LSU football team hosts players-only meeting about offense

LSU football barely escaped the Plains with its life. The Tigers were playing a dangerous game when they allowed Auburn to go up 17-0 early in the second quarter. Luckily, Brian Kelly and his staff made the necessary adjustments to put the players in a position to battle back. They repaid their coach’s faith by putting on a gritty second-half performance and earning the 21-17 win.

Everything was not sunshine and rainbows in the victory though. LSU threw for just 85 yards on the evening and it was second-best to a team on the brink of firing its coach. The Bayou Bengals dodged a bullet on Saturday. If they play this way again versus an SEC opponent, the football gods won’t be as merciful. Fans and pundits aren’t the only ones who recognize this reality.

LSU football team hosts players-only meeting about offense

Jayden Daniels called a players-only meeting on Monday for the quarterback and his receivers. The Tigers’ starting signal caller recognizes there has been a bit of a disconnect between the position groups through five games thus far. The meeting was meant to strengthen the bond between the offensive stars and find a solution going forward.

The LSU offensive players sat down to analyze film together, as well as discuss ideas on how they can improve going forward. It’s said that the players all left the meeting on Monday night with a great understanding of the next step in progressing as a team.

Whereas players-only meetings are usually called during hostile or tense situations, this could not have been further from the case here. Each player knows that they need to improve in some capacity, chief amongst them are Kayshon Boutte, Malik Nabers and Daniels.

There is no hostility amidst the struggles, which is rare in cases similar to this. The latter two were even seen leaving the meeting together smiling and laughing. Honestly speaking, why would there be? The Tigers are 4-1 after five games. Although the passing game has struggled, Daniels has been playing well and LSU is continuing to win football games.

It does seem that the offensive players—especially those vital to the aerial attack—have realized that things cannot continue down this path. The Bayou Bengals’ passing game has only declined against power five opponents as the season has gone on.

The way in which the Tigers won at Jordan-Hare Stadium last weekend simply isn’t sustainable against more formidable competition. LSU needs to find a way to make things click offensively. In all likelihood, the players-only meeting won’t be the cure for this issue right away. Nevertheless, everybody involved in the passing game must be on the same page. This is what the gathering earlier in the week is meant to help.

The Tigers’ coaches aren’t ignorant either. Kelly noted that he and his staff need to coach better. He stated that LSU needed to do a better job of involving the receivers, as it did against New Mexico. That’s a lot easier said than done. But it’s refreshing to know that the Tigers are actively searching for a solution heading into a tough matchup against Tennessee.