What He Said: Brian Kelly on LSU vs. Alabama

LSU head coach Brian Kelly met with the media on Monday to discuss Saturday’s matchup with Alabama, which will put a pair of Top 15 teams in primetime with SEC West implications on the line.

Here’s everything Kelly said during his weekly press conference ahead of this weekend’s matchup with the Tide.

Opening Statement…

“Back to playing some football, and certainly an exciting week. Get an opportunity to test ourselves against an outstanding football team in Alabama. And I think everybody knows that this is one of those games that put you in a position to challenge for an SEC championship. So we’ve got to go on the road to Tuscaloosa. We’ve got to raise our level of preparation this week. It’s not about rising up to the competition. It’s rising to the level of preparation necessary to play an outstanding football team in all three phases … offense, defense, and special teams.

“Coach Saban and his staff, (Alabama offensive coordinator Tommy Rees), should be commended for what they’ve been able to accomplish offensively since early in the season. Obviously committed to (Jalen Milroe). He’s really done a nice job throwing the football. I think a lot of people were questioning his ability to throw it, but he’s been effective and efficient with big plays.

“Certainly, (Isaiah Bond) and (Jermaine Burton) at the wide receiver position have given them playmakers. They are physical up front. I think they’re massive on the offensive line. (Roydell Williams) and (Jace McClellan) at the running back position. And, of course, their defense has been as good if not better than anybody consistently over the last six weeks by giving up 21 points or fewer (each game).

“(Dallas Turner) and (Caleb Downs) and (Terrion Arnold), there’s a number of players, and their defensive line is stout and physical. Outstanding in special teams. So, again, we know what we’re up against. Outstanding football team on the road, playing at Alabama, and a great challenge and a great opportunity for us at the same time. So, we’ll practice today and get an opportunity to begin the preparation for an outstanding football team.”

On how LSU used the bye week…

“I think a little bit of everything. I think we talked about it last week. I think it was important for us to do some self scouting, some things that we needed to work on. I think it was important from a technical standpoint. We continue to grow technically in some areas on both sides of the ball, and then you still want to meet a workload criteria because you just can’t continue to go through the season then all of a sudden put up a stop. So, we got to about 70% of our average workload last week and gave the guys some active rest over the weekend, and then they reported (Sunday) night, and we’re back to work (Monday).”

On his relationship with former Notre Dame QB and OC and current Alabama OC Tommy Rees…

“He played for me, we’ve got a deep connection relative to a player-coach relationship and then a respect for him as as a coach and what he’s done in this profession at an early age. He is somebody that I have a lot of respect for and what he’s done certainly at Notre Dame, and then in a very short time taking an offense and and transforming quickly during the season.

“You know, he’s a competitor. He always was as a player and you can see that as a coordinator. His teams are gonna be physical. They’re gonna run the football. They’re gonna push the ball down the field and they’re going to, more than anything else, utilize their personnel. He will mold the offense to fit the personnel. I think that’s what smart coaches do, and he’s an outstanding football coach.”

On the worth ethic and attitude of the team headed into November…

“This game requires an incredible commitment. Our players have been committed to that end, and certainly it takes more than just a work ethic. It takes a consistency week in and week out. I like our mindset. Our team understands that it’s more than just coming into work. It’s working efficiently, purposefully, and I think that they’ve done that over the past year and a half where they’ve understood that it’s not just about working, it’s about working (with purpose).”

On the availability of cornerbacks Zy Alexander, Denver Harris and Duce Chestnut, as well as Ashton Stamps and an update on his injury…

“Duce is not available, Denver’s not available, Zy is not available. Ashton Stamps will practice (Monday).”

If you’re in the same position that you are last year will you go for two again the exact same position?

“Yeah, I mean it’s that feel of the game So, it’s really hard to answer the question. I felt like the game itself was such that our guys were executing at such a high level that it was kind of what prompted that decision. I think from my perspective, it’s it’s really about a gut feeling at the time more so than what’s the perfect scenario, and I think the feeling was that we were executing at a high level at that time. It was time to go for it.”

On what he’s seen from the other cornerbacks during the bye week…

“We come into a big game like this, they’ve been around long enough now, I mean I think you know, you’re into the season now eight games … to say that they’re inexperienced, yes, they haven’t played a lot of SEC games. But they know what they’re doing. They understand our techniques. They know what’s expected of them. We’re in a position where we feel comfortable and confident that they can go out and get the job done. So, even though they don’t have a lot of SEC games underneath their belt, they’re quite capable of going out there and and playing at a high level.

“I’d say more than anything else you have to have confidence in your players and their ability to do it, and I’ve got confidence that whether it’s Jeremiah Hughes or Javien Toviano or Ashton Stamps, all three of those freshmen can go out and play at the level necessary for us to to win a championship.”

