Maturing receivers a key part of LSU’s emerging passing game
By Les East
Published:
Hiring Joe Brady as LSU’s new passing game coordinator was a big story during the offseason and has been an even bigger one after the first 2 games of the season.
One aspect of Brady’s job that hasn’t gotten as much attention is the fact that he’s also the wide receivers coach.
Quarterback Joe Burrow’s nearly flawless play so far has understandably garnished the most headlines.
But the maturation of sophomore wide receivers Terrace Marshall Jr. and Ja’Marr Chase as complements to junior Justin Jefferson has been a key part of the passing game’s emergence as well.
Brady and offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger can call al the pass plays they want, and Burrow can make all the right reads and accurate throws he wants, but if the receivers aren’t getting open and making plays consistently, the transformation of the passing game couldn’t be as dramatic as it has been.
In the eye-opening 45-38 victory at No. 9 Texas last Saturday, Jefferson, Marshall and Chase all had 100-plus receiving yards, the first time in LSU’s storied history that it has had 3 100-yard receivers in the same game.
“One of the things we’re doing better this year than we did last year is catching the football,” coach Ed Orgeron said. “We had one drop. That’s phenomenal. I do believe, when you come to practice, you don’t see a lot of balls on the ground.”
Jefferson led the way against the Longhorns, as he did all of last season, and finished with 9 catches for 163 yards and 3 touchdowns, including a 61-yard touchdown on 3rd-and-17 late in the 4th quarter to provide the margin of victory.
Chase was next with 8 catches for 147 yards and Marshall, who had the first 3 touchdown catches of his college career in the season-opening 55-3 victory against Georgia Southern a week earlier, finished with 6 catches for 123 yards and a touchdown
“Those guys are so talented,” Burrow said after passing for 471 yards, the second-most in Tigers history.
Marshall arrived at LSU as the No. 1 receiver in the country, and Chase was the No. 2 receiver in Louisiana after Marshall. They and the rest of the receivers other than Jefferson struggled last season, though Marshall and Chase showed signs of why they had such lofty rankings with their play late in the season.
“We knew they were good players,” Orgeron said. “We were able to give them the ball in space and let them make plays (against Texas).”
Jefferson has become more of a slot receiver this season after being on the outside more last season.
“Justin has matured since he’s been here,” Orgeron said. “Joe Brady’s come in and taught him how to run routes and done a tremendous job with him and catching the football. The bottom line is he’s a competitor. He’s tough blocking. He wants the ball in his hands. He’s got ice in his veins. He doesn’t panic.”
Both Ensminger and Brady, who is assisted by Mickey Joseph in coaching the wide receivers, have preached about how good the receivers can be and that they’re the key to the Tigers reaching their lofty team goals.
“As long as we can protect the quarterback, the sky’s the limit for them,” Orgeron said of the receivers. “They’re tremendous football players. They’re tremendous athletes. They have a great coach – two coaches in Mickey Joseph and Joe Brady – and they have a great quarterback in Joe Burrow.”
Les East is a New Orleans-based football writer who covers LSU for SaturdayDownSouth.com. Follow him on Twitter @Les_East.
