Tag: Blake Baker

Brian Kelly says true freshman Ahmad Breaux could see immediate action this week

LSU defensive tackle Ahmad Breaux is set to make an immediate impact.

Depth at defensive line has been a question for LSU all summer. That puts a spotlight on the young guys in that room.

A freshman making an immediate impact on the interior would be significant, potentially changing LSU’s outlook at the position.

The name to watch early could be [autotag]Ahmad Breaux[/autotag]. Brian Kelly said Breaux was LSU’s most physically and mentally ready freshman.

Breaux was a three-star in the 2024 class, but he’s looked like a blue chip thus far. According to the On3 Industry Rankings, Breaux was the No. 59 ranked defensive lineman in his class and the No. 21 ranked recruit in Louisiana.

The most notable defensive tackle signing for LSU in the 2024 class was five-star [autotag]Dominick McKinley[/autotag], but Breaux might be seeing the field first.

LSU hired Bo Davis to develop difference-makers at defensive tackle. LSU had three NFL draft picks on the interior last year, but the level of play was below the talent level. It’s looking like LSU will get immediate results from Davis in week one.

https://twitter.com/ByCoryDiaz/status/1829289891852878244

Brian Kelly doesn’t shy away from playing true freshman up front. In 2022, we saw LSU rely on two freshmen at the offensive tackle spots in [autotag]Will Campbell[/autotag] and [autotag]Emery Jones[/autotag]. That completely flipped the trajectory of that room with Campbell and Jones emerging as stars.

LSU hopes the 2024 defensive tackle class will make a similar impact.

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LSU vs. USC: Which defense is set to improve the most under first-year DC?

USC and LSU are both counting on new DCs to restore the defense. Who will see more benefit in Year 1?

When LSU and USC meet on Sunday night, both will he hoping for major defensive turnarounds.

Both programs struggled to get stops last year, leaving them out of contention despite having Heisman winners at quarterback.

[autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] and Lincoln Riley were hired to bring these respective schools to the College Football Playoff. With that in mind, both swung big for an up-and-coming DC. LSU hired [autotag]Blake Baker[/autotag] away from Missouri while USC went with D’Anton Lynn from UCLA.

Coaching wasn’t the only thing holding the units back in 2023. Both relied on underclassmen and the inexperience was evident. The upside to playing so many young guys is the amount of returning experience. LSU and USC rank in the top 35 in returning production on that side of the ball.

The Trojans took a slightly different approach with their rebuild, landing a slew of transfers in the secondary. LSU dipped in the portal too, but didn’t land the high profile names USC did.

Lynn brought two high-profile defensive backs from UCLA in John Humphrey and Kamari Ramsey. The proximity of UCLA to USC and familiarity with Lynn’s system ensures little adjustment for the duo.

Veterans Akili Arnold and DeCarlos Richardson provide experience on the backend, too.

Meanwhile, LSU is counting on homegrown talent to perform in the secondary. [autotag]Ashton Stamps[/autotag] is expected to be CB1 after seeing plenty of action as a true freshman. Veterans [autotag]Major Burns[/autotag] and [autotag]Sage Ryan[/autotag] need to make a big impact too after steadily improving in 2023.

Both hit the portal to shore up depth on the interior defensive line and return a good bit at linebacker.

As for who makes the biggest stride in year one, it could be USC, if only because the Trojans have more room to go.

USC’s defense finished 2023 ranked 105th in SP+ while LSU was 52nd. It’s a lot easier to jump from 100 to 50 than it is from 50 to 10.

But when it matters, I think LSU has a better shot at consistent play on defense. The Tigers’ overall talent level is better, especially when you consider LSU’s upside at defensive end and linebacker.

Lynn has a year or two to build his unit while LSU is expecting a playoff appearance in 2023. Baker has the tools to call his aggressive style of defense in Baton Rouge.

I think LSU’s choice to build from within was indicative of how much this coaching staff believes in the existing talent.

These were both strong hires, but LSU stands to reap more immediate benefits.

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LSU’s Harold Perkins Jr. scouts USC’s offense ahead of season-opener on Sunday

LSU’s Harold Perkins Jr. on what LSU has to do to stop the USC offense.

With LSU just a few days away from its 2024 kickoff vs. USC, star linebacker [autotag]Harold Perkins Jr.[/autotag] met with the media on Tuesday.

The last few openers have left a bad taste in LSU’s mouth. That’s something on the Tigers’ mind heading into Sunday.

“Our last few openers, we lost. I feel like using that as motivation and just knowing that’s a feeling we don’t want to have this year,” Perkins said.

Facing a Lincoln Riley offense provides a challenge for LSU. Perkins is aware of that too.

Perkins said USC does a good job of getting their best players the ball in space and he’s taken notice of Riley’s tendency to create big plays down the field.

Perkins said the focus for the LSU defense has to be tackling. USC has playmakers that can run with it and LSU can’t let those short completions turn into 30-yard gains.

