BATON ROUGE — During the media viewing period of LSU football’s practice Monday, quarterback Garrett Nussmeier tried to shoot the gap between defenders to make a dump-down throw to a receiver running a drag route across the middle.
The ball didn’t have enough air under it and the window to make the throw was small and shrinking by the breath.
LSU senior defensive lineman Parish Shand got his hand up in time, batted the football up into the air before settling into his arms for an interception during 11-on-11 drills.
Picks have not been uncommon for Nussmeier, and the of the Tiger quarterbacks, during this preseason practice. But as the junior signal caller told reporters after practice Monday, the few mistakes that have been captured and reported don’t define how his fall camp has gone. Nor have they been indicative of where his development in his first season as the full-starter currently is as the season opener against USC draws closer.
“I think it’s been great. There’s been really good days and there’s been some days when I’ve made some mistakes and I have to learn from them,” Nussmeier said. “That’s what I want. I would not to have a completely perfect camp. I wouldn’t be prepared for the season. Things are never perfect.
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“Playing quarterback in the SEC is tough, it’s not easy. It’s the hardest conference to play quarterback in outside of the NFL. The struggles at times are, I wouldn’t say I like, but I understand they have to happen because you have to grow.”
Those interceptions during practice aren’t specifically a notion that Nussmeier is seeing or doing anything wrong but there have been some media that have labeled Nussmeier a “gunslinger,” and comparing him to Brett Favre.
Some of the blips have been the quarterback taking a shot downfield and a defender making a great play.
“There’s testing different things in certain situations. (Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Joe Sloan) has always been on to me about the I’ve always had in the past of taking too many risks. That’s not something that I always try to do because I understand who I am as a player,” Nussmeier said.
“I’m at my best whenever I’m playing within myself and the system. There are times where you try things and mistakes do happen. Making mistakes in camp is what you want. You want to be able to learn from them. We’re not a finished product yet, I’m not a finished product yet. You always want to get better and I hope I’m better in December than I am right now.”
Sloan has labeled Nussmeier as a “high processor,” a guy that can assess a situation rapidly and he has the arm talent to make some throws that are a bit risky at times.
“The biggest thing is being process-oriented, that’s where I’ve been really proud of him,” Sloan said. “He’s been sticking to his process, he’s been focused on little things and allowing the big things to happen. I’ve watched him grow as a leader this offseason and how he’s been able to let it happen naturally and let his work speak for itself and be the vocal leader when he needs to be.”
Where the high processing ability arguably helps Nussmeier most is after mistakes. He can recall those missteps in practice and whether it’s in the same practice or another practice a couple of days later, Nussmeier remembers a situation developing, the former mistake he made and correct it that next time.
It’s in those moments, Nussmeier knows he’s growing as the starting quarterback for LSU.
“There’s no feeling like, ‘hey I messed that up two days ago, and now I just aced it.’ That’s what it’s about, making mistakes and learning through them,” the QB said.
“Making sure you’re doing the right thing when the times come next.”
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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 atbdiaz@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: How LSU football QB Garrett Nussmeier uses mistakes to get better
