<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3nBjBG_0vL5DxMh00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3nBjBG_0vL5DxMh00" width="1200" height="628" >LSU coach Brian Kelly said USC quarterback Miller Moss played better than his own, Garrett Nussmeier, following the Tigers' season-opening loss to the Trojans. Those remarks have come under fire this week with the latest take coming from former Alabama star running back Mark Ingram."That's not throwing him under the bus, that's throwing him under the 18-wheeler semi," Ingram said this week on The Triple Option podcast. "Your player just went out there and played his tail off. You said it. Nine incompletions, 300 yards, two touchdowns. He didn't throw an interception until the last pass of the game — which the game was over — and you go out here and you throw your player, your starting quarterback, under the bus? You should be encouraging these guys."Ingram said Kelly's comments could divide the team."I know he wants that back, because in a tough nailbiter like that, that's divisive for your team," Ingram said. "I'm sure he's apologized to his team. I'm sure he's clarified to his team ... Coach, let's take a step back. Your quarterback played extremely well and put you all in position to be able to win the game."For an elite coach visibly frustrated in the aftermath, placing his third-straight season-opening loss on the players — especially a first-year starter under center with a new offensive coordinator and surrounding pieces — could send the wrong message and might be confidence-rattling moving forward.Nussmeier finished 29-of-38 for 304 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, that lone mistake coming on his final throw of the contest. His final QBR in the game was 88.1 compared to a 79.2 score from Moss."I mean, I think Garrett did some really good things. There's a couple he'd really like back," Kelly said. "You know, like any first game really, against a good opponent … I think he did enough to win the football game. When we needed a couple of plays, I think there's a couple of plays he'd like to do better. He's going to be really good for us and he'll get better from today."Much-maligned last year during a record-setting season of bad defense leading to a coordinator and various staff changes, the other side of the football was a topic of postgame conversation to which Kelly again pointed at his team's lack of production on offense."I wouldn't call USC's offense pedestrian, you know? They've got some good athletes," Kelly said. "I thought the quarterback played well tonight. He out-played our quarterback and made plays when he needed to."Nussmeier, who played in 18 games with his only start prior to Sunday night coming during LSU's bowl win last season against Wisconsin, is known as a "gunslinger" of sorts who's goes big-game hunting on the perimeter when given the opportunity. During his first two seasons with the Tigers, there wasn't a throw downfield Nussmeier didn't like and it would sometimes get him into trouble, Geaux247 wrote earlier this summer.Nussmeier was more careful with the football against the Trojans, almost to his detriment, as the Tigers managed only two chunk completions spanning 20 yards or more. For a player as important as Nussmeier is to the Tigers, Joe Sloan and LSU's offensive staff may try to give him more freedom moving forward in an attempt and hit targets at the second level.Get football and recruiting scoop on your favorite college team for $1 for first month.In the era of incentivized-NIL deals and no policing on tampering, Nussmeier could've left Baton Rouge and been a starter earlier in his career at another elite program had playing time ranked highest to him. Entering the transfer portal, however, was never in the cards.</div></body>

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Mark Ingram slams Brian Kelly after critique of LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier

LSU coach Brian Kelly said USC quarterback Miller Moss played better than his own, Garrett Nussmeier, following the Tigers' season-opening loss to the Trojans. Those remarks have come under fire this week with the latest take coming from former Alabama star running back Mark Ingram. \"That's not throwing him under...

LSU coach Brian Kelly said USC quarterback Miller Moss played better than his own, Garrett Nussmeier, following the Tigers' season-opening loss to the Trojans. Those remarks have come under fire this week with the latest take coming from former Alabama star running back Mark Ingram. "That's not throwing him under...

Mark Ingram slams Brian Kelly after critique of LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier

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