LSU football camp observations: Defense shines in 11-on-11 drills against Garrett Nussmeier (2024)

The LSU offense is expected to be one of the strongest units in the country again in 2024.

Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels is off to the NFL. So are star wide receivers Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas. But the Tigers bring back four of five starters on the offensive line, promote talented backup quarterback Garrett Nussmeier into the starting role and enter 2024 with one of the deepest wide receiver rooms in the SEC.

Despite so much change, the offense had fewer questions to answer heading into this season than the defense did. But during Saturday's preseason practice, the defense routinely got the better of the offense during the 11-on-11 scrimmage portion of practice that was open to the media.

Nussmeier completed 3 of 7 passes. He also threw an interception that didn't count. The turnover only occurred because a penalty was called at the line of scrimmage, opening the door for Nussmeier to throw it deep without any consequences.

Junior linebacker West Weeks later pressured Nussmeier in the pocket, forcing him to throw the ball away. Redshirt junior defensive back Sage Ryan also successfully defended a pass.

Nussmeier wasn't the only Tiger flustered by the defensive aggression. Junior linebacker Harold Perkins and senior safety Major Burns both recorded tackles for loss on sophom*ore running back Kaleb Jackson.

Saturday's scrimmage wasn't a total lost cause for the offense. Liberty transfer wide receiver CJ Daniels had an impressive run after the catch on a short pass from Nussmeier, and Jackson bulldozed sophom*ore linebacker Whit Weeks on one run.

But the performance of the defense, a unit that was 103rd in the country in yards allowed per play last season, was what stood out Saturday.

"There's a lot on their plate mentally, but I feel like they're doing a pretty good job," LSU first-year defensive coordinator Blake Baker said. "Still looking for some more consistency out of the unit, but overall (I'm) pleased with where they're at."

Nussmeier battles

Nussmeier had trouble finding his groove during the 11-on-11 scrimmage but played much better during the 7-on-7 portion of practice.

He completed 7 of 9 passes, hitting junior tight end Mason Taylor and Daniels twice for catches. Nussmeier also connected with redshirt sophom*ore wide receiver Aaron Anderson and fifth-year senior Kyren Lacy.

The catch of the day came from redshirt junior Chris Hilton, who went to the ground on an underthrown pass from Nussmeier for a touchdown.

Nussmeier's two incompletions came on a pass breakup from Burns and a tipped pass off sophom*ore cornerback Ashton Stamps' fingertips after Nussmeier had rolled to his right to find an open man.

Attendance

Defensive tackle and Wisconsin transfer Gio Paez was the only new absence Saturday. In his place, senior Jalen Lee, redshirt junior Kimo Makane'ole and redshirt sophom*ore Shone Washington took reps on the first team next to fifth-year senior Jacobian Guillory.

Lee and senior edge rusher Bradyn Swinson returned to practice after having missed the start of preseason because because of a summer Spanish class. Both were full participants during the first half of practice that was available to the media, but they went into the LSU Football Operations Center during the second half.

Freshman edge rusher CJ Jackson was spotted doing individual side work away from the rest of practice, and junior wide receiver Zavion Thomas was a more active participant than he's been recently, fielding kickoffs and working with the second-team offense.

Thomas has been nursing a minor hamstring injury for the majority of preseason.

Updates on DBs

For the first time since the start of preseason practices, sophom*ore cornerback Javien Toviano worked with the second-team defense during a walk-through period. Toviano also participated in 7-on-7 drills, as did senior cornerback Zy Alexander, who is working his way back from a torn ACL.

It was the most either cornerback had participated this preseason during the portions of practice that are available to the media. Toviano's participation had been limited after he was arrested on video voyeurism charges last month.