Mike Jones Jr. provides early impression of new LSU defensive coordinator Matt House

LSU linebacker Mike Jones Jr highlighted the changes that come with new defensive coordinator Matt House as he joins the team this season. House previously served as defensive coordinator for Pitt, FIU and Kentucky before joining the NFL ranks in 2019. He coached for the Kansas City Chiefs as their linebacker coach for three years before making the decision to return to the SEC with the Tigers.

Mike Jones on Matt House

Jones spoke on The Bengal Tiger podcast about how it’s been working under a new coach like House, and the fifth-year senior couldn’t hold back in showing his respect for the new Tigers’ defensive leader.

“Absolutely energetic, absolutely engaged,” said Jones of House. “The main thing I would say about Coach House though, and one of the things I love about him the most — he’s demanding. It doesn’t matter who you are in the room. You could be a guy like me, a fifth-year senior, or you could be a guy who just came into college [and] hasn’t even been there a whole month.

“Of course the expectations are going to be a little different because you know, the knowledge is different over time. But he’s gonna demand that everybody gives there best. The standard isn’t gonna drop with Coach House. It’s not. And that’s one thing I love about him and I think that’s one thing our whole room loves about him because it forces an environment where you have to get better.

“There’s never complacency with Coach House. You’re gonna always work on something and if you think you’ve got something down he’s gonna find a way to mess you up. And you’re gonna need to get deeper into it and you’re gonna know it. You’ll know what you gotta know in and out.

“Awesome dude, awesome coach. I’m learning so much from him even outside of football. I think he’s a great coach, a great DC and I’m so excited to go throughout the season with him.”

Jones enters his fifth year as a linebacker with the Tigers as they undergo a complete change of coaching with incoming head coach Brian Kelly, who is replacing former national championship coach Ed Orgeron.