re: What are your biggest compliments and concerns after week 1?

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Was pleasantly surprised with the punning game both punning and punt returns.

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Good point - I would have liked to have pin them with a punt (when we had the opportunity) and the missed field goal, but otherwise, special teams was solid - I think I give them a solid B under the circumstances.

They didn’t bring in all those portal receivers because they were confident or comfortable with what they already had. Thomas seems to have forced himself onto the field, but the portal actions suggested A Anderson was the only returner they were counting on to do anything. The only thing that’s suggested otherwise is bringing Hilton to media days.

By the end of September WR rotation is going to tighten up to 4-5 guys. Anderson, Brown, Thomas, Parker/N. Anderson.

Compliments

1. Main one, they didn't come out flat like they had in previous openers. They were fired up and ready to play, and it was evident from the defensive intensity from start to finish.

2. Offense made major adjustments at the half to start moving the ball consistently, which we didn't see much of last year.

3. They actually ran the ball with some consistency last night against one of the better defenses they'll see all year.

4. Nuss didn't make any panic driven throws into triple coverage and managed the game really well in a tough environment.

Concerns

1. Play calling at the end of the game was a little too conservative. If they get a first down on that final drive the game is basically over. I don't mean they should be slinging it all over the field, but some high percentage plays to get your playmakers in space to try and get a first down would have been a better path in my opinion.

2. Not kicking the field goal at the end of the half was just baffling to me. Add that in, and the game is over instead of Clemson being in position to tie it at the end. This isn't just LSU doing this though, I watched several teams ignore taking points to go for it on fourth down yesterday. I'm not sure how this became a thing, but it's crazy to me.

3. Receivers had a stretch in the 1st half where they seemed really confused about what was going on which resulted in some bad plays and penalities, but it's the first game of the year, and offense always takes longer to gel. Add in the fact that they were in a tough environment, and this is just nit picking honestly.

All that aside, if we don't get hosed on the TD call, the game is well out of reach and we beat them handily. Completely different looking team than last year with a very strong defense, and an offense that will probably come along and be more consistent in games 2-3 than we saw in game 1. Can't ignore that they were playing against one of the better defenses they'll see either.

I was happy to see the OC finally implement the shotgun yapping to the WR's to fake confusion then Nuss incognito goes under center against a spread 4-man front to burst for an easy 3rd &1 first down.

I have been calling for this play since USC Trojans game 1 last year. All the great "not the most nimble" QB's in the shotgun have used this approach: Brees, P. Manning, Brady et al.

In future close games, I would also like to see the TE in motion brotherly shove and a few other wrinkles of this 3rd & 1 and 4th & 1 play. Don't use it against the smaller schools, just the big matchups at critical points throughout the game.

I don't want to rag on Hilton too much because it's first game but man, he hurt his team so bad. I can't really get mad about the 4th down with him. That was a HORRIBLE call by Sloan and Nuss should've audible out of that since they were playing press. I think he tried to but they couldn't hear him.

The penalty was killer though. Sloan called a perfect middle screen on a safety blitz that likely would've been a long TD run. Nobody was in the middle of the field.

Hilton should be benched with the emergence of Thomas who's Mr. Everything right now.

What's more important about this is LSU stuck to the run. They didn't deviate away from it which I like. In the past BK and crew would get a nice 10 yeard run, then a 2 yard run, then go like, nah, we'll just throw 8x in a row.

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Well a big chunk of that came on the first play of the game when Durham broke a tackle in the backfield.

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I didn’t say they were perfect by any means. They are well beyond what we saw last year as far as being able to run the ball. They had plenty of misses for sure, but I think it’s a better starting point than we had last year. First game playing together against a stout defense and they were able to run the ball when we needed to for the most part. I think it only gets better as they gel.

That was the perfect early season win. We got the W, but it showed us plenty of areas of improvement.

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3) Sloan key situational play calling

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He really shite the bed on that last drive in the fourth quarter. Pretty much an unimaginative three and out. Could’ve been costly.