Tag: Blake Baker

Where does LSU turn with Harold Perkins Jr. sidelined for rest of 2024 season?

With star linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. done for the year, LSU will lose some playmaking ability on defense.

LSU star [autotag]Harold Perkins Jr.[/autotag] left the win over UCLA with a knee injury. LSU head coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] was mum on Perkins after the game, saying tests were needed, but Perkins was “injured.”

On Sunday, LSU’s worst fears came to fruition. Perkins is done for the year with a torn ACL according to 247Sports and other reports.

The loss is a blow to an LSU defense that needs all the help it can get. Perkins was second-team All-SEC in 2023 and preseason All-SEC in 2024 — that’s star power LSU doesn’t have elsewhere on the unit.

With Perkins sidelined, where does LSU go from here?

Without Perkins, LSU is losing a player with game-breaking ability. Dating back to 2022, we’ve seen Perkins take over games and make plays LSU needed to win the game. Even when consistency was a problem for the unit, Perkins had a way of showing up.

Think back to the Alabama game in 2022. LSU struggled to contain Bryce Young in the second half, but Perkins applied seven pressures and a sack — just enough havoc for LSU to secure the upset.

In the Missouri game last year. Mizzou marched up and down the field on LSU, but a Perkins’ interception swung momentum in the second half and gave [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] a chance to lead LSU to a shootout win.

As for 2024, we can debate Perkins’ impact.

According to PFF, he ranks 46th out of 55 qualified SEC linebackers in defensive grade. In four games, he didn’t record a sack and missed six tackles. LSU still lacked a concrete plan for Perkins, playing him at weakside linebacker to begin the year and bumping him to the strongside in week three.

But despite the lack of production, the talent remained undeniable and the flash plays were still there. Perkins came up with some big pressures against South Carolina and even when he isn’t hitting home, offenses have to circle him. Taking that threat off the field will have an impact on this defense.

The good news for LSU is this. [autotag]Bradyn Swinson[/autotag] has emerged as one of the best pass rushers in the SEC, and linebacker [autotag]Whit Weeks[/autotag] is showing he knows how to get after the passer, too.

Still, there’s not a player on this roster with the same all-around ability that Perkins has. Whether it’s a sack, a tackle for loss, or a pick, Perkins impacts every phase of the game when he’s on.

For an LSU defense that relies more on creating havoc than down-to-down efficiency, that matters. With Perkins out, the ceiling of this unit is no doubt lower.

LSU went to a 4-3 look in recent weeks in the hope of getting its three best linebackers on the field. A reversion back to the classic 4-2-5 may be in the fold now.

If LSU does opt to play with three linebackers, expect [autotag]West Weeks[/autotag] to see more time. Weeks is a veteran, but he doesn’t offer the same upside as Perkins.

That’s what LSU’s going to miss. When everything else goes wrong, Perkins’ special ability could mitigate the issues. LSU will have to find havoc elsewhere now.

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LSU’s shutout in second half a reason for optimism on defense

LSU pitched a shutout in the second half against UCLA. That provides reason for optimism on that side of the ball.

After a rough first half, LSU’s defense turned up the heat in the second half. The defense pitched a shutout over the final two quarters and allowed the offense to put the game away.

LSU’s first-half troubles boiled down to explosive plays, an issue that’s plagued LSU throughout the year. Head coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] called the mistakes “maddening.”

UCLA’s first touchdown drive included three plays of 10+ yards. On the second drive, Bruins QB Ethan Garbers found WR Kwazi Gilmer for a gain of 29. After that, LSU managed some stops but UCLA put another scoring drive together before the half that included two more big plays and a touchdown pass of 11 yards.

Giving up that many big plays isn’t a sustainable way to play defense. Kelly and the entire LSU defense know that.

LSU buckled down in the second half — and Kelly said it was just a matter of execution.

“They didn’t make any changes. They executed the defenses that were called,” Kelly said on the second-half improvement.

“We need to do our job. They did it in the second half,” Kelly said.

