re: LSU 1st Down Playcalling

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This is a big year for Sloan.

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It sure is. Like will he working here next year kinda big.

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This is a big year for Sloan. I really wasn't super impressed with his play calling last year. Very predictable and no flow at times. We have the talent but Sloan is one thing that keeps me worried.

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I disagree. We didn't have the talent or more importantly enough experienced talent last year. Play calling doesn't mean shite if you don't have the talent and experienced talent to run plays an OC would like to call. BK and Sloan through the portal and recruiting now have both. Sloan has been here only one fricking year so let's see what he does this year and next year. Y'all are all in on Nuss but Nuss might have cost us 2 games last year. I believe he will be better this year but may not. I remember when Ensminger was the scapegoat on this board for years. It seems Sloan is now the scapegoat. They were wrong then about Ensminger and wrong now about Sloan. I have many friends who are Louisiana college coaches and they all respect Sloan. Lastly everyone here better get used to being in a conference where anyone can beat you on a given day. The SEC is loaded with good coaches and talent.

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experienced talent last year.

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I keep going back to the USC game and Sloan is absolutely losing his shite in the press box. Nuss was apparently rattled and not doing what he was told to do. Makes sense the offense in the first half/most of that game was awful.

ChatGPT says LSU ran it just 42.4% of the time on first down, ranking 131st in college football and last in the P4.

But the article it references came out with 2 regular season games left so you could be right.

This is the part of the article that really rang true to me.

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LSU's red zone offense has been a problem area. The Tigers struggle to finish drives, even in moments when the offense is working.

The Tigers are hurt by the struggling ground game here, ranking 115th in the country in red zone rushing rate.

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LSU Wire

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Overall rush/pass balance

LSU is one of the most pass-heavy teams in America. The Tigers throw the ball 60.33% of the time -- No. 6 nationally.

Garrett Nussmeier had dropped back 444 times. Only six QBs in the country have more.

There's nothing inherently wrong with a passing-happy offense, but the lack of a run game puts a lot of pressure on Nussmeier. Kelly has spoken about wanting more balance.

At times, LSU could stand to establish the run more. But if you can't run the ball, simply calling more run plays isn't the answer.

Second and long rushing rate

How an OC handles second and 7 10 can tell you a lot about what an offense wants to do. Some teams view this as a time to let it rip. If you're going to have to throw on third and long, why not give your QB two chances at it?

Other teams value setting up third and manageable. Both approaches can work.

LSU ranks 90th in second and long rushing rate this year, opting to run it 39% of the time.

First down tendencies

LSU runs it just 42.4% of the time on first down, ranking 131st in college football and last in the P4.

This comes back to LSU's inability to run the football. Sloan and staff are hesitant to turn to an inconsistent run game early in the series because it often leads to second and third and long.

LSU needs more balance here. If the Tigers can't run it, they become predictable on first down. First and 10 is supposed to be a situation where the entire playbook is open, but it isn't for LSU.

Standard down rushing rate

Standard downs are another area where the entire playbook should be open. This is first and 10, second and medium/short, and third and short.

LSU's standard down rate rushing rate is 43% -- ranking 132nd in the country.

This may be what Kelly is talking about when he says he wants more balance. These are situations where LSU can afford to run the ball but isn't. There's not much risk of getting stuffed here. If a run is stopped on second and fourth, it's still third and manageable in the next play.

Screen rate

Screens are called for Garrett Nussmeier 12.1% of the time. That ranks sixth out of 18 qualified passers in the SEC. Screens aren't a huge part of the offense, but LSU isn't afraid to use them.

LSU averages 6.9 yards per attempt on these plays.

On nonscreen plays, Nussmeier's completion percentage is just 52.8%, second to last in the SEC.

Play action rate

Sloan calls play-action for Nussmeier 22.8% of the time, which is one of the lowest rates in the SEC.

And when LSU does use play-action, it's not that effective. Nussmeier's completion percentage is 12.2% worse on PA plays and his -3.1 yards per pass compared to non-PA plays is the worst in the SEC.

When an offense has an ineffective play-action game, it makes it hard to tie the run and pass game together, putting more stress on both elements. Figuring this out needs to be a top priority for LSU moving forward.

Only Texas A&M's Connor Weigman has a worse NFL passer rating in the SEC than Nussmeier on play action.

In the red zone

LSU's red zone offense has been a problem area. The Tigers struggle to finish drives, even in moments when the offense is working.

The Tigers are hurt by the struggling ground game here, ranking 115th in the country in red zone rushing rate. As space gets constricted near the endzone, you have to run the ball. LSU can't consistently do that.

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To me the more predictable thing last year was 2nd down play calling after 1st down incompletions. At one point in the middle of the season I noticed it then for the next 6 games I don’t remember him not doing it. There was definitely an adjustment later in the season and it showed.

I get that you want to reduce 3rd down yardage to gain, but hoping we see some short slants, WR screens, swing passes or something less predictable to accomplish the same result or better. Not sure how good our receivers will block this year, also part of that equation.