Ed Orgeron: Garrett Nussmeier continues to show 'gunslinger' qualities

Ed Orgeron is seeing some interesting qualities in quarterback Garrett Nussmeier. While Max Johnson has been the LSU starter this season, it’s expected that Nussmeier will take on a bigger role as the season winds down.

Earlier this week, Orgeron shed some light on what he’s seeing in his young quarterback.

“I don’t want to say that Max doesn’t do this, but I can tell you what Garrett does well,” started Orgeron. “His instincts .. quick release with this ball .. he’s a gunslinger.

“He’s going to take chances .. going to roll out and he wants to make plays. Just like Max — they’re both competitive. It’s just a little bit different, you know. Garrett’s loose. We’ll take chances .. which is good if it works.”

Orgeron and LSU have nothing to lose. The Tigers coach is gone after this season, so they might as well go all out in trying to get some more memorable wins this season. With Garrett Nussmeier, perhaps the LSU offense can be given a spark.

Orgeron: ‘They’re both going to get their chances.’

Furthermore, Orgeron officially updated the quarterback situation on earlier this week, saying that both Johnson and Nussmeier will get opportunities.

“About what I expected,” Orgeron said of LSU’s quarterbacks. “Every day they were competing. One day Max would do well, the next day Garrett would do well. I think Max still has the edge. There was nothing glaring to say Garrett should be over him. But we got to see full speed action. They’re both going to get their chances.”

Nussmeier, a talented true freshman, was expected to redshirt prior to LSU’s game against Alabama last week. But after Nussmeier was disappointed he didn’t play, that plan has changed. Orgeron had a conversation with Doug Nussmeier, Garrett’s father and current Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks coach, and now the plan is for Nussmeier is to see the field.

“I had talked to his father Doug, who I respect a lot,” Orgeron said. “We had talked on Thursday, they had to be snaps that were significant and that if we put [Nussmeier] in, he’s going to play the rest of the year. I didn’t feel like it was the time to throw him in there for a couple of plays and then us burn his redshirt year, I didn’t want to do that to him. He came into the office yesterday and was adamant about playing. His father called Jake and said ‘hey listen, here’s the plan. He wants to play, let him play.’ So that’s what we’re doing. Obviously, right now, it looks like he may not redshirt, depends how the game goes. But that’s his choice and that’s what he wants to do.”

Both quarterbacks are likely to see the field for LSU on Saturday

Johnson has had a decent season as LSU’s starting quarterback. He has thrown for more than 2,000 yards and 22 touchdowns with six interceptions. While Nussmeier is likely to start seeing the field more, Orgeron pointed out that Johnson is still LSU’s starting quarterback.

“This week we’re going to let Max (Johnson) start. But we are gonna put in Garrett (Nussmeier). Garrett’s gonna get some plays. I already talked to him and we’re going let the best man win. You know it was time to let Garrett play,” Orgeron said at Monday’s presser. 

“He’s a great quarterback. I like Max. Max is still our starting quarterback, but I will give [Garrett] a chance. I talked to him; he wants to play so he will play against Arkansas. And the guy that ends up playing the best is going to play the most.”

LSU hosts Arkansas on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.