Jayden Daniels' Role in LSU Football's Loss to Florida State: 5 Key Questions

LSU suffers a 45-24 loss to Florida State in their season opener, raising questions about the team's performance.

LSU suffered yet another disappointing loss in their season opener, this time against Florida State. It marks their fourth consecutive season opener defeat and the second consecutive year losing to Florida State. The final score was 45-24, with LSU leading at halftime but ultimately being outcoached, outmuscled, and outexecuted in the second half.

After such an embarrassing defeat, there are five important questions that arise for coach Brian Kelly and his program. One key point to note is that despite the loss, quarterback Jayden Daniels was not the main issue for LSU. He managed to account for 437 yards of offense (excluding yards lost on sacks) and threw for 347 yards, even under constant pressure. While he didn't take many deep shots and his pocket awareness was questionable, the decline in LSU's offense can be attributed more to the performance of their offensive line and the crucial drops from their receiving corps.

Although it may have felt like more, LSU only had three dropped passes in the game. Two of these came from Kyren Lacy and the other from Brian Thomas Jr. However, the timing of these drops was detrimental to the Tigers. Lacy's first dropped pass occurred in the fourth quarter with the score tied at 17, on a crucial third-and-6 play that could have resulted in a first down. Thomas' dropped pass at the end of the same quarter, if caught, would have put LSU in the red zone with only a touchdown deficit.

On a positive note, Andre' Sam held his own during the game. The Marshall transfer did not allow any receptions in coverage and showcased his versatility in various roles. Additionally, Greg Brooks Jr. only surrendered one reception, and Duce Chestnut made an interception for LSU.

However, outside of these few bright spots, the Tigers' secondary struggled. Chestnut, Major Burns, Zy Alexander, and Sage Ryan each gave up at least four receptions for a total of 53 yards. It was a challenging night for LSU's defensive backs.

The offensive line had a particularly rough outing against Florida State's formidable front seven, led by Jared Verse. They failed to create any running lanes, resulting in LSU's running backs gaining a mere 49 yards on the ground. In the passing game, the offensive line allowed 11 pressures, with Will Campbell and Emery Jones being responsible for the majority of them.

Looking ahead, LSU faces a tough road ahead if they don't turn things around quickly. While their upcoming home opener against Grambling State should be a guaranteed win, their following games on the road against Mississippi State, Ole Miss, and Missouri pose significant challenges. Sunday's performance against Florida State demonstrated that victories in these games cannot be taken for granted.

In conclusion, LSU's loss to Florida State raises important questions for the team and their coach, Brian Kelly. Jayden Daniels performed well despite the defeat, but issues with the offensive line and dropped passes contributed to the decline in LSU's offense. The secondary struggled, while the defensive line failed to create running opportunities and allowed significant pressure on the quarterback. LSU must quickly improve if they want to succeed in their upcoming games.