Tag: Brian Kelly

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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LSU vs South Carolina: What to watch for as Tigers open SEC play

Can LSU get it going on the ground? How does LSU manage personnel on defense? Here’s what to watch for when LSU faces South Carolina.

2024 continues to be a mirror image of 2023 for the LSU Tigers football team.

Both years opened with a neutral site loss on Sunday night to a big-name opponent. Both seasons followed that up with a Week 2 win over a Louisiana FCS school. Now, Week 3 features an SEC road trip against a team projected to finish near the bottom of the SEC.

Last year it was Mississippi State. This year, LSU travels further east to face South Carolina.

According to BetMGM, LSU is a seven-point favorite. A smaller line than the double-digit look-ahead spread posted in the summer. The loss to USC and first-half struggles against Nicholls brought the skeptics out, but head coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] reiterated his confidence in this team.

South Carolina shouldn’t be a measuring stick for LSU, but the Tigers need to show they can take care of business on the road against a less talented squad.

Here’s what to watch for when LSU and South Carolina kick off on Saturday.

When LSU has the ball

When LSU’s on offense, I’ll be looking for two things:

  1. Can LSU run the ball?
  2. Can LSU generate explosive plays?

The fact that we have to ask the first question is a surprise. LSU’s offensive line was projected to be one of the nation’s best, and while it has held up in pass protection, LSU is yet to get a consistent push on the ground.

LSU ranks 112th nationally in rushing success rate and 89th with 3.93 yards per carry. Both marks are below the gaudy numbers posted last year and short of what’s expected of a team with this much talent.

The Tigers miss [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag]’ dual-threat ability and lack a feature running back, but with two first-round tackles and veteran guards, the offensive line should be creating lanes.

South Carolina’s defensive front is strong, but it’s better at rushing the passer than it is at stopping the run. The Gamecocks stuff rate is in the 23rd percentile and their EPA/rush allowed is slightly above average.

If LSU can’t run the ball on Saturday, it signals concern for the remainder of 2024.

As for the second question, LSU needs to be more explosive. The Tigers are one or two more explosive plays from being 2-0. LSU struggled in the red zone vs. USC and the easiest way to fix that is scoring before you even get there.

LSU’s offense made its living on deep shots to [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag] in 2023. I understand the personnel is different, but Nussmeier has the arm to push it down the field.

With a defense that’s still finding its way, LSU needs to be explosive enough to keep up in a potential shootout.

Following the USC loss, Kelly said LSU needs to keep [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag] involved throughout the game. We’ll see if OC [autotag]Joe Sloan[/autotag] dials anything up for his top receiver on Saturday.

When South Carolina has the ball

That Week 3 game against Mississippi State was LSU’s best defensive performance in 2023. The Tigers took advantage of a defense that wasn’t as talented.

It didn’t mean much the rest of the year as the unit regressed back to what it was in the Week 1 loss to Florida State, but it showed LSU had the pieces to bully a less talented team.

LSU hopes for a similar result tomorrow.

South Carolina’s offense struggled last year and then lost Spencer Rattler and Xavier Leggette — its top two players. Rebuilding a unit is hard, especially when you lose the stars.

LaNorris Sellers took over for Rattler and is yet to show anything particularly impressive. The offensive line is improved, but they didn’t have to do much to cross the low bar set in 2023. When it comes to the pass catchers, South Carolina is still searching for the next WR1 after Leggette’s departure.

This is the rare opportunity for the LSU defense to face an SEC offense with an equal amount of questions and concerns.

I’ll be keeping an eye on how LSU manages its personnel. Kelly said that linebacker [autotag]Whit Weeks[/autotag] is too good to keep off the field and we could see [autotag]Major Burns[/autotag] play some safety, allowing LSU to get three backers on the field.

On the backend, [autotag]Sage Ryan[/autotag] is expected to play safety, opening time for [autotag]Zy Alexander[/autotag] and [autotag]PJ Woodland[/autotag] at corner.

LSU needs to ensure this isn’t the game South Carolina figures it out. The Tigers have the talent and speed to get stops here.