UCLA’s struggling offense isn’t the standard LSU should be judged against and the explosive plays allowed in the first half remain a reason for concern, but LSU showed an ability to execute at a level we haven’t seen yet in the second half.

LSU will face a surging South Alabama offense next week and if the Tigers miss assignments again, it could be a long night against a less talented team. But if LSU did indeed turn a corner in the second half against UCLA, Kelly’s squad is in a good position to move to 4-1 next week.

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Brian Kelly on Harold Perkins Jr.’s performance vs. South Carolina

LSU head coach said progress was made with linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. on Saturday.

It’s become a talking point every week. How will LSU deploy its star linebacker [autotag]Harold Perkins Jr.[/autotag]?

Perkins is one of the best athletes in the SEC, which gives LSU versatility with its alignments. That’s typically a positive, but LSU shifting Perkins around has, at times, hindered Perkins’ performance along with that of the defense as a whole.

In Week 3’s win over South Carolina, Perkins played strong side linebacker, bumping over from the will spot he played to start the year.

Head coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] thought Perkins looked comfortable, saying progress was made at first glance.

The move allowed Perkins to get after the quarterback more. According to PFF, he posted the sixth-best pass rush grade among SEC linebackers in Week 3 and notched two pressures. Perkins made three stops, too.

Perkins has a few more steps to go before he reaches the all-conference expectations he entered the year with. LSU is hoping Perkins can affect all facets of the game on first through third down.

In training camp, Perkins praised LSU defensive coordinator [autotag]Blake Baker[/autotag] for unlocking the defense’s ability to play fast by simplifying some things. Perkins settling in a strong side linebacker should allow for that speed to be applied to games.

Kelly said this is different than what LSU asked Perkins to do on the strong side last year. In 2023, Perkins was an edge player but now he is being asked to fit more in the box.

Perkins continues to show flashes. The next step is finding a new level of consistency.

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5 takeaways from LSU’s thrilling win over South Carolina

Here are five takeaways from LSU’s thrilling win over South Carolina as the Tigers move to 1-0 in SEC play.

LSU did its best to give every Tiger fan a heart attack, but came out of South Carolina with a 36-33 win to start 1-0 in SEC play.

It was a rough first quarter and change with the Gamecocks jumping out to a 17-0 lead. That run was capped after South Carolina blocked a punt to set up a one-play touchdown drive.

LSU managed to settle down after that and respond with a score of its own. The Tigers seized momentum and went into halftime down eight. LSU’s defense pitched a shutout in the third quarter and allowed LSU to take a lead early in the fourth.

But South Carolina wasn’t done. The Gamecocks took the lead back as the LSU offense sputtered. Eventually, Nussmeier and crew got it together to lead a go-ahead drive in the final minutes of the fourth quarter.

This one was stressful but it’s not easy to play on the road in the SEC. LSU showed resilience and got the win. Here are five takeaways from LSU’s three-point win.

Caden Durham injects life into the run game

LSU struggled to run the ball the first two weeks of the season and early today, the story began to repeat. Then LSU got Caden Durham involved.

Durham, a true-freshman, was one of the top running back recruits in the class. We just didn’t know when LSU would start to feature Durham in the offense, but with LSU needing a shot of life on the ground, the Tigers turned to the youngster.

A 26-yard burst from Durham put LSU on the board in the first half. It was the type of explosive play LSU’s been searching for all year.

Durham continued to rip off chunks on the ground and finished with 11 carries for 98 yards and two scores.

Expect Durham to be a central part of this offense moving forward.

Nussmeier overcomes mistake

With a chance to take the lead in the fourth quarter, LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier threw a pick. It was a rare mistake in an otherwise clean season for LSU’s QB1.

When LSU got the ball back, Nussmeier responded. A shot to [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag] set LSU up to take the lead.

Nussmeier was far from perfect on Saturday, but he made enough plays to get LSU the win. He finished 24 of 40 for 261 yards and two scores.

