After a historically bad performance against Ole Miss, LSU continues to search for answers.
One thing is clear, Coach Brian Kelly has the “utmost confidence” in defensive coordinator Matt House.
“The blame does not lie at the feet with one person, this a collective situation where we have to coach better and we have to play better,” said Kelly.
Kelly pointed to inexperience. He said on offense, every starter, also started last year at their position, while only four players on defense started at the position they are playing at this year.
“We have a lot of new players and we have to get the younger players in prominent roles as well as the transfer players through the portal, those were the guys we picked, we have to get them playing a higher level,” said Kelly.
Kelly said last year the defensive secondary benefited from seniors Jarrick Bernard-Converse, Joe Foucha and Mekhi Garner. This season LSU is relying on inexperienced cornerbacks, Zy Alexander, Denver Harris, Ashton Stamps and Laterrance Welch.
Kelly said on one play, one player played zone and the rest were playing man-to-man.
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Missed tackles have been a major problem. The LSU coaching staff counted 34 of them on Saturday that led to over 280 additional yards for Ole Miss.
While much of the focus has been on the secondary, the defensive line has also underperformed. Kelly has credited Maason Smith with doing some of the dirty work and taking up double teams, but he’s not been an impact player.
LSU is also not getting any consistent pass rush. Just nine sacks in five games.
So, the Tigers have brough defensive line coach guru Pete Jenkins out of retirement. Former LSU Coach Ed Orgeron once said Jenkins’ teaching process is the best he’s ever seen.
Jenkins is 84-years-old and this will be his fourth stint with the program. He’s coached under Orgeron, Nick Saban, and Charlie McClendon and now he’ll join Kelly’s staff to help defensive line coach John Jancek.
Jancek took over as D-line coach for Jimmy Lindsey just before the start of preseason camp. Lindsey had a medical episode and is still recovering.
Jancek has over 30 years of coaching experience, but just two as a defensive line coach.
“Pete gives us the expertise and the ability to help us with technique and some technical things that we want to be able to do on a day-to-day basis,” said Kelly.
This defense can use all the help it can get.
LSU ranks 105th in the country in scoring defense and 117th in third down defense.
Meanwhile, the LSU offense ranks sixth in the country in total yards with 530 and if wasn’t for two losses, quarterback Jayden Daniels would be in the conversation to win the Heisman Trophy. He’s second in the country in total yards per game with 400, just behind Washington QB Michael Penix Jr.
Kelly doesn’t want to waste an all-time great LSU offense, with a defense that can’t stop anyone.
“That’s why it’s so darn important to play better defense, when you have an offense like this you want to be able to showcase, it doesn’t get the showcase because all of the questions here are about the defense,” said Kelly.
LSU hopes to find some answers before the game at Missouri this Saturday.