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Paul Finebaum says a loss to South Carolina in Week 3 would be ‘shattering’ for LSU

Things could get rough for Brian Kelly and the Tigers if they don’t open SEC play with a win on Saturday.

LSU finds itself in a situation similar to the one it has been in for the past two seasons. The Tigers suffered a loss in the season opener before bouncing back against a team that was not as competitive. Now, LSU enters conference play and needs a win to help bolster the confidence of this team.

To do that, LSU will have to go on the road and beat the South Carolina Gamecocks The Gamecocks looked round in Week 1 against Old Dominion as they barely squeaked out a victory but last week they went into Lexington, Kentucky, and put a beatdown on the Wildcats.

Paul Finebaum said another loss for the Tigers, especially in this game, would be tough to overcome.

“I think it would be a shattering loss,” Finebaum said, per On3. “I’m a big fan of Brian Kelly but to have two losses by the middle of September would be really hard to handle. LSU fans are great fans but they’re also quick to start asking questions. They would certainly be asking plenty of them.”

Finebaum has a lot of crazy takes, but he makes a solid point. If LSU loses Saturday and drops to 1-2 this season, Tiger fans will have a lot of questions about this team.

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Brian Kelly explains what Zavion Thomas brings to LSU’s return game: ‘He’s a weapon for us’

Zavion Thomas has the ability to win games for LSU on offense and on special teams.

[autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] took to the transfer portal to pick up a talented wide receiver who is one of the best kick and punt returners in the country. That aforementioned player is [autotag]Zavion Thomas[/autotag].

Thomas transfers to LSU after spending two seasons with the [autotag]Mississippi State Bulldogs[/autotag]. Last season with Mississippi State, he finished the year with 40 receptions for 503 yards and a touchdown. He made more of an impact on special teams than on the offense. He had six kick returns for 143 yards and a touchdown and 14 punt returns for 163 yards.

Kelly was asked about Thomas’s versatility in his press conference this week.

“His presence back there, obviously, allows us better field position,” Brian Kelly said, per On3. “We struggled a lot the past couple of years with the punt return game. He’s been able to get us great field position. Obviously, he’s a weapon for us.

“That’s what we were looking for when we went into the portal, somebody that could do that. Obviously, he got that one opportunity (against Nicholls). Maybe he got a bit too aggressive in terms of taking that out of the endzone. He was probably a little too deep, but he’s been an important part of our special teams.”

Thomas has the ability to win games for LSU on offense and on special teams.

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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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Five things to know about South Carolina ahead of LSU’s Week 3 matchup

Here are five things LSU football fans should know about the South Carolina Gamecocks prior to Saturday’s conference showdown.

Conference play is here. LSU’s SEC slate kicks off on Saturday when the Tigers travel to Colombia to face the South Carolina Gamecocks.

ESPN’s College GameDay will be in town. That was a surprise, but the week three slate is dry across the board. In ESPN’s first year as the SEC’s sole broadcaster, the choice to highlight the conference showdown makes sense.

LSU is getting its first test since its Week 1 loss to USC. The Tigers faced FCS Nicholls in Week 2 and a ho-hum 44-22 win didn’t soothe the concerns from Week 1.

LSU’s offense struggled to create explosive plays and didn’t get it going on the ground, either. On the other side of the ball, the defense struggled to contain Nicholls’ run game in the first half.

The attention turns to a Gamecocks team that’s already 1-0 in the SEC. Playing an SEC road game is never easy, but LSU’s fared well in these situations under [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag].

LSU and South Carolina last faced in 2020 — LSU coming away with a 52-24 victory. Here are five things to know about the South Carolina Gamecocks before Saturday’s 11 a.m. CT kickoff.

How they got to this point

It’s November 2022. South Carolina just hung 63 points on No. 5 Tennessee and beat No. 7 Clemson to close out an eight-win regular season. Shane Beamer has the program on the rise.

Fast forward a year, and it’s a different story. The Gamecocks failed to carry that momentum into 2023 and a four-game losing streak in conference play headlined a 5-7 record.

South Carolina fans are hoping Beamer can get the Gamecocks back to a bowl game this fall. So far, he’s 2-0. Old Dominion provided a scare in Week 1 but South Carolina responded with an emphatic win over Kentucky, despite entering the game as nearly a double-digit underdog.

