Why LSU football decided to bench Garrett Nussmeier, play Michael Van Buren vs Alabama

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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Frank Wilson wanted to see it.

In his first game as LSU football interim head football coach, Wilson did the one thing a sizable faction of the LSU fan base pleaded for former head coach Brian Kelly to do.

Roughly midway through the third quarter against rival Alabama Saturday night inside Bryant-Denny Stadium, Wilson made a change at quarterback, inserting sophomore backup Michael Van Buren into the game for senior Garrett Nussmeier.

LSU FIGHTS, FALLS SHORT AT ALABAMA

“As we discussed as a staff, we knew there could be opportunities in the quarterback run game,” Wilson said after the game. “(Alabama) would make it more difficult sitting in the pocket. We wanted to move (Van Buren) around and do some things. I thought that he gave us a chance to do those things. That went into the thought.”

LSU trailed 17-6 when Van Buren entered the game with 6:26 left in the third. He led the Tigers (5-4, 2-4 SEC) to a scoring drive off a short field after LSU linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. caused a fumble from Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson and made it a one-possession game, 17-9, after Damian Ramos kicked a field goal.

But those were the only points LSU managed with Van Buren at quarterback as the No. 4 Crimson Tide held off LSU, 20-9.

“I thought he was solid. There were some things that were obvious, pushing the pocket, stepping up and delivering passes, escaping, extending plays and picking up first downs with his legs,” Wilson said of Van Buren. “I’d like for him to have two hands on the ball in the pocket so we don’t get that last one swatted away. But I thought he did a good job.”

The wrinkles Van Buren adds to the Tigers’ offense as a dual threat quarterback is a benefit for a unit that has younger offensive linemen at key spots like left and right tackle. Center Braelin Moore said that the rest of the offense didn’t know Van Buren was coming into the game until the coaches told them before the series he entered the contest.

“I feel like he did a good job when he stepped in there,” LSU junior center Braelin Moore said. “With his ability, it gives you some more things you can do. He’s able to get out of the pocket, picked up some yards when we needed to. It’s Alabama, it’s a hostile environment, he did his thing.”

For the game, Van Buren went 5 of 11 for 52 and rushed six times for one yard.

Nussmeier started the game strong, driving the Tigers down for a field goal attempt that would’ve been the first score of the game, but placekicker Damian Ramos missed the 30-yarder. LSU tied the game, 3-3, in the second quarter on a nine-play, 48-yard drive.

LSU’s offense managed 110 yards through the first three drives before the wheels fell off with three straight possessions that netted negative yardage. And that’s when Wilson made the change.

“He’s a warrior; he wants to play. He wanted to stay in the game, and I told him this is what we were going to do. He was a great teammate, he was supportive of his teammates,” Wilson said. “He stayed engaged, and I was very proud of him and how he supported his team.”

Senior linebacker West Weeks added that Nussmeier, despite the benching, is still the leader of the team, and his teammates were impressed with how he handled the situation at Alabama.

“I think he did a great job with it. He is the leader of this team,” Weeks said. “He’s No. 18, and that’s for a reason. That dude is a stud. Mentally, all he goes through, I don’t know how he does it. He’s a true definition of a leader, and I love him for that.”

Going forward, Wilson didn’t tip his hand as to whether Nussmeier and Van Buren will compete for the starting quarterback job next week leading into the Arkansas game and beyond that.

“I just want to be there for our players to let them know we’re going to be alright, to pick their heads up, and we’re standing by you. Decisions of depth moving forward, we’re not at that stage yet,” Wilson said.

Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Why Garrett Nussmeier was benched, Michael Van Buren played for LSU vs Alabama

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