Brian Kelly talks defensive growth at Rotary Club of Baton Rouge
Brian Kelly got a good laugh from the room at the Rotary Club of Baton Rouge on Wednesday afternoon when he made a joke that he knows “everybody here wants to ask about the defense”
Because it was true. You can talk about Garrett Nussmeier and the offense and try to sell the flashy and exciting part of this team, but it didn’t get LSU to where it wanted to go last year. This year, it’s all about defensive improvements and that’s highlighted by the play of junior Harold Perkins.
“I am really excited not only about Blake Baker and the staff we brought in on defense, but the players we have developed and now have an opportunity to show themselves this year,” Kelly said. “Everyone likes to start with Harold Perkins and he’s a great place to start. “He has matured physically where we’re going to see his true greatness. He’s going to be able to play inside and outside, he’s over 225 pounds, and will dominate at linebacker. It’s going to be fun to watch him play.”
The development of the defensive front is paramount to LSU’s development this year and the play of the defensive tackle spot will have to be decided by depth and numbers rather than top-end talent.
“It’s a defensive line that a lot of people last year talked about the inability for them to hold up,” Kelly said I think you’re going to see the kind of depth and the number of players that got a chance to play a little bit last that this year will come into their own on our defense. That to me, is the excitement of being a head coach. When you have players that didn’t get the opportunity last year will now get their chance. There will be some veteran players mixed with young players and freshmen even.”
Then you move to the back-end of the defense with a new-look secondary headlined by uncertainty at cornerback. Then the shuffling continues with Major Burns moving to STAR, safety Jardin Gilbert transferring in from Texas A&M, and Sage Ryan moving from cornerback to safety, setting up for plenty of intrigue entering the year.
Overall, it’s a group Kelly is excited about and speaks to the potential balance he hopes to achieve in 2024.
“In the back end of our defense, as you know, we played a lot of young players and we’ll get a chance to see them and how they developed along with some experienced players as well. From a defensive perspective, I can tell you watching them grow, this will be a more disciplined and focused group on the defensive end.
“Offense, defense, and special teams, all together this will be a better balanced football team and in this league you have to be.”
