MAILBAG: Van Buren snaps, weekend rotation, hoops enjoyable?

By Hunt Palmer

It’s a bye week for the Tigers.

That’s a time to reset for Brian Kelly’s crew. It’s a time for me to reply your questions. Today’s version featured questions on LSU’s struggling offense, ideas on the baseball crew as fall ball approaches in addition to questions on how a lot enjoyable basketball might be this season.

Let’s dive in to your questions.

Are we being lied to in regards to the nature or extent of the Garrett Nussmeier “torso injury?”

• I feel “lied to” is robust verbiage. I wish to be clear. Very little of this reply is rooted in information and reporting. Essentially, I’m connecting dots. I imagine LSU withheld the damage info within the preseason so Clemson wouldn’t be absolutely conscious of it. Beyond that, I’m unsure how badly Nussmeier is compromised. His play, particularly the deep balls to Barion Brown (La Tech) and Chris Hilton (Ole Miss), suggests he can’t rip the ball 45 yards on the fly like he needs to. He’s throwing for 100 yards per recreation lower than he did within the first 5 video games of 2024. And his reply Saturday evening that, “I’m not going to answer any questions about my health right now,” just isn’t very encouraging. We’ll see if it seems to be any higher after per week off.

What do you anticipate from this yr’s baseball crew? Starting rotation, main BA, chief in HRs, Omaha? Early prediction.

• That’s lots to unpack, however I’ll give it a shot. Starting rotation. Casan Evans is a lock there. Then you’ve got a bunch of names for 2 slots. I feel Zac Cowan and Cooper Moore are the high-floor veteran proper handers. I actually like Deven Sheerin and Danny Lachenmayer from the crop of men who didn’t pitch for LSU final yr. Then you’ve received Cooper Williams and William Schmidt again. I’ll guess Evans, Cowan and Sheerin for now with the understanding that there’s a TON of time to regulate that. I’d be fairly shocked if Derek Curiel, who has placed on 20 lbs., didn’t lead the crew in hitting. He hit .345 as a freshman. As far as homers, Jake Brown, Seth Dardar and Brayden Simpson are potentialities, however I’ll go Trent Caraway. If Jay Johnson can unlock his potential with extra consistency, he’ll be a star. Omaha? As lengthy as Johnson is in Baton Rouge, I’ll really feel fairly good about Omaha each September. Fall is optimism season!

Is there any probability basketball goes to be enjoyable to observe this yr?

• There is an opportunity. Much of it rests on the shoulders of switch level guard DJ Thomas. LSU has had very poor level guard play relative to the remainder of the SEC in all three of Matt McMahon’s seasons. Thomas was introduced in to rectify that. He ought to management the tempo and have the ability to create for others and rating for himself. That makes life a lot simpler on the bigs and wings. I gained’t fake to have an in depth information base on the opposite 15 groups within the league at this level. Give me till Christmas there. But you didn’t ask what number of video games they’re going to win. You requested about enjoyable. Good guard play is enjoyable to observe (and helps win video games).

My query is how can Joe Sloan sit and watch 8 drop into protection all recreation and never name working performs?

• LSU isn’t working the ball sufficient. That’s fairly apparent to everybody watching. I’d be actually shocked if there wasn’t a renewed emphasis on the bottom recreation popping out of the bye week. That doesn’t promise any elevated manufacturing, however the dedication ought to be there.

Is it time to present Michael Van Buren a glance?

• When you’re chasing a championship on this sport, every part is one the desk. Every loss is crippling. That stated, it’s an enormous message to this system to take a seat down a fifth-year participant, second-year starter who skipped out on the NFL Draft to return and earned No. 18. Nussmeier is the unquestioned chief of the crew. He went to SEC Media Days. The video division made a manufacturing out of his return. And he’s confirmed to be a productive SEC quarterback. That doesn’t make you untouchable, however Van Buren had a tough fall camp. Two quarters towards Southeastern doesn’t remedy that. I wouldn’t thoughts a bundle for Van Buren and even Ju’Juan Johnson in some sort of wildcat look. But Nussmeier simply must play higher, and I simply can’t know the way a lot of the poor play so far is rooted in damage. Keep in thoughts, everybody needed Nussmeier to take snaps after the 2023 Florida State loss. That beginning quarterback turned out to be respectable.

Is Tony Vitello an actual candidate for the San Francisco Giants job?

• I don’t suppose a number of reporters are simply making it up. Now, does Vitello wish to go handle within the massive leagues, or does he wish to use the chance to leverage just a few {dollars} out of his athletic director? Since Vitello has lifted Tennessee towards the highest of faculty baseball, Texas, LSU, Mississippi State and Texas A&M have employed coaches. He’s working out of faculty jobs to make use of in that manner. The Giants gig qualifies, although. Vitello, regardless of what rival followers consider him, is basically preferred by his gamers. He’s an awesome relationship builder and chief. You may not like 19-year-olds speaking trash and flipping bats, however that’s much less of a problem with 29-year-olds with 10 years {of professional} service. He’s mellowed a bit bit when it comes to his dugout outbursts, too. I feel he’d in all probability be MLB supervisor with a veteran bench coach subsequent to him. To reply the query, sure, I feel he’s a “real candidate”. I don’t suppose he’ll find yourself being San Francisco’s alternative.