“We just gotta gang tackle, get the ball on the ground, and live to fight another down,” Perkins said.

Both of these defenses struggled to tackle last year. If Perkins and crew can get that fixed, LSU has a good chance of a defensive rebound on Sunday.

As for Perkins, he has All-SEC hopes as he enters his third year at LSU.

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USC officially names starting quarterback ahead of season-opening match with LSU

Lincoln Riley and USC officially named a starting QB ahead of its game with LSU next week.

It wasn’t much of a secret, but LSU now officially knows who it will see at QB1 for USC when the programs open the year.

Redshirt junior Miller Moss got the nod from USC head coach Lincoln Riley. Moss was the favorite after an impressive performance in the bowl game.

Moss remained patient as a backup for three years, which included serving as Caleb Williams’ backup in 2022 and 2023. Now, Moss will try to follow in the footsteps of a Heisman-winning QB, just like [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] is attempting to do at LSU.

Moss threw for 372 yards and totaled six touchdowns in USC’s bowl win. That’s just one game, but with Riley’s history of developing QBs, Moss should be taken seriously. He’s new to the starting role, but he’s a veteran of college football.

At one point, USC was looking for its next QB in the portal, but Riley quipped that bowl performance scared off any potential candidates.

LSU’s defense is still adjusting under first-year defensive coordinator [autotag]Blake Baker[/autotag]. Even with Williams gone, USC’s offense will be dangerous. The Trojans will score points on this defense, but if Baker can get aggressive and cause a first-time starter to make a few mistakes, LSU can keep Riley’s unit in check.

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Brian Kelly says LSU DT Jacobian Guillory has improved a lot since he arrived

Jacobian Guillory has improved quite a bit since Brian Kelly arrived in Baton Rouge.

LSU’s defense struggled quite a bit in 2023, and one of the biggest concerns for new coordinator [autotag]Blake Baker[/autotag] this fall comes at the defensive tackle spot.

With three players from that group drafted this past spring, the Tigers return just two players with game experience at defensive tackle. One of those is [autotag]Jacobian Guillory[/autotag], who is expected to start this season in his fifth year.

Coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] put it bluntly when evaluating how Guillory has improved since he and the staff arrived ahead of the 2022 season.

“Well, he wasn’t a very good football player when we got here,” Kelly said. “He was technically out of control, he did not play with the kind of discipline necessary to play the position at a high level, and consequently, he didn’t play a whole lot of football.

“I think his maturity and his understanding that he needed to be very good at his technique and leverage, and I think last year he figured that out. And because he’s so strong and explosive and can play with great leverage, he’s now taking those strengths of his and put himself in a position to be an outstanding football and can play at the next level because of it.”

Kelly also praised Guillory’s improvements from a mental perspective and said he does a much better job of handling his emotions now.

“He has handled himself very well emotionally and because of that, I think we’ve seen this player ascend the way he has,” Kelly said.

Guillory started one game in 2023 but appeared in all 13, making a career-high 27 tackles. He has made 39 career appearances in four years with three starts.

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Three LSU Tigers make ESPN’s top 100 college football players of 2024 rankings

Three LSU Tigers have made the list, and they are all inside the top 50.

ESPN has released its list of the top 100 players in college football this fall. Three LSU Tigers have made the list and they are all inside the top 50.

Coming in at No. 47 on the list is LSU offensive tackle [autotag]Emery Jones Jr.[/autotag] It’s no secret that LSU has two of the top offensive tackles in the country. Both of them could hear their names early in the next NFL draft. Jones has played in 26 games and started 24 over the past two seasons and enters his Junior year with high expectations.

Coming in at No. 14 on the list is [autotag]Harold Perkins Jr.[/autotag] Perkins burst onto the scene as a freshman and became a menace on pass rushes. With new defensive coordinator [autotag]Blake Baker[/autotag] I believe he will have another great season.

Coming in at No. 6 is offensive tackle [autotag]Will Campbell[/autotag]. Campbell is widely regarded as the No. 1 offensive tackle prospect in next year’s draft. He has started 26 games for the Tigers over the past two seasons.

LSU has the talent to compete for a national championship this fall.

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Brian Kelly highlights tackling as an emphasis for LSU’s secondary in 2024

One of the position groups that struggled the most for LSU last fall was the defensive backs.

One of the position groups that struggled the most for LSU last fall was the defensive backs. They were a weak link to a defense that gave up a ton of points and was ranked as one of the worst teams in not only the SEC but the NCAA.

This season, the Tigers have a new defensive coordinator in [autotag]Blake Baker[/autotag] and he looks to fix some of the issues LSU had last fall. Between Baker, [autotag]Bo Davis[/autotag], [autotag]Kevin Peoples[/autotag], [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag], and [autotag]Jake Olson[/autotag], I believe the defense will be a lot better. With that being said, [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] recently stated he wants the safeties to do a better job tackling.