Suddenly, there’s hope around the Gamecocks with Gameday’s trip boosting the mood.

LaNorris Sellers is still getting comfortable

South Carolina’s offense is different this year with LaNorris Sellers replacing Spencer Rattler at QB. Rattler crossed the 3,000 in each of his two seasons with the Gamecocks, leaving Sellers big shoes to fill.

Sellers isn’t off to a great start. He completed nine passes as the offense struggled vs. Old Dominion. Progress was made against Kentucky, but not much was asked of Sellers thanks to a dominant Gamecock defense.

A four-star recruit in 2023, Sellers has all the tools and there’s optimism in South Carolina, but he isn’t quite there yet.

If LSU can make Sellers uncomfortable, the defense should have a day.

The defensive line is serious

The strength of this South Carolina team is the defensive front. Whether it’s interior or on the edge, this group creates havoc.

True freshman Dylan Stewart wasted no time announcing his presence. A five-star and the No. 3 overall EDGE in his class, Stewart notched six pressures and three sacks in his first collegiate game. Last week, he added three more pressures to his name.

Stewart isn’t the only threat off the edge — Georgia Tech transfer Kyle Kennard leads the SEC in sacks with four.

Up the middle, the Gamecocks are led by TJ Sanders and Tonka Hemingway, who have combined for 11 pressures and two sacks on the year.

LSU’s offensive line hasn’t been perfect this year and the South Carolina front seven is good enough to give LSU’s offense some trouble.

Run game isn’t there yet

LSU isn’t the only SEC team struggling to get it going on the ground. South Carolina is having its own struggles.

Against Old Dominion, Arkansas transfer RB Rocket Sanders averaged 3.7 yards per carry and 21 of his 88 yards came on one attempt.

It wasn’t much better against Kentucky with the Gamecocks averaging -0.36 EPA/rush. That mark put South Carolina in the 6th percentile.

LSU’s defense fared well against the run in week one but Nicholls State was able to move the ball. If LSU’s week one defense shows up, the Tigers can handle South Carolina’s run game.

Players to know/Other notes

We’ve talked about some guys already, but here’s who else you should keep an eye on when LSU meets South Carolina.

  • LB Debo Williams: Was preseason All-SEC and has five stops and three pressures on the year.
  • DB Nick Emmanwori: Joined Williams on the preseason All-SEC squad. Through two games, he’s one of the top-graded defenders in the SEC, per PFF.
  • WR Mazeo Bennett: It’s been a quiet start for the South Carolina passing game, but Bennett is the leading receiver with four catches for 73 yards. 63 of those yards came last week against Kentucky, where he also scored.

Here are some other notes to know:

  • LSU has not played in South Carolina since 2008. LSU won that on 24-17.
  • LSU has its way in this series. The Tigers have won seven straight and are 19-2-1 overall vs the Gamecocks.
  • South Carolina last beat LSU in 1994, grabbing an 18-17 victory in Tiger Stadium.

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LSU taking advantage of freshman Ju’Juan Johnson’s versatility

Ju’Juan Johnson was recruited as a defensive back, but the high school quarterback is being used on offense as well.

This is a story about how, if you are a really good athlete with a great work ethic, you can find your way on the field at LSU. [autotag]Ju’Juan Johnson[/autotag] was one of the most productive quarterbacks in Louisiana high school football history but he did not sign with LSU to play quarterback. He signed as a defensive back.

Now, he has been moved from the secondary to the backfield as the Tigers look for some depth at the running back position after [autotag]John Emery Jr.[/autotag] was ruled out for the rest of the season. [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] was recently asked about the position change and here is what he had to say.

“We knew on offense there were enough roles that we could get him involved,” Kelly said, per On3. “So he’s going to play some running back, some slot receiver. He can do a lot of different things and we can craft an offensive structure around him. And what we’ve found out is he picks things up really well.”

Johnson could find himself getting a lot of playing time in the backfield as well as being a slot receiver.

