LSU football offensive coordinator Joe Sloan and his staff put work into preparing a balanced attack for the 2025 season.
The Tigers’ passing attack was one of the SEC’s most prolific in 2024, but a lack of a run game cost LSU in the red zone and on third down. LSU averaged just four yards per carry in 2024. Sloan acknowledged the shortcomings and committed to making improvements.
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“I think there was a ton of reflection, right, on me, on us as an offensive staff, on us as players, on us as quarterbacks,” Sloan said. “It all fits together, and how can we build an appropriate offensive attack around the players that we have to highlight their strengths? I think that’s what really has been our focus and using other creative ways to do that.”
Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier performed well with his arm last year, his first time as the starter, but couldn’t find his place as a run threat. It affected the way teams defended LSU as its best receivers got more attention, but developing a strong presence in the ground game would open more downfield threats.
Improving as a runner has been a focus for Nussmeier this offseason.
“I think every year we’re a different team, so I think that’s really been the biggest approach is how can we do different things to create maybe some easier opportunities for Garrett and for our offense to create some explosives, and whether that be in the run game, whether that be in the pass game, or whatever that might be,” Sloan said.
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LSU added to its staff, too, tabbing Alex Atkins as the run game coordinator.
“I think our big thing this year, our focus is going to be keep it tight, keep it smaller, and really let our guys play fast with the answers,” Sloan said. “Have an answer within every play that we’re going to call. And I think that will help us a lot, continue to be more efficient and take advantage when the opportunity comes to be explosive.”
This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: LSU football OC Joe Sloan talks added focus on the run game
