LSU football has produced plenty of exciting moments for its fans in the first two seasons under Brian Kelly, but there was clearly something missing throughout 2023.
That, of course, was the defense necessary to complement the nation's best offense. The Tigers ranked 105th in the nation in yards allowed per game, a fact that prompted a coaching makeover with Blake Baker replacing Matt House at defensive coordinator.
"Clearly, being the No. 1 offense in the country was not good enough," Kelly said, speaking at his third SEC Media Days. "I think you have to have much more balance. So the balance that we need is offensively and defensively, we’ve got to be able to complement each other and we didn’t do that last year, so what we’re gonna need is that complement on defense."
What that offense did was allow ample opportunity for Jayden Daniels to build a Heisman-winning campaign, which he did out of necessity. The result was a 10-3 record overall, along with a 6-2 mark in Southeastern Conference play. While not a terrible mark, it was only good enough for third in the SEC West after a surprise run to the SEC Title game in the previous season, complete with a thrilling win over Alabama.
The 2023 edition of the LSU-Alabama showdown laid bare the need for a revamp, with the Crimson Tide turning a game that was tied 21-21 at the break into a 42-28 rout with the Tigers unable to stop QB Jalen Milroe, who ran for 155 yards and 4 TDs, while passing for another 219 without a turnover.
Another of LSU's losses that kept its seasons short of expectations was at Ole Miss, with the Tigers defense surrendering 21 points in the 4th quarter of a 55-49 loss.
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"We didn’t play to the standard that we needed to play at times defensively, and certainly that will be the goal this year is to play the kind of offense and defense and special teams that complements each other," Kelly continued. "So the challenge this year for us, going into the offseason, was to make the kind of strides to being out defense up to the standard necessary to play for a championship, and we feel like we’ve done that."
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More quotes from Brian Kelly at SEC Media Days
How has the defense progressed under new DC Blake Baker
“Scheme aside, you know, I think everybody has, you know, their flavor of what the scheme, you know, looks like and Blake certainly has an established comfort level in a particular scheme, but it’s relationships, it’s getting players excited about stepping on the field. It’s about players truly wanting to be part of those 11 guys, running, hitting, being part of that unit and Blake’s ability to orchestrate that, to bring that together is what’s been the piece that is really evident.”
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What have you learned about the transfer portal over the past two seasons?
“I think the transfer portal is what I always thought it would be in that it can’t be strictly need-based. If you’re in the transfer portal for need-based, in other words, you’re filling needs, you haven’t done something right in the natural recruiting season, and last year was need based, and that’s never a good situation when it comes to the development of your football program. I think you need to use the transfer porrtal to top off the tank, so to speak, right? That you can add to a particular position and almost one that it’s not needed, but becomes a luxury. When you can get to that situation, I think that the transfer portal becomes an effective tool, but if it’s strictly need based you’re probably in for some rough seas.”
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QB Garrett Nussmeier waited his turn and is now getting his shot. What does that say about his character?
“I think coming from a football family, you know, his dad being in the business, I think in many ways know, not chasing something that you didn’t know about. Where you knew where you were and you knew your opportunity was going to be coming and you were gonna get that opportunity at a place that you wanted to be, and I think being brought up in a football family and seeing the adverse effects if you’re chasing something that you don’t know I think helped him in his decision-making process. I think he saw that we are going to develop our quarterbacks at LSU and that we clearly have developed our quarterbacks and that he would continue to develop while he was in a backup position and so I think those played a huge role and now he’s got the keys to the car, and I couldn’t be more happy for him and for our football program that he’s leading us.”
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How do you replace the production of star WR Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr.?
“Well I don’t think you look towards one player. I think when we look at our football team in its totality, there will be a number of players that you count on. I think you start with Kyren Lacy. He will be, certainly, a player that we lean on, but I think at the wide receiver position, you know, there’s probably six to eight players that will get the opportunity to contribute and make an impact. I think that that’s what I like about our receiving corps more than anything else is the depth. I think we’ve got speed on the perimeter. Chris Hilton showed that in our bowl game against Wisconsin, his ability to track the ball down the field. I think we’ve got the ability to play inside out at the slot receiver position. I think we’ve got great depth there. We brought in CJ Daniels, I think will help us, Zavion Thomas will help us, transfer from Mississippi State. I think we brought in the right mix of players to give us the depth necessary inside and out to make up for that lost production.”