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Brian Kelly still believes in LSU’s potential in 2024

LSU finds itself in a similar situation to the one it has been in for the past two seasons as it enters Week 3.

LSU finds itself in a situation similar to the one it has been in for the past two seasons. The Tigers enter Week 3 with a 1-1 record after losing their opening week matchup and defeating an easier opponent in Week 2.

Just like last year, the Tigers suffered a season-ending injury to one of their best defensive players and failed to establish the run game. That has not stopped LSU from ending the season with 10 wins in back-to-back years, though. [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] recently talked about the outlook of the team this year and he mentioned how he still has hope for this team despite the flaws that exist.

“Each week is a week in itself. So be careful about the narratives of this team is this, this team is that. I know what this team can be,” Kelly said, per On3. “I watched them play against USC. They did not finish very well against USC. They need to be a complete four-quarter football team.

“We’ve got to run the ball more effectively. Certainly, I thought we did some really good things late. I thought Zy Alexander came in and competed for the football, had some [pass breakups] and I thought we settled down. Obviously, we had the one touchdown where we had a missed assignment on a Wildcat offensive play. But again, my perspective is this is going to be a good football team. This was a week that this team was taxed and didn’t play its very best and still won.”

LSU will be taking on South Carolina this weekend in a game where both teams could use a big SEC win to propel its season. Carolina got a big win over Kentucky last week so they will look to start the year 2-0 in conference play.

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LSU cornerback Zy Alexander ‘grateful’ to be back on field after knee injury

Zy Alexander’s return from an ACL injury comes at a good time for an LSU team still figuring things out in the secondary.

LSU’s secondary has been a subject of some concern through the first two games of the 2024 season, but it got a major piece back for last week’s game against Nicholls.

Cornerback [autotag]Zy Alexander[/autotag], who was one of LSU’s most reliable defenders last fall before a torn ACL ended his campaign, made his return to the field and saw rotational action, most of it coming at safety.

The Tigers are taking it slow with Alexander and plan to ease him back in. On Monday, coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] said he thinks the team can get 30-35 snaps out of Alexander.

For his part, Alexander just said he was excited to be back on the field.

“I’m feeling good to be back out there,” he said. “It’s been a long process, but I’m just grateful and blessed to be back out there.”

The transfer from Southeastern Louisiana was a pleasant surprise for the Tigers last season, and he could help with what ails the secondary at the moment.

The Tigers are still figuring things out rotationally in the secondary, but after playing 34 snaps on Saturday night, Alexander — who had 44 tackles, two picks and seven pass breakups last fall — seems poised to play an increased role in the coming weeks.

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Brian Kelly reveals LSU has contingency plan for incoming Hurricane Francine

With Hurricane Francine forecast to make landfall in Louisiana on Wednesday, Brian Kelly and the Tigers have a plan in place.

LSU will be playing its first true road game of the season on Saturday as it travels to South Carolina with College GameDay in town for Week 3.

As the Tigers prepare for that game, however, there will be a potential wrench thrown into their plans. Tropical Storm Francine, which is currently located in the western Gulf of Mexico, is forecast to reach hurricane strength and make landfall in Louisiana on Wednesday.

According to the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Francine is forecast to reach the shores of Louisiana with 90 MPH sustained wins, putting it on the cusp of being a Category 2 hurricane.

That could obviously impact travel and prep for the Tigers this week, but [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] said the team has a plan in place.

“There’s one thing that I’ve learned about being here at LSU: There are plans over plans over plans when it comes to when people talk about hurricanes,” Kelly said Monday. “So the thing that we’re clear on is we have a plan in place for Wednesday, Thursday, because that’s when, obviously it’s imminent.

“And then the next stage is thunderstorms on Saturday and then disruption of the game. So I’ve already met with our strength staff for stretching purposes, our nutrition. So it’s been a long morning on hurricanes and thunderstorms on Saturday. So yes, we’re already on top of that. Thank you.”

It sounds like the Tigers are prepared for both the weather complicating practice in Baton Rouge during the week and thunderstorms in Columbia impacting the game.

If you’re in the path of Hurricane Francine, please stay safe and listen to updates from the National Hurricane Center as well as your local meteorologist.

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