“I think from the safety position we’ve got to continue to stress them in tackling,” Kelly said, per On3. “That’s really going to be a big piece for us is can we erase some mistakes up front? And when we say mistakes up front, if we cut a gap loose, if there’s an issue up front relative to a run fit, can those safeties erase for us? And we’re not there yet. We need to continue to evaluate that.”

As a safety, you are the final line of defense between a running back or a receiver and the endzone. If you don’t make the tackle, it’s six points every time.

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ESPN lists 3 LSU football players as preseason All-Americans

The Tigers lost a lot of production, but they still boast some elite talent entering 2024.

LSU loses a lot of key production entering 2024, most notably its starting quarterback and top-two receivers from a season ago.

However, this team begins the campaign as a preseason top-15 team across the board, and there’s a reason for that. This roster has a lot of talent, and ESPN has taken notice. On its preseason All-America team, the outlet included three LSU players.

The obvious one is left tackle [autotag]Will Campbell[/autotag], who is a first-teamer. Campbell enters his third year as the starter and has proven himself to be one of the best tackles in the nation. He’s seen as a possible top-five pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

Campbell has been LSU’s starting left tackle since his first game as a true freshman. The 6-6, 323-pound junior has started 26 straight games and could be the first offensive lineman taken in the 2025 NFL draft. He’s a polished pass protector and didn’t allow a sack last season in 491 pass-blocking situations, according to Pro Football Focus. Campbell’s power and strength also make him an excellent run blocker.

[autotag]Emery Jones Jr.[/autotag], who will play on the right side opposite Campbell and is viewed as a first-round prospect in his own right, was named to the second team.

Campbell wasn’t the only first-teamer, however. On the defensive side of the ball, he’s joined by [autotag]Harold Perkins Jr.[/autotag] After a very productive true freshman campaign, Perkins entered his sophomore year in 2023 with high expectations.

Though he remained productive, he wasn’t the game-changer many hoped he would be. That could change in 2024 as he has a different role in the revamped defensive scheme under new coordinator [autotag]Blake Baker[/autotag].

After considerable debate about where Perkins should play, he will return to inside linebacker while also moving outside and rushing the passer on third down. The 6-1, 225-pound junior had 7.5 sacks as a true freshman in an edge rusher role. He moved inside as a sophomore, and while his sack numbers dipped somewhat, he matched his freshman total with 13 tackles for loss. Wherever Perkins lines up, quarterbacks have to be wary of him.

Only time will tell if LSU reaches its goal of a College Football Playoff berth, but if it does, these three players will almost certainly be a major reason why.

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LSU’s Harold Perkins Jr. named to Butkus Award preseason watch list

Harold Perkins Jr. enters his junior season with quite a bit of hype once again.

The [autotag]Butkus Award[/autotag] is given each year to the best linebacker in the country. [autotag]Harold Perkins Jr.[/autotag] has been recognized as a player on the preseason watch list for the award.

Perkins is entering his junior season on the Bayou. During his freshman season, he became one of the most feared pass rushers in the country. He was recognized as a Freshman All-American for his efforts that season.

Last year, his production ticked down a bit as he played in 13 games and finished with 75 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and one interception.

Under the leadership of a new defensive coordinator, [autotag]Blake Baker[/autotag], Perkins is set for a breakout season. I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up being the best linebacker in the country this fall and he plays his way into being a first-round draft pick in the next NFL draft. Baker will put him in a position to be successful.

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Is LSU underrated heading into the 2024 season?

Is LSU’s AP poll ranking fair or are the Tigers being undervalued?

The first AP Top 25 poll was released earlier this week with LSU coming in at No. 13. It’s a familiar spot for the Tigers, who have been ranked between 12 and 16 in six of the last 12 preseason polls.

It’s a step below where LSU began 2023 at No. 5, but nearly identical to LSU’s No. 12 finish.

It begs the question: Is LSU underrated?

On the surface, No. 13 is fair. LSU is behind several teams that either made the NY6 or competed for a playoff spot last year. LSU did neither. But some of the numbers suggest LSU is better than the 13th-best team in the country.

According to FanDuel, the Tigers have the seventh-best odds to win the national title at +1800. That speaks to the ceiling of this team. LSU sits No. 10 in SP+. There’s not a huge disparity there, but again it shows LSU might be a little better than the current media perception.

LSU has its questions. It’s not easy to replace a Heisman QB and rebuilding a defense in a single offseason is even harder. But there are a few teams ahead in the poll that would be underdogs against LSU if the game were tomorrow.

Preseason polls don’t matter, especially with the playoff’s existence. Even if LSU entered the year with a top-10 ranking, it wouldn’t mean much. The last two times LSU began the year in the top 10 ended with the Tigers falling short of expectations.

LSU’s ranking makes sense, and it’s hard to argue with, but it has a good shot to finish higher than it’s starting.

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