Brian Kelly comments on some of new LSU defensive hires
LSU head coach Brian Kelly was in Mobile for the Senior Bowl, which also brought time with reporters in attendance. During his media session, Kelly commented on some of the new LSU defensive hires.
Notably, defensive coordinator Blake Baker is a familiar face for LSU fans. Now, he’s back looking to retool a defense that has not been close to the standards of the program.
Baker was linebackers coach at LSU when Kelly was hired, but Kelly hired Matt House as defensive coordinator. This time around, it made a lot of sense to bring in Baker.
“I got a chance to spend a little bit of time with Blake,” Kelly said. “But anytime there is a transition, it is very difficult to commit to anybody because you are bringing in a whole new philosophy and a way of doing things.
“I was impressed with him and, obviously, with the work he did at Missouri. And as an SEC opponent, we got a chance to see him first-hand. His ability to recruit and the relationships he built at LSU when he was here made him a logical choice.”
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The Tigers also brought back Corey Raymond to rebuild the LSU secondary with safeties coach Jake Olsen. It’s the addition of two highly thought of defensive line coaches, Bo Davis and Kevin Peoples, that will also have work to do.
“When we talk about the best defensive line coaches in the country, his name keeps coming up,” Kelly said. “I was able to spend some time with him and talk to him about returning to LSU. It wasn’t an easy decision for him. He was at a great school and a great program, but I think the ability to come back to LSU was attractive to him. The ability to build something here great was attractive.
“Teaming him with Kevin Peoples, who is an outstanding defensive line coach who sometimes gets into the shadows but is, in his own right, one of the best in the business. I think we have two outstanding coaches there that are going to do a great job.”
