Brian Kelly has been actually good at this third-year stuff.
In every of his final three tenures, his program skilled a breakthrough within the third season. He hopes to proceed that pattern as he begins his third season as LSU’s head coach in 2024.
The Tigers might be the SEC’s huge shock this season, and Kelly mentioned he’s targeted on the day-to-day course of “that’s often been fairly good at my different stops.”
In Kelly’s third season at Central Michigan in 2006, the Chippewas improved from 6-5 to 9-4, received the MAC West, and Kelly was off to Cincinnati.
In his third season with the Bearcats in 2009, Kelly’s staff improved from 11-3 to 12-0 and reached the Sugar Bowl because the coach moved on to Notre Dame.
In his third season with the Combating Irish in 2012, Kelly’s staff improved from 8-5 to 12-1 and reached the BCS Championship Recreation.
(By the best way, in Kelly’s first tenure at Division II Grand Valley State, his third staff dropped from 8-3 to 6-3-2 in 1993, although he wound up successful 77 p.c of his video games over 13 seasons).
As Kelly enters his third season at LSU, the Tigers try to enhance from a pair of 10-win seasons and seize one of many 12 spots within the expanded CFP.
LSU had simply 39 scholarship gamers readily available when Kelly arrived from Notre Dame, and the coach mentioned his third staff would be the deepest group of Tigers he has had. The important thing as to whether LSU can break by way of is whether or not it may be extra balanced than it was a yr in the past.
Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels led the most efficient offense within the nation, however the Tigers light from SEC title competition due to one of many poorest defenses at school historical past.
Kelly mentioned he believes this system has completed its low season purpose to “make the form of strides that deliver our protection as much as the usual essential to play for a championship.”
He modified defensive coordinators, changing Matt Home with former LSU assistant Blake Baker, who was a key contributor to Missouri being the SEC shock staff in 2023, because the coordinator for these Tigers.
Kelly additionally introduced in defensive position coach Bo Davis from Texas to attempt to improve a unit whose enchancment will probably be central to the fortunes of the protection and the staff as a complete.
A more practical efficiency on the line of scrimmage ought to allow linebacker Harold Perkins to be probably the most dynamic defenders within the nation. Baker hopes to accentuate the protection’s aggressiveness if the cornerbacks show they’ll deal with extra man-to-man protection.
As for the offense, nobody is anticipating Garrett Nussmeier to duplicate what Daniels did earlier than transferring on to the NFL’s Washington Commanders. But when Kelly will get the defensive enchancment he expects, one of many high offensive traces within the nation and a bevy of expert runners and receivers ought to allow Nussmeier to achieve success.
Nussmeier has performed in simply 18 video games in three seasons and made his solely begin when Daniels sat out the ReliaQuest Bowl in January. Nussmeier handed for 395 yards and three touchdowns in a victory in opposition to Wisconsin.
Joe Sloan has taken on coordinator and play-calling duties and retained his position as quarterbacks coach after former coordinator Mike Denbrock left for Notre Dame.
Nussmeier isn’t the operating menace that Daniels was, however his arm power is outstanding. Improved decision-making ought to allow him to be one of many extra productive passers within the SEC.
Along with the annual SEC gauntlet (which features a go to from convention newcomer Oklahoma within the regular-season finale), LSU additionally has difficult non-conference video games in opposition to USC (within the Sept. 1 season opener in Las Vegas) and UCLA (Sept. 21 in Tiger Stadium).
Kelly’s first two groups acquired off to gradual begins by shedding their openers to Florida State within the Caesars Superdome two years in the past and in Orlando final season. If this staff can break by way of with a victory within the opener, it might set the stage for a breakthrough season.
The Tigers host Vanderbilt and keep away from Georgia, Texas, Missouri and Tennessee, get Ole Miss and Alabama at house.
