Brian Kelly is heading into year three leading the LSU Tigers, and after two straight 10 win seasons, fans are now expecting the Tigers to take the next step into becoming championship contenders.
In the current state of college football, Kelly is the winningest active coach and has enjoyed a lot of success, but the one thing that has been elusive during his Hall of Fame coaching career is a championship. Based on previous history, year three has been the big breakout year for Kelly at his previous stops, which could also be the same at LSU.
At Central Michigan, Kelly led the Chippewas to a 9-4 record and a MAC championship in his third year. In his third full year at Cincinnati, he led the Bearcats to an undefeated regular season and a BCS bowl appearance in the Sugar Bowl. Then, finally, Kelly’s most impressive feat was guiding the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to an undefeated regular season and an appearance in the National Championship Game his third year.
Three has been the magic number for Kelly over the past few stops, and he is hoping for more of the same at his current stop.
“The 2024 football team at LSU is one that as we go into year three, has been built on accountability and trust, but it’s been built knowing that we have to be able to play much more balanced football. We had obviously a record setting offense last year, but we didn’t play to the standard that we needed to play at times defensively.”
“And certainly that will be the goal this year, to play the kind of offense and defense and special teams that complements each other. So the challenge this year for us going into the off-season was to make the kind of strides that bring our defense up to the standard necessary to play for a championship.”
LSU Head Coach Brian Kelly
Based on the culture that Kelly is instilling, he feels that his program is deep enough and mature enough to make those kind of strides that are needed to compete for championships.
“Our mission is certainly to win championships. I get how we get to that conclusion. We didn’t win a championship. We’re in year three, this is the most accountable that group has been. There is trust within the group.”
“This will be the deepest team that we’ve had. I don’t know what that’s going to be relative to the expectations. All I can do is continue to work towards what our process is and then whatever the outcomes are going to be evaluated externally.”
“I don’t control those. I control what our process is and how we go to work every day. I can tell you in year three, I’ve had really good success with getting our football team to be the most accountable, trusting team that I’ve had here at LSU.”
LSU Head Coach Brian Kelly
From an on the field standpoint, last season’s LSU team did meet the championship standard on the offensive side of the football, but clearly fell short of those same expectations on the defensive side of the football.
“Clearly being the No. 1 offense in the country was not good enough. I think you have to have much more balance. So I the balance that we need is offensively and defensively we have got to be able to complement each other. We didn’t do that last year.”
“What we’re going to need is that complement on defense; going to have to play better defense this year. I think we’ve made the necessary strides in the off-season to continue on that growth.”
“So again, complementary football, offense and defense. I know that sounds like coach speak, but the numbers prove it out. You can’t have the No. 1 offense in the country and not play the kind of defense necessary to get you to the next level.”
LSU Head Coach Brian Kelly on playing more complementary football
Because of that, Kelly had to make changes to the defensive staff headlined by a new defensive coordinator in Blake Baker, who is in charge of making sure that the defense returns back to an elite form that fans grew accustomed to seeing.
“Look, scheme aside, I think everybody has their flavor of what the scheme looks like. 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.”
“Blake’s ability to orchestrate that, bring that together, is what has been the piece that is really evident.”
LSU Head Coach Brian Kelly on Blake Baker
While the defense is overcoming staff changes, the offense is going through some personnel changes as the Tigers will have to replace its Heisman Trophy winning quarterback and two first round wide receivers, but the talent at those two position groups still remains top notch even though it is not as proven.
“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 we’ll count on. Kyren Lacy, he will be certainly a player that we lean on. But I think at the wide receiver position, there is probably six to eight players that will get the opportunity to contribute and make an impact.”
“I think 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 he will help us. Zion 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.”
LSU Head Coach Brian Kelly on receivers
“There is certainly common traits. I think the first one certainly, if we’re talking outside of the skill factor, right, the ability to throw the football. If you talk about just from the neck up, the ability to certainly translate. In other words, take the offense, take the things that are taught in the classroom, and be able to translate those things to the field.”
“That gift, that ability is what makes the great quarterbacks great, and Garrett has been able to do that as well. Now, he has to go do it in the games like Jayden did. But that’s the first thing we look for, the ability to take it from the meetings, film study, walk-throughs, practice, and apply it to the games real time. I believe Garrett will be able to do that as well.”
LSU Head Coach Brian Kelly on transitioning from Jayden Daniels to Garrett Nussmeier
There are a lot of questions about how good this LSU team can be in 2024, but the potential is always there in Baton Rouge for big things, and combine that with Brian Kelly’s ability to make big turnarounds in his third year, the Tigers will certainly be wild-cards.
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