There have been some dark times for the LSU defense this season. But Coach Brian Kelly says after watching the game film from Saturday’s win over Missouri, he believes they are starting to see light at the end of the tunnel.
“The progress that was made up front is going to be sustainable; we are going to have to make some more progress on the back end of our defense, we got to go compete for some balls that we think that were out there for us to get, I think we are going to get better because of the experience that Whit Weeks is getting at the linebacker position, he’s just getting more reps and time out there,” said Kelly,.
Weeks had four solo tackles in the win at Missouri, including a tackle for a loss.
Kelly said they’ve also settled on a role for linebacker Harold Perkins. The sophomore is playing as a strongside linebacker when they have four downed linemen, but when they have three downed linemen, he’ll play nickel back which is what he was playing when he came away with that critical interception in the first half on Saturday.
One other thing about having four downed linemen, it gives LSU the opportunity to play talented freshmen edge rusher Da’Shawn Womack.
Jayden Daniels dazzles again
Where would this program be if Coach Brian Kelly didn’t convince Daniels to sign at LSU? Daniels is the biggest reason why the Tigers won the SEC West last year. If he wasn’t on top of his game versus Arkansas and Missouri this season, LSU may have lost both of those games.
He was a very good quarterback last season and this year he’s great. Kelly gives much of the credit to Daniels.
“He was not progressing through his reads, he was coming off them too soon, he wasn’t staying in the pocket, he wasn’t being patient, so he’s fixed a lot of those things and it’s put him in position now he’s one of the top if not the top quarterback production wise in the country,” said Kelly.
Daniels is second in the country in total offense, averaging 399 yards a gane. He’s also second in passing touchdowns with 19. Washington’s Michael Penix leads the nation with 402 yards and USC’s Caleb Williams has 22 touchdowns.
4-2 again
For the second straight year, LSU reaches the halfway point with a 4-2 record. LSU went 5-1 last year in the second half and won the SEC West.
This year, they’ll play five of their final six regular season games at home, starting this Saturday against Auburn.
After playing two straight games on the road in hostile environments, Kelly is looking forward to playing in front of the home crowd.
“I’m really proud of how they’ve handled themselves on the road, but it’s been a difficult schedule, we are seasoned, we are right in the hunt and the season is right is in front of us, so with five of the next six remaining at home we feel like we are in good position, let’s go take care of business,” said Kelly
True freshman contributing to Saturday’s win in Columbia
There’s been a lot of talk about the emergence of true freshman linebacker Whit Weeks. There were also a couple of other rookies who played a key role over Mizzou.
Safety Ryan Yaites has seen his playing time increase. He played in 20 snaps on Saturday when LSU was in its dime package, and he had a career-high three tackles. The former-four-star prospect out of Texas was ranked 16th nationally at his position in the On3 Composite. Kelly wishes he would play more care-free.
“Play maybe a little bit on the edge a little bit more, he doesn’t want to make a mistake, I told him it’s just okay just go play, but he’s a young player and wants to be perfect,” said Kelly.
And an unsung hero in last Saturday’s win was center DJ Chester from Conyers, Georgia. Chester is the third-string center, but starter Charles Turner left the game with a hyperextended knee and backup Marlon Martinez had a couple of high snaps as he attempted to replace Turner.
Kelly and offensive line coach Brad Davis were not afraid to turn to Chester in the fourth quarter.
“We feel like we have another true freshman that’s going to be a really good football player for us that doesn’t mean we are not happy with Martinez, we just felt in that situation we can make that move because of the confidence that we had in DJ,” said Kelly.
Turner is probable for this Saturday’s game at Auburn after an MRI showed no serious damage to his knee.
Linebacker Omar Speights and receiver Aaron Anderson are also probable on Kelly’s injury report. Receiver Chris Hilton is questionable after suffering a high ankle sprain while trying to catch the game-winning touchdown pass against Ole Miss.