On balancing the pressure to win with sticking to your long-term vision of a program and the standard that you want to live up to as opposed to the short-term gain of maybe playing somebody to help you win a game…

“Well, it’s never been a problem for me because I have a vision for our program, and the vision includes more than just winning. It includes developing excellence both on and off the field. So, we’re certainly not there yet. You know, we have to continue to grow relative to the identity of our football team. So I know I’m hired and fired on wins and losses, but I’ve never really worried about that. This is the fifth program I’ve taken over and I’ve always built the program based upon excellence in the classroom and on the football field. And then that process has usually taken care of itself and it’s equal success. So, the question is a good question, but I don’t think I’ve ever looked at it that way. And it helps when you have a 10-year contract, too (laughing).

And so, again, that’s not been my motivation in any way or shape or fashion. It’s been much more about developing a championship program in all of those facets first and foremost.”

What have you seen specifically with Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe and the way that he’s adjusted from the opener to now?

“I think at first there was this sense that he was just going to run all over the place, right? This is going to be a running quarterback, but he’s not. I mean, he’ll run, and he can go from 0 to 60 as well as anybody, and he is a threat to run. There’s no doubt about that.

“But he’s going to stay in the pocket, he’s going to throw the football. And the way they create offense is through a balance of running the football, formations so you can get some shots down the field. And he throws the ball well. I mean, he throws the ball well. And he can hit the open targets, he can push the ball down the field.

“I think what he’s done really well is when he’s been given the opportunity to take shots down the field, he’s hooked up. He hasn’t missed receivers. When they’ve created the opportunities, he’s come through for them. And I think that that’s been impressive.”

On the offense sticking to the same identity vs. Alabama…

“I think the offense clearly recognizes their ability to be explosive but have balance on offense and defense. So there’s no reason for them not to be anything but who they are. I think that there’s a confidence level that if they prepare the right way, if they stick to their process, that they’re going to have success.

“I think that’s been their mindset is just practice and, you know, put in the preparation the right way and things will take care of themselves.”

On a postgame locker room comment after win No. 300 when Kelly said this LSU team was the most fun he has had coaching…

“What I was alluding to is essentially that this is a young group of players. You know, we travel 21 freshmen again this weekend. We had a slew of transfers come in on defense. And it was really a new group that we had to kind of, you know, on board, if you will, in the second season. And so just the development of the football team has been enjoyable. Watching the growth of the football team. They’ve done everything we’ve asked them to do. They have done the little things, and it’s been hard. It’s not been easy. There was a difficult loss to start the season. There was a very disappointing loss on the road. But they they haven’t backed down at all, and that’s been enjoyable as a coach.”

On the status of defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo…

“Mekhi had surgery he is out for the season. Well, I’d say this. The projections are six weeks, so we’ll see where that goes.”

On the approach without Wingo…

“Next man up. We’ll rely on the rotation that you saw pretty much against Army. It’ll be a similar rotation.”

On whether Kelly ever has time or an interest in the offseason to look at the history of a rivalry like LSU and Alabama…

“This Alabama game, for me, it’s exciting because I get immersed in some of the great games and the great rivals and the great names that have been part of this game. So, I love it. I think it’s exciting. I’ve been in the Midwest for most of my career. I catch just kind of you know, the highlighted games and get filled in on some of the other ones. It’s been really fun.

After Notre Dame games, did you ever get home and watch LSU and Alabama play?

“Oh heck yeah. I mean, I love watching college football. So it certainly would have been a game that I would have watched. You know, I remember some of those slugfests when it was 10-3 or 10-7, some of those tight, tight games. Great defense on both sides of the ball fighting for every inch. Just some classic games, and I really enjoyed watching them.”

On how he’s viewed the success Nick Saban has had and maintained and how it compares to the success Kelly has maintained at different stops…

“I think most head coaches that have been in this business clearly understand that the process of what you do and how you do it is probably most important. The day-to-day, and we’ve been in a long time – both of us. So we have developed what our process is individually through our years of experience. Sometimes good and bad. So, he has shaped what his process is and how that has been so effective for him and, likewise, I’ve shaped the process that I use on a day-to-day basis based upon my experience. I think you’ll find that in many ways coaches focus in on a process instead of outcomes because it’s so important to develop that with your team.”

On Saban’s ability to maintain consistency while going through coordinators over the years…

“That’s a great question. I think it’s been remarkable because you’re bringing in different personalities, a different person. He does such a great job of vetting that out and making sure that they fit and, clearly, you know what Nick talks about on a day-to-day basis. They have to obviously be in lockstep with them, and that just goes to the great leadership that he provides on a day-to-day basis. So, you got one voice? It’s coach Saban’s voice, and everybody else is following in line with that. I think that’s allowed multiple leadership positions underneath him to come in because he creates such a clear message of what is going to take place.”

