by
48 Comments
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN's Paul Finebaum appeared on the SportsCenter over the weekend and discussed Week 1 of the college football season, which includes LSU's opener at Clemson.

According to Finebaum, this game will be decided by whether or not LSU's offensive line can hold up and keep Garrett Nussmeier clean against Clemson's talented defensive line. Per On3:
quote:

“I think it’s whether or not LSU can protect Nussmeier, the quarterback,” Paul Finebaum said. “The reason I say that is because Clemson probably has the best defensive line in the country. Playing at home, if they wreak havoc with Nussmeier, they’re going to be in great shape.”

“He is a superb quarterback. He and Klubnik from Clemson are probably the top two in the entire country,” Finebaum said. “But he gets a little wild under pressure. That cost LSU a couple of times last year. It very well could cost them this game if he doesn’t have protection.”
Filed Under: LSU Football
Originally published on TigerDroppings.com
48 Comments
user avatar
user avatar
porge71063 months
He was wrong as usual
user avatar
Tigerpride183 months
thats the first time ive ever seen him say anything besides such and such will win because they're the better team
user avatar
oleheat3 months
Clemson doesn't recruit chopped liver- but the sudden elite reputation their defense possess still has to be proven. They were winless against the SEC last season with many of the same players- and were NOT elite against the run.....Frankly, I'd like to see a few direct snaps to Ju'Juan Johnson to give them something else to worry about.....
user avatar
TouchdownTony3 months
LSU is going to win this game. I think win by a couple scores. Yes, Clemson has a lot of returning production but from a team that beat who? I said last year they were not a playoff team and I still believe that. They won a conference that is a little tougher than the Sun Belt. They would have lost 4-5 games in the SEC. They played 2 SEC teams and got ran.
user avatar
tigerbutt3 months
I wish no harm on any player at anytime. LSU will play hard but Nuss gets hurt in this game. Downvote away.
user avatar
CDawson3 months
It always starts up front. If you cannot control the LOS you cannot win on any level.
user avatar
14caratgoldjones3 months
Finebaum couldn’t name any of Clemson’s D-Linemen if his life depended on it. I wish people would get into REAL specifics on his call in show when discussing sports with him and expose him as the fraud he is. He couldn’t name a Clemson player on the D-line, his year, if he’s a transfer, where he’s from, where he may project in the NFL combine, etc. He knows NONE of this. Doesn’t do his homework. Never has!
Ask him WHAT games it cost LSU last year and he wouldn’t know. His football knowledge is trash but somehow he’s the mouthpiece for the greatest league in CFB. Fraud!
user avatar
TwoDatBait3 months
Cool, but LSU’s run game will win the game not passing… book it
user avatar
CajunBullet3 months
Time will tell Paul, time will tell!
user avatar
Saunson693 months
Why does LSU just so happen to always schedule teams at their very peak in out of conference? Florida St hasn't been releveant except 2 years in the last decade. 2022 and 2023 alone. And we just so happen to schedule them and their undefeated year in 2023. UCLA finished ranked in 2021 and they never do that anymore. Now we schedule Clemson in *supposedly* their best team since they were in the 4 team CFP semi-final? And we do it on an away game first and potentially waste our supposed best roster since 2019? This Clemson series better be the last Top 20 team we play for a while in OOC.
user avatar
Saunson693 months
This was scheduled in August 2018. When Clemson was in a Nati for like 4 years straight. Even back then it did you no favors to schedule a Top 4 team to keep you out of the 4 team CFP.
user avatar
Saunson693 months
Clemson's Defensive Line finished 83rd in FBS in rushing yards allowed per game. The best defensive line doesn't finish 83rd in rushing yards allowed per game. Therefore they are not the best defensive line in FBS.
user avatar
Gulf Coast Tiger3 months
Breaking news Paul
user avatar
TutHillTiger3 months
Agree, their secondary is their one weakness too but can we take advantage of it
user avatar
CajunBullet3 months
Absolutely, Air Nussmeier will light them up!
user avatar
HillabeeBaw3 months
Finebaum throwing darts in the dark hoping he hits the target. The bald one doesn't know shite from shinola and its hard to believe he turned hia schtick into an income of millions per year. The little worm has made it off the backs of the lunatic gump fanbase for 4 decades now.
user avatar
Brlaf773 months
How many channels does he catch with those ears ?!?
user avatar
faraway3 months
if only we had a legit OC. I don't think Sloan is top SEC caliber.
user avatar
RCDfan19503 months
LSU offense is very fast all over and Nuss’s arm is not going to be the only thing that the Clemson D-line will have to navigate. There will be a lot of lateral movement and deception and we’ll see how smart they are. I would love to bank this one!
user avatar
Woodman3 months
Funny you question how smart they are . . .

An old joke amongst others in the ACC:

"What does the "N" in Clemson stand for?

Knowledge"
user avatar
Gene Heinous3 months
Duh, I'm glad this dumbass genius is putting that astute information out in front of the paywall!!!
user avatar
Ironhead9853 months
Nuss needs to either take off running or just eat the sack. I think we'd all take 3 or 4 sacks over 2 interceptions
user avatar
moneyg3 months
I can't stand Finebaum.

He's on the mark here.
Popular Stories
logoFollow SECRant for SEC Football News
Follow us on X and Facebook to get the latest updates on SEC Football and Recruiting.

FacebookTwitter