Bradyn Swinson has a day

LSU needed a playmaker to step up on defense. Today, that was veteran defensive end [autotag]Bradyn Swinson[/autotag].

Swinson finished with three sacks and a forced fumble. He was a problem for South Carolina’s offensive line all game.

Big things were expected from Swinson after he emerged late in 2023. LSU’s defense is inconsistent, which means the Tigers need havoc plays of their own to balance it out. Swinson provided that havoc on Saturday.

LSU defense makes the most of passing downs

It wasn’t a pretty day for the LSU defense. South Carolina was efficient on the ground and averaged over seven yards per play, but LSU took advantage when it pinned the Gamecocks in obvious passing downs.

South Carolina’s success rate on passing downs was just 26%. It’s unfair to expect this defense to be perfect from down to down. DC [autotag]Blake Baker[/autotag] is still figuring it out with a slew of young players, but LSU needs to make the most of advantageous situations.

LSU can threaten defenses all over the field

We’ve been waiting for LSU to find an explosive element in the passing game and it appeared on Saturday.

Nussmeier showed a willingness to push the ball down the field, allowing [autotag]Aaron Anderson[/autotag] and Lacy to make some big plays.

LSU misses Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr, but it remains with a talented group of receivers. Anderson, Lacy, [autotag]Mason Taylor[/autotag] and [autotag]CJ Daniels[/autotag] all crossed 50 yards receiving with Lacy and Taylor scoring.

LSU’s depth at WR makes this offense tough to defend. No matter how defenses elect to cover LSU, there’s a mismatch somewhere.

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Changes expected on LSU’s defense ahead of South Carolina game

LSU’s defense will look different when it meets South Carolina on Saturday morning.

As LSU enters conference play against South Carolina, the Tigers are tinkering with the defensive personnel.

The most notable of which is at the linebacker spot, where LSU will showcase more 4-3 looks. Expect to see [autotag]Greg Penn III[/autotag], [autotag]Whit Weeks[/autotag] and [autotag]Harold Perkins Jr.[/autotag] on the field together.

LSU head coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] said Weeks is too good to be a rotational player, indicating he’s too good to keep off the field.

In those 4-3 looks, LSU has the option to move [autotag]Major Burns[/autotag] to safety, his traditional position. Burns has played DC Blake Baker’s STAR spot so far in 2024.

Another change is increased playing time for [autotag]Dashawn Spears[/autotag]. The four-star true freshman continues to draw rave reviews and it’s getting harder for LSU to keep him off the field.

LSU will have to balance that with [autotag]Sage Ryan[/autotag] moving. The return of cornerback [autotag]Zy Alexander[/autotag] provides LSU with a veteran option on the outside and the Tigers feel more comfortable bumping Ryan back to safety.

Another beneficiary of Ryan’s move is [autotag]PJ Woodland[/autotag]. The true freshman corner played just nine snaps against USC but got the start in Week 2 and played 26 snaps vs. Nicholls.

On the defensive line, following the injury to [autotag]Jacobian Guillory[/autotag], LSU is moving [autotag]Paris Shand[/autotag] back inside. Shand played defensive tackle at Arizona before shifting to defensive end when arriving at LSU. But LSU needs the depth up the middle and Shand has the size to make an impact at the position.

The general takeaway is LSU finding a way to get its best 11 players on the field, even if it means making some moves.

LSU fans will get their first look at the changes when LSU and South Carolina kick it off at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday morning.

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Brian Kelly says LSU LB Whit Weeks is too good to keep off the field

Brian Kelly says LSU linebacker Whit Weeks is too good to be in a “platoon situation.”

Two games into 2024, LSU football’s head coach is impressed with linebacker [autotag]Whit Weeks[/autotag].

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] said Weeks “can’t be in a platoon situation.”

He added that Weeks’ play is forcing LSU to make some tough decisions regarding the linebacker position. Keeping Weeks out there every snap means altering the rotation and that playing time has to come from somewhere.

Weeks has been LSU’s most impactful defender so far. According to PFF, among SEC LBs with 60+ snaps, Weeks is the sixth-best-graded backer in the conference.

