LSU coach Brian Kelly previews Auburn game

LSU head coach Brian Kelly met with the media on Monday to preview Saturday’s SEC matchup against Auburn in Tiger Stadium. Here are some of the key things he had to say and the entire video press conference.

On LSU defense: “We feel there is some light at the end of the tunnel for our defense. The progress that was made upfront is going to be sustainable. We’re going to have to make some more progress on the back end of our defense. We’ve got to go compete for some balls that were out there for us to get. We found a position that we’re comfortable with now with Harold Parkins. It doesn’t have to change from week to week with a new teaching progression. There’s a lot of pieces there that are coming together. There needs to be continued improvement at the back end of our defense. If we do that, we feel like we’re moving in the right direction.”

On Auburn offense: “The offense is gonna run around. Payton Thorne and (Jarquez) Hunter the running back, They have shown that they can beat anybody was a 20-20 game late against Georgia. Georgia was able to escape with a victory, scoring with about two and a half minutes left in the game. So very dangerous football team, one where we’ll have to play really well. But we’re excited about being home, as you know, four out of the first six games on the road, which is very difficult in itself, but you know this will be our fifth consecutive SEC game as well. So our guys are up for the challenge. Will be a great one. It’s great to be back home at Tiger Stadium and we’re looking forward to hosting Auburn this weekend.”

On health of LSU QB Jayden Daniels: “I think our biggest concern was just overall soreness. You know, he got hit a number of times. It was a physical game, but you know, he checked out well yesterday. He was in the film room this morning. Got his his normal film study in around 5:30 this morning. Was with the trainers this morning and he’ll be full go for practice on Tuesday.”

On Denver Harris and Sage Ryan at cornerback: “Denver is continuing to grow. He is continuing to learn what we do and how we do it. He’s maturing. Sage Ryan is a reliable guy. He’s a veteran guy. He’s been here, knows our calls and knows our defense. He’s really playing the third corner when you’re a nickel. With Harold being on the field all the time, we’re taking the third corner and saying, ‘Alright, if he’s not going to be on the field, what’s our best matchup situation?’ He really is the next-best player. We want to get our 11 best on the field, and that’s really what it came down to.”

On LSU S Ryan Yaites getting more snaps: “Next man up. We don’t have a lot of options, but that doesn’t take anything away from Ryan Yaites. He’s done a nice job for us, and we have some confidence in him. His next step is playing with a little bit more aggressiveness and confidence. He’s a really good player. We want to have him let it go and play a little bit on the edge. He doesn’t want to make a mistake. He’s a young player, and he wants to be perfect. It’s nice to have a true freshman in there who is so conscious about all the little things, but he’s just got to go play and let it happen. He’s the next man up in the nickel situation for us.”

On LSU DB Kylin Jackson: “He’s tying his shoes. He’s got that down. We got him taking off his gold chain in pregame. That was good. He thought that would be a good idea to wear that out in pregame. We didn’t think that’d be a great idea. He’s coming along. It’s a process. He’s a great kid. We really enjoy him, but this is a process. He’s only been on a couple of trips. He’s a guy that we want to keep moving forward, but he’s young. He is just figuring it out as we go. If he keeps growing and keeps moving in the right direction, you probably see him on the field by the end of the year.”

On Hugh Freeze’s offense: “I know Hugh. You know, obviously in the past year, I’ve gotten to know him through the SEC meetings. Here’s a good football coach. I mean, he fits the style of his offense to his personnel. I think if he had Nabers and he had Thomas, they’d be throwing the ball a lot. Payton Thorne threw it a lot last year at Michigan State. Didn’t run it much, but he’s an outstanding athlete. So you know, they’ve chosen to run it a little bit more this year. I just think he’s a smart football coach that’s going to utilize — like for me it’s still about players over plays and he’s going to take the players that he has and he’s going to set his offensive structure based upon his best players.”