Brian Kelly is well aware that LSU’s defense has not been up to par.
In his first three seasons at the helm of the Tigers, Kelly’s offenses have done their job. LSU has averaged 34.5, 45.5, and 30.5 points per game in those past three years, while also averaging 453.1, 543.5, and 431.5 yards per game.
The issue has been the defense, which has given up 22.5, 28.0, and 24.3 points, and 354.6, 416.6, and 364.4 yards per game. Those are not awful numbers, but it has prevented them from making the College Football Playoff.
“Look, I’ve been the head football coach at LSU, and I know that we have not played the kind of defense necessary to win a national championship,” Kelly said on Monday at SEC Media Days in Atlanta. “I think we put a roster together in this offseason, along with young players that have taken lumps along the way as they’ve developed, and given Blake now the tools to play championship-level defense.”
Kelly added, “Clearly the 2023 offensive football team we had was good enough to win a national championship. We weren’t good enough as a team. A lot of that had to do with addressing some shortcomings we had on defense. We think we’ve done that. I love our roster, our team, the camaraderie of the group, the seriousness and the focus, intent. So I think we’re going to have a defense that’s going to be representative.”
LSU returns starters on defense in Whit Weeks, Harold Perkins Jr., Jardin Gilbert, Ashton Stamps, and have added transfers Jack Ryburn (Florida) and Patrick Payton (Florida State). The defense should be better, but what about the offensive line?
The unit lost four starters to the NFL Draft from last year’s team, including All-American Will Campbell. Yet, as talented as they were but the unit did struggle with run blocking. Could this year’s o-line be better?
“I don’t think you replace a Will Campbell,” Kelly said. “Certainly, having four drafted, they were well regarded, and certainly Brad Davis has done a great job in coaching them. But if you’re trying to address graduation in a knee-jerk reaction and not having that planned in advance, you’re probably going to take a hit on the offensive line this year.”
Kelly is confident in the staff’s approach to developing the new group of guys, which includes transfers Braelin Moore (Virginia Tech) and Josh Thompson (Northwestern).
“We have been grooming some players for their chance and their opportunity,” Kelly said. “You remember I started Emery (Jones) and Will as true freshmen in the SEC and they held their own. We think we have gone a step further, that we don’t have a start a true freshman this year but guys we developed.”
Kelly added, “Then we went into the transfer portal, brought in Braelin Moore at center, Josh Tompson, some veteran guys from the Big 10 and the ACC who have been in wars. So you’re adding those two guys to the mix. I’m bullish on our offensive line. I think we’re going to be able to produce the kind of things necessary to be a championship team.”
What isn’t a question mark for the Tigers is starting quarterback Garrett Nussmeier. The senior is coming off his first season as a starter when he threw for 4,052 yards and 29 touchdowns. Nussmeier has plenty of buzz about being a Heisman Memorial Trophy contender.
Could Nussmeier make that jump in his second season at the helm and win college football’s most prized trophy just like Jayden Daniels and Joe Burrow did?
“I would say that when you’re comparing him to Jayden Daniels and Joe Burrow, that’s a high bar for anybody, right?” Kelly said. “But Garrett is at LSU because he loves LSU. He wants to lead our football team to a championship. If the Heisman follows with that, I think he’s good with that.”
Kelly though, said that most of the conversations that he and his staff have with their signal caller have nothing to do with individual accolades.
“I answer the question this way because all of our conversations with him aren’t about individual goals,” Kelly said. “They’re about how do I lead this football team to a championship. All we’ve seen is him leading, him being selfless. His selflessness is going to be the differentiator from last year to this year, as well as the experience he had playing against really good SEC teams.”