Brian Kelly provides timeline for hiring new defensive line coach

Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers are looking for a new defensive line coach after Jamar Cain left to be the Denver Broncos‘ pass-rush specialist coach. Cain made this move after spring practice had already started.

Now, Kelly has given an update on the timeline to bring in a new defensive line coach.

“Yeah, we wanted to get through the spring,” Brian Kelly said. “We feel like we’re in a great situation with Gerald Chatman on staff. So, there was no rush, like we’ve got to go find a defensive line coach. He’ll be a candidate for the position as well.”

Chatman is currently a senior defensive analyst at LSU. He’s worked as an FBS defensive line coach. So, he would make sense as an internal candidate. However, as Kelly explained, once spring ball is over it will be easier to interview coaches around the country.

“But, we’ll begin that process once we finish up the spring calendar for us, and then we’re on the road. So, we can get on the road and get to candidates and make it a whole lot easier.”

Jamar Cain has spent his entire coaching career as an assistant at the college level. So, a chance to coach in the NFL was an opportunity that he couldn’t pass up.

“So, you know, expect something within the next three weeks or so. Yeah, it’s LSU. We’ve got a great list of candidates that we have interest in,” Brian Kelly concluded.

Matt House on the LSU defensive line

LSU defensive coordinator Matt House recently spoke about the team’s defensive line, pointing out who has been emerging from the unit during spring practice.

“The guys that are on the field right now, I’m really, really pleased with Jacobian [Guillory’s] growth. He’s doing a nice job. I’m really, really pleased with Sai’vion [Jones’] growth. We still have Mekhi Wingo, he’s at every practice, he may not be on the field. We still have Maason Smith. He’s at every practice. I’m excited about the potential depth of that group. There’s a lot of guys that are growing and that’s exciting,” House said.

“You kind of have to go back and in some ways you know, Mekhi played so many snaps for us. We know what he can be. Maason, I have a pretty good feel for what Maason can be because he did go through a whole training camp and a whole spring. I think what you see, too, is you get an opportunity to work with the guys that really need more reps. Not that those other guys don’t — they do — but it’s the next man up and it gives you a chance to see that growth. To me, the spring is all about the setting the stage for, fundamentally, how you’re going to approach the summer and then training camp. So I feel like we’re in a good spot with our growth there right now.”