The LSU Tigers offense hasn't lived up to expectations through the early part of this season, and the recent revelation of Garrett Nussmeier dealing with a torso injury from fall camp offered at least a little explanation.

With the Southeastern Lions on tap before the brutal SEC schedule, many looked at this as an opportunity to sit Nussmeier. All respect to the Lions, but this is a game where the Tigers could easily handle with a backup.

LSU Head Coach Brian Kelly was quick to shut that notion down, though, making it known that the senior will start. The reasoning given at the mid-week press conference was fairly simple as well:

"Because he's feeling good. We had to limit a lot of things that we did in the first three to four weeks and he's finally coming to practice feeling good and getting into a good rhythm. This is his best week of practice. So we want him to go and play the game at a level where he's comfortable and to hold him back really at this point would not be the right thing for him," said Kelly.

It is an interesting balance that they must strike with Nussmeier. They want him to play healthy and with confidence. If he isn't truly ready to go, though, stacking more underwhelming performances together will eventually come back to haunt them.

Through three games this season, he has completed 65.1% of his passes for 689 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. It is a far cry from where he was at this point last year, which also saw him face a strong out-of-conference opponent, a smaller local school and an SEC opponent.

He had completed 69.8% of passes for 895 yards with 10 touchdowns and two interceptions.

Watching him play this season, there has been a noticeable difference. The play calling has been more conservative, and his deep-passing game has not been the same. Both can be excused away with his torso injury.

Not having a full range of motion will keep you from being as productive as a deep-ball thrower and coaches, knowing that, won't call the offense the same way.

With Nussmeier supposedly looking healthier than ever, it's possible that the offense looks much closer to expectations. 

It may be just Southeastern, but this game could tell the world a lot about what the Tigers are going to look like for the rest of the season. Any positive momentum will be a great sign.