This week Brian Kelly got more involved with LSU's offense in an attempt to turn things around amidst a two-game losing streak. The group made some massive improvements this week yet, the group as a whole still has its issues which led to LSU extending its losing streak another week. The area where LSU saw the most improvement this week was in the running game after not being able to effectively for most of the season.
Caden Durham finally got the right number of touches after getting the ball just eight times against Alabama. Durham rewarded the team with 91 yards on his 20 carries averaging 4.6 yards per carry which finished second on the team.
That's because Josh Williams was the most effective running back with less carries on the day. Williams carried the ball 13 times picking up 69 yards for an average of 5.3 yards per carry.
When adjusting LSU's rushing totals to take out the yards lost due to sacks the group actually had a great game. The Tigers picked up 183 yards on 35 carries without the sack yardage accounting for 5.22 yards per carry. The Tigers had a ton of success without two of their best run blockers in Garrett Dellinger and Miles Frazier.
The issue for LSU was that whenever the run game would help power the Tigers down the field the offense would stall out resulting in the Tigers settling for Field Goals. The offense would drop a pass, commit a penalty, or let up a sack every time the Tigers got into the redzone which continues the theme of redzone stall outs.
The run game will be needed these final two weeks of the year
Based on how the offensive line has been playing, the Tigers can't make Garrett Nussmeier dropback 40-50 times because you're only asking for him to get hurt. The rest of the year the Tigers should look to lean on the run game especially as younger offensive linemen get their feet wet filling in for the injured starters. LSU needs to make the run game a consistent facet heading into next season and the best way to do it is by getting the younger players more experience in the scheme.