LSU's Brian Kelly breaks down showdown with FSU; talks Jordan Travis, defensive line and more

Shortly after Florida State football coach Mike Norvell and his coordinators spoke Monday about Sunday’s marquee matchup with LSU, first-year Tigers head coach Brian Kelly did the same in Baton Rouge, La.

Speaking to local reporters, Kelly commented on the Seminoles’ biggest strengths, including redshirt junior quarterback Jordan Travis and the FSU defensive tackles, while also describing what it’s like to go up against a Norvell-coached team.

During his 12-year stint at Notre Dame, Kelly coached against FSU five times, including three times in the past four seasons. He has squared off against many of the ’Noles he’ll face when his Tigers kick off the season against FSU this Sunday in the Superdome in New Orleans (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC).

“Playing a team I am quite familiar with — opened up against Florida State last year. I know Mike very well. Mike Norvell has done an outstanding job in developing this football team,” Kelly said. “They’re a disciplined group now; it wasn’t the same group that we saw a couple years ago. Last year, they took the team that I coached into overtime.”

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Kelly described FSU as a team that has some talented players, with offensive skill weapons and Travis standing out.

“From an offensive standpoint, it starts at the quarterback position. Jordan Travis is someone, certainly from my perspective, a great competitor, can make things happen. … He can throw the football and he runs, keeps plays alive for them,” Kelly said. “He’s (helped) by a deep and talented receiving corps, and then, what we saw on Saturday was rushing for 406 yards. That certainly gets your attention.”

Kelly noted that FSU’s three-headed rushing attack, featuring Treshaun Ward, Lawrance Toafili and Trey Benson, could make things much easier for Travis if they continue to have anywhere close to that production.

“The key will be playing great defense at all three levels. We just talked about their ability to run the football. If you can run it that effectively, Jordan Travis can have a field day out there,” Kelly said. “We’ve got to be able to stop the run first of all. I think that is going to limit Jordan Travis. If we can force him to be predictable throwing the football, that is going to help us a lot.”

Beyond the FSU backs, whom Kelly described as “outstanding,” Travis is another rushing threat for which LSU has to prepare. Travis gained 530 yards and ran for seven touchdowns in 10 games in 2021, while also reaching FSU program records for career rushing yards and touchdowns by a quarterback.

“He’s a guy that you obviously want to box the edges with. You wanna keep him inside the pocket. Once he gets outside the edge of your defense, he’s extremely elusive,” Kelly said. “He can create havoc. … We’ve got to keep him inside the pocket.”

Even if Kelly has swapped out his blue and gold for purple and gold, and is working with an all-new Tigers roster, he remains one of the more accomplished offensive minds and play-callers in the country.

On facing FSU’s defense, Kelly said he expects, “lateral quickness with players that can rally around the football,” and plenty of man coverage from defensive coordinator Adam Fuller.

Kelly said FSU has the athletes to match up with elite skill players, and the Seminoles’ defensive line has the size to contend with LSU’s offensive front.

“Defensively, physicality at the defensive line position. Athletes at the second level and in the backfield,” Kelly said. “Inside, size at the defensive tackle position. They’re not a group that is getting moved off the football. They rotate them in, they can go two-deep inside out. They’ve got some new players playing off the edge; they lost some talented edge players. There’s still athleticism on the edge, but I would say it starts inside out with their defensive line.”

*** Full summary of Mike Norvell press conference

*** Summary of coordinators’ press conference

Kelly also explained how his prior experience facing FSU in last year’s opener might help with the game planning this week.

“There’s a new offensive and defensive coordinator for me, it’s a whole new team. I don’t know that it really helps as much. I can give and lend a little bit more to our coordinators,” Kelly said. “I can give them a little more insight in terms of what they’re about and how they play the game and what they’re looking to do on offense and defense, but that’s about it.”

The winner of LSU’s starting quarterback battle between redshirt freshman Garrett Nussmeier and junior Arizona State transfer Jayden Daniels (who coincidently started against FSU way back in the 2019 Sun Bowl) won’t be revealed until the Tigers take the field.

Kelly knows who the starter will be, but he wishes to counter the fact that FSU already has a game under its belt.

“I think it’s a tactical advantage for us not to announce it,” Kelly said. “Florida State played a game, that’s an advantage for them. The advantage for us is that we haven’t played. … We’re going to hold onto that card until game day. …

“This is a team that has a great program. It’ll be a great opener for us and one that we’re excited about.”

Talk about this story with other die-hard FSU football fans on the Tribal Council.