Weeks already has nine stops and is yet to miss a tackle. That stop rate is one of the best in the conference and Weeks’ run stops come at an average of one yard.

When Weeks is involved, good things happen for LSU’s defense. DC [autotag]Blake Baker[/autotag] has a knack for developing impact players at inside linebacker and Weeks looks like the next breakout.

https://twitter.com/whalexander_/status/1833927940569985140

According to On3, Weeks was a four-star and top 150 overall recruit in 2023. He showed flashes as a true freshman but wasn’t consistent enough to see the field in a full-time role.

LSU is counting on younger classmen like Weeks to be the cause for a defensive turnaround and once LSU figures out how to optimize the lineup, the defense should take another step.

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Whit Weeks thinks LSU’s defense has made ‘a lot of progress’ despite Week 1 loss to USC

Whit Weeks remains confident that LSU’s defense will be much better in 2024 despite its struggles in the opener.

Entering the 2024 season, the defense was arguably the biggest question for LSU.

The unit struggled last fall, but there was optimism with new coordinator [autotag]Blake Baker[/autotag]. After one game, however, it’s unclear how much the group has improved.

The front seven looked more impactful than it did last season, getting some pressure on Miller Moss and holding the USC run game in check. But Moss torched the secondary to the tune of 378 passing yards in a 27-20 win.

Despite the showing, sophomore LSU linebacker [autotag]Whit Weeks[/autotag] said the group has improved quite a bit since the 2023 campaign when he spoke to the media on Wednesday.

“A lot of progress,” Weeks said when asked how much progress the defense has made. “I think we have a lot more confidence, which is the main thing that I can see from last year. We have a lot more confidence in not only our abilities but knowing the playbook. So that’s huge for us.”

Only time will tell how the defense fares when the Tigers get into the SEC schedule, but it has the chance to work some kinks out this weekend when LSU hosts Nicholls State for its home opener on Saturday night.

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These 5 stats defined LSU’s loss to USC

These five stats defined LSU’s opening-season loss to USC.

After a 27-20 loss to USC marked the fifth-straight season-opening loss for LSU, Tiger fans are getting used to beginning the year with a letdown.

It was an entertaining contest that featured two top 25 teams battling in the final seconds, but USC made the plays it needed to win the game.

It was our first look at a few new elements for LSU, including new coordinators on both sides of the ball. On offense, LSU fans got to see what the offense looked like without [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag], [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag]

It was a bag of mixed results for LSU across the board. With the game in the rearview mirror, it’s time to take a look at some numbers that defined the loss for LSU.

It’s just one game, so the sample size here isn’t huge and who knows if these trends will stick throughout the season, but these stats should be able to offer some insight into who LSU is in 2024.

Three plays of 20+ yards

LSU had just three plays of 20+ yards all night. The Tigers were able to move the ball, but the lack of explosiveness put pressure on the offense to string drives together. That’s hard to do when an offense is struggling to run the ball like LSU was.

Regression was expected after the otherworldly explosiveness numbers LSU posted in 2023, but LSU needed a couple of more big plays than it got in the second half.

Nussmeier found [autotag]Aaron Anderson[/autotag] for a gain of 41 yards late in the fourth quarter, but that was LSU’s lone explosive pass in the second half.

-0.22 EPA/rush

LSU led the country in EPA/rush last year with 0.29 per run. Much of that is credited to Daniels, but LSU got what it needed from its running backs too.

The run game took a step back on Sunday night. Outside of John Emery Jr.’s 39-yard burst, there wasn’t much happening for LSU.

This is something that should work itself out in time. The offensive line is still one of the best in the country and the RB room is talented, but it was an issue last night.

27% success rate in the red zone

LSU put itself in a position to score but didn’t take advantage. Two drives, in particular, stand out,

LSU marched down the field on the opening possession but stalled inside USC’s 10-yard line and turned it over on downs. A score could have put LSU up and in control of the game early.

