one deep strike, but it hovered in the air so long, I imagine some thirsty fan in attendance could have shot-gunned a beer before the pass found its mark.
The lack of downfield passing became a persistent theme throughout LSU’s month-long scoring drought.
“We didn’t make a big catch down the field, outside the numbers,” Kelly said. “We made some really good catches inside the numbers, in the hash (marks), but you’ve got to hit some of those plays, and we didn’t hit any of them.”
If you didn’t know better, you would’ve thought LSU started the Division II transfer. In truth, that was Ole Miss. Who knew Ferris State could be a quarterback factory for the SEC? Lane Kiffin got wise to it.
Trinidad Chambliss keeps making the winning plays.
Nussmeier keeps making plays that make me question whether he’s healthy — and if he is, what happened to his big arm?
Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s senior national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.