On whether Jayden Daniels and his Heisman hopes should hinge on this one game vs. Alabama…

“It’ll be part of the body of work throughout the entire season. He’s going to have other games. He’s going to have the Florida game and Georgia State and Texas A&M and postseason, but it’ll certainly be part of the body of work. If he throws four interceptions, and, you know, certainly we don’t play well, that will be part of the body of work throughout the entire season. So again, I don’t know that it’s one game that makes or breaks a Heisman. I think it’s the body of work, and I think we’re seeing that as the season plays out. But certainly, he’s going to be judged on the entire season, and there will be a lot of eyes on this particular game.”

On the status of starting right tackle Emery Jones and how true freshman backup Lance Heard fared…

“Just to have that luxury of a guy that as a freshman that’s played a whole lot of football has done pretty well for you. Emery is practicing. We had him moving around last week and he participated in our workouts, and he’ll be a full goal for practice (Monday). Lance has done a great job of coming in and playing at a high level. It’s great to have a true freshman that come in and compete at the level he did against Auburn and Army. He’ll be ready and prepared if we do in fact call on him.”

On Alabama’s defense…

“Well coached, stingy. Kevin Steele and his staff do a great job. You know, again, as I said, I think that there’s not a lot of air in that defense. You’re going to have to be on top of things. We’re going to have to be very balanced. You can’t just want to throw it all over the place or think that you’re going to go in there and move the line of scrimmage. They’re big and physical up front. The linebacker play is outstanding, as I mentioned earlier. I think Turner, (Chris Braswell) on the edge, they’re long and athletic. Look, they’re both 6 ‘3″, 6 ‘4”, 240 pounds, and they create problems in the pass rush and certainly can run and hit. So, it’s a really good football team. Again, as I said, I think it’s the best defense in all three phases.

“And, look, it’s the challenge that an offense like ours really is up for and will have to play their best. But that’s what this is about, right, is you want to be your best when your best is needed and our offense will have to be at their best when their best is needed.”

On whether any of the cornerbacks currently unavailable could be available by Saturday…

“No, they’re not playing.”

On missing the cornerbacks and Wingo…

“Clearly we’d love to have Wingo in the lineup, but he has an injury, and we’re we’re built for injuries. You can’t be built for 11 players. We have depth. We have good players that will step up and be ready to play and will play at a high level. So again, it’s part of football. In this game, if you lose one guy and you’re you’re not able to answer the bell, then you’re not very good. We think we’ve got a good football team. We’re gonna miss them, but we have guys that will step up and compete at a high level.”

On how backups on the defensive line like Jordan Jefferson, Paris Shand and Bradyn Swinson have played…

“I think Jordan Jefferson’s played at a high level. He’s graded out probably as our our best defensive tackle. Physical at the point of attack, uses his hands well, is getting great separation, gap integrity, has been outstanding. Paris is playing really well, technically very, very good. Grading out at the top for our defensive line over the last three weeks. And Swinson’s been really good in pass rush. So, those three guys … as much as it hurts that we don’t have a few of the guys that we got in the portal at the defensive back position, those three guys – and having Omar Speights back – makes a difference.

“Those four guys have made a significant difference for us.”

On the timeline for Zy Alexander to return from injury…

“As I said, he could be out for a significant period of time.”

How do you prepare the backup cornerbacks to face a quarterback like Milroe?

“They’re elite players coming out of high school. I mean, they’re elite players and now you’re putting them in a position where they just have to be confident and trust their technique and trust what we’ve taught them. Now it’s taking that trust and putting it in from preparation to performance and playing emotionally at a level which allows them to do their job, and I think we’ve been at it long enough now where these guys are ready to go.

“They got no choice. These guys are ready to play. They are young and are inexperienced. I get it. They haven’t played a lot of SEC games, but these guys are really good players and they’ll get out there and they’ll compete they’ll compete for LSU.

On the impact of Omar Speights returning at linebacker…

Well, we have (Whit Weeks), and everybody loves Whit, and I love Whit, too. He’s athletic. He’s fast. He runs around. He is going to be an outstanding football player for us. Omar brings a settling influence out there with Greg Penn. You’ve got two veteran players that have seen it, done it, have played a lot of snaps. As much as we talk about the back end of the defense that don’t have a lot of snaps, it’s nice to be able to come back and have two veteran linebackers in there communicating to the back end with two safeties that have played a lot of football.

“We are really looking at the veteran presence that he brings, and it’s an added advantage for us in terms of having him on the field.”

Stay tuned to The Bengal Tiger for full coverage ahead of the matchup between LSU and Alabama