In the fourth quarter, LSU was inside USC’s 15-yard line again but had to settle for a field goal and a tie when it couldn’t finish the drive.

If LSU manages a TD on either of those drives, we are talking about a different result.

Garrett Nussmeier’s 88.1 QBR

We’ll take a look at a positive number here. Garrett Nussmeier’s 88.1 QBR was No. 16 in the country this week, a fine number for a QB making his second-career start.

He surpassed 300 yards and threw for two scores. In the first half, his connection with Kyren Lacy looked strong, connecting seven times for 94 yards. Nussmeier looked comfortable with Mason Taylor too.

The only knock was the previously discussed lack of explosive plays, but part of that is on LSU for not taking those shots.

Eight tackles for a loss

LSU struggled to get stops when it needed on defense, but the front seven played well,

LSU generated eight tackles for loss on Sunday night and held USC to 3.67 yards per carry and -0.21 EPA/rush.

There were concerns about LSU’s defensive line, but the Tigers held their own on the interior and remained competitive on the edge.

Tiger fans should feel better about LSU’s interior defensive line moving forward.

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Stock Up, Stock Down: LSU falls to USC, loses another season opener

Let’s look at who saw their stock rise and who saw their stock fall in the season-opening loss.

The 2024 football season is finally here. On Sunday night, No. 13 LSU kicked off the season against No. 23 USC in Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. After an entertaining game and a lead going into the fourth quarter, USC came out on top 27-20.

Let’s look at who saw their stock rise and who saw their stock fall in this game.

Stock Down: The streak continues

Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

This game went back and forth for four quarters as LSU looked to get their first season-opening win since 2019, but the streak continued after the Tigers lost to USC on a late field goal. [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] is now 0-3 in season openers while at LSU.

Stock Up: Kyren Lacy

Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

With the loss of [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag] to the first round of the NFL Draft, LSU needed a new star wide receiver. There has been a lot of buzz during fall camp around how great Lacy has been. He got his season off to a great start tonight.

Stock Up: Blake Baker

Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Hallelujah. Tiger fans you can rejoice. LSU has a defensive coordinator who is not afraid to send the house. The coverage was still rough at times but the front seven was flying all over the field.

Stock Up: Garrett Nussmeier

Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The gunslinger made his second start for the Tigers tonight in a tough season-opening matchup. He showed his prowess as he was calm, cool, and collected in the face of the Trojan pass rush. He finished the game 29-for-38 with 304 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.

Stock Down: 4th Quarter performance

Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Entering the fourth quarter, the Tigers had a 17-13 lead over the Trojans. LSU looked to close the game out and come up with their first season-opening win since 2019, but LSU was dominated in the final quarter. USC outgained the Tigers 179-66 and outscored LSU 14-3 to win the game.

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Who did more to improve their defense in the offseason – LSU or USC?

USC and LSU try to go from confusion to competence on defense after brutal 2023 seasons.

On the Conquest Call-In Show at the USC Voice of College Football, a caller asked which defense has improved more in the offseason between USC and LSU.  Both schools saw their defenses reach historic lows statistically in 2023 under Alex Grinch and Matt House respectively. Those two coordinators had absolutely no idea how to unlock the talent and potential of their players on the defensive side of the ball. There was confusion about the scheme and where to line up. Coaches were not playing the right players and putting them in position to succeed. USC and LSU were dogged by the same sets of problems with the same overall dynamics involved.

In the offseason USC hired D’Anton Lynn, the architect who took a UCLA defense that ranked among the worst in college football in 2022 and transformed the Bruins into a top 15 defense in the country in one year.  LSU also found a replacement for House in Blake Baker, whose defense helped the Missouri Tigers to a top 10 national ranking in 2023, capped by a win over Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl.

Check out our response to the caller’s question. Our answer deals with the coaching and roster additions USC made in the offseason at the 23:48 mark of the show (link below is cued up to the discussion).

https://www.youtube.com/live/rSRtU-FD4fQ?si=xQPwgA8mAkZaIuMj&t=1428

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