LSU must show consistency in second season under Brian Kelly

A consistent LSU is a great LSU for the 2023 season, according to On3’s J.D. PicKell. The Tigers managed to steal the SEC West in Year 1 under Brian Kelly but the same scenario won’t unfold in front of them this fall.

LSU has a lot of pieces back and the ability to win the division outright, proving 2022 was no fluke. PicKell equated LSU to dating, as in the phase before it gets serious.

LSU has a lot of potential, but don’t forget about the expectations, especially after the fanbase saw what Kelly did during his first year.

“And my question more specifically for LSU is do we see a consistent product from the Tigers in 2023,” PicKell said live from SEC Media Days. “Because potential is fun to talk about and there’s tons of potential on this roster at LSU. But you can only talk about potential for so long. And the reality is for LSU they’re not a fan base that just won nine games, high five and walk off and have a good time like that. That’s not what they’re signing up for at LSU. 

“That’s not what they expect. I want to look at LSU (like) they’re a lot like the talking phase of the whole dating scene, if you will. Like it’s fun to talk about winning 10 games. It’s fun to talk to, you know, that attractive whoever you’re talking to, but the reality is, at some point in time you get to determine what you’re going to be.”

LSU comes back with plenty of players who can make a difference in the SEC. That’ll be the fine line between returning to and possibly winning the conference title or falling short of expectations.

“And for LSU right now they have the pieces to determine what they’re going to be,” PicKell said. “You got Jayden Daniels back. You got Harold Perkins, who I believe is the best defensive player in college football. You got Maason Smith, who they were really excited about last year as a true freshman …

“Like all these pieces at LSU are currently in place to do some really exciting things. And if they can be consistent, they have a very, very real chance to win the West for the second year in a row. And when I say I want you to be consistent, I’m not asking them to go out and win the SEC and beat Georgia. 

“I’m not even asking to beat ‘Bama for a second time in a row. If you do, phenomenal. Think a lot of people in Baton Rouge at this point may even expect it but I’m not asking you to do that. What I’m asking you to do is to be who you’re supposed to be and beat them how you’re supposed to beat them.”

PicKell referenced a few results from last season that could’ve been more decisive for LSU. If that’s the case in 2023, the Tigers will be better off.

“Like LSU last year, they had no business messing around with Auburn for four quarters,” PicKell said. “LSU was way more talented than that. LSU had no business losing to Texas A&M. I think A&M is going to be good now here in the coming years but I don’t think they were supposed to beat LSU a season ago based on what (the Tigers) had last year. 

“Can they be consistent? LSU had no business, scratching and clawing to find their way out of Fayetteville, Arkansas. That wasn’t what this roster has available to them. And so for LSU if they can be consistent, that’s going to change the entire complexion of the SEC.”