Despite losing quite a bit of production on both sides of the ball, there’s optimism about LSU’s 2024 roster.
The defense is expected to at least take some sort of step forward under new defensive coordinator [autotag]Blake Baker[/autotag], while there’s hope that the offense will remain productive despite new faces at key positions.
Not everyone shares that optimism, though. SEC Network host Paul Finebaum said he doesn’t believe the Tigers will be “great” in 2024, particularly due to questions about the aforementioned defense.
“You know, I don’t see any reason why they should be that great this year,” Finebaum said, per On3. “I mean I think they’re good. That defense last year was just patently embarrassing. I admire Brian (Kelly) a great deal but I blame him. I mean he’s the one that chose their coordinator. He stuck with another assistant that, frankly, didn’t understand what he was doing. I mean, for the life of me, I have yet to figure out how they’ve handled Harold Perkins, who is just a defining player. They look like they just said, ‘How can we screw this guy up and lose (three) games?’”
Finebaum specifically pointed to the season-opener against USC as being a key game for Tigers, speculating that pressure would ramp up if Kelly and LSU lose that game in Las Vegas.
“I think Brian Kelly has to get by the first game. I mean I know that sounds like I’m just graduating from school and giving you the most obvious take in the world. But, if he doesn’t, suddenly, the pressure is going to intensify,” Finebaum said. “We have a couple of Notre Dame fans who call our show every day. They are laying in wait for a misstep from Brian Kelly.”
The Tigers will hope to prove Finebaum wrong in 2024 and compete for a spot in the College Football Playoff.
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