B&S preview series: From Backwoods Grit to Clean and Shiny new Sh*t
Photo via Jonathan Mailhes
LSU got a whole new makeover this offseason, a term most Louisiana natives are not used to hearing when paired with their beloved University, but changes had to be made after a disappointing 2021. New personnel needed to be hired and a shift in culture seemed to be the answer to all of the State school’s problems. However, did the administration find the best fits for both culture and success? Will this team rise from the ashes like the phoenix into immortality and greatness that previous Tiger football teams have achieved? Or are they just destined to flounder over a new regime more concerned with appearance than winning? We may not know all the answers but we will give it our best shot.
“If you’re gonna play in Texas, you better have a fiddle in the band. That lead guitar is hot but not for a Louisiana man.” And that is exactly what Brian Kelly became overnight; a gator wrasslin, gumbo lovin, Creole speakin’ Louisiana man. On November 30, 2021 Louisiana State University decided they were going to move on from Head Coach Ed Orgeron and hire the highly sought after Notre Dame Coach Brian Kelly. In a matter of 24 hours, the Tigers went from having a proven National Champion Head Coach to a guy who’s National Championship was as real as Manti Teo’s girlfriend. Just days later Kelly was at an LSU basketball game giving an informal, inaugural speech and wow what a change one airplane ride can have on a person’s accent.
This was an interesting hire because of almost every aspect that is important in college football. First of which is culture, now you can fake a southern accent all you want but down in the Bayou there is a different way of life. A gritty, nose to the grindstone, blue collar mentality that has yet to be run out by the “yuppies” from up North. After a long week’s work, the citizens of Louisiana don’t head to the spa to enjoy a mani, pedi or go to the mall for retail therapy, instead they grab a beer, gather friends and family, turn on the Tigers’ game, and have a good ole crawfish boil. Second, recruiting is a whole different animal in the South than it is up north.
There is an abundance of talent that borders the state and that can be found in-state but that talent is not always the easiest to persuade to join your program. You aren’t just competing with the Michigans and Ohio States of the world, you are competing with top tier football programs across the whole conference who are willing to do whatever, whenever, for however much just to land recruits. And Lastly, but most importantly, the competition in the SEC is on a completely different level than not playing in a conference and being able to choose the opponents you want to play. Every week there is a chance of losing, it is not just Alabama that teams have to worry about in the SEC, it is even teams with the worst records. The Arkansas’ and the Mississippi State’s that could surprise you at any moment. That being said, I hope Coach Kelly was taught to swim well at a very early age because if not he may find himself drowning in an SEC schedule that is not as forgiving to new, unfamiliar coaches.
Not amused by the Brian Kelly era. Image via Nolacuisine
Last year we all knew it could be a tumultuous season for LSU after the Tigers fell in week one to a middle of the PAC, UCLA Bruins team. If I had to guess, this was probably the game that left the writing on the wall for Coach O’s future with the team. From there, LSU went on to beat a bunch of nobodies and then faced Mississippi State. Unfortunately, that game against the bulldogs marked the beginning of conference play which this squad was just not prepared for. They went on to lose 5 of 7 SEC matchups, only gaining victories over Florida and Texas A&M, if we are being honest the Aggies were bound to lose in Coach O’s last game at Death Valley and the refs made sure the Cajun Casanova went out on top. Still, LSU qualified for a bowl game, barely, and faced Kansas State in the Texas Bowl. At this point, the season was all but over and the team had given up, which showed during their 22 point loss to the Wildcats. The 2021 season may have been one of the worst in recent years for this top SEC competitor and no one is denying that.
After a trying 2021 season, the L’s kept piling up for LSU during the offseason. Of course, the Tigers were bound to lose some key players to the NFL draft such as top DB Derek Stingley Jr., OL Ed Ingram, DB Cordale Flott, and RB Ty Davis-Price all who were taken before the 4th round. The huge impact from the draft was the fact that 3 offensive linemen were drafted which left some holes up front for the Tiger offense. But more surprising than the players who decided to enter the draft, was the quality of players that chose to leave the program via the transfer portal. We aren’t talking about 4th, 5th stringers but at least one of their best players and some projected starters. Eli Ricks, top DB, headlined these transfers leaving Baton Rouge to play for their rivals down in Tuscaloosa. The purple and gold also lost Dwight McGlothern to Arkansas amid the coaching change. McGlothern was a projected starter in the defensive backfield and was supposed to be one of their premier players. Finally, starting QB Max Johnson decided to take his talents to in-conference rival Texas A&M. Like previously stated these aren’t just benchwarmers, they were certified starters that the Tigers are going to have a hard time finding replacements for.
The good news is this is LSU and there is always an abundance of untapped talent just waiting to live up to their full potential. Also on a positive note, there is nowhere but up to go for a previously stagnant 2021 Tiger offense. ASU transfer Jayden Daniels is the projected starter for the season opener this Saturday. Daniels exploded onto the scene a few years ago at Arizona State and started for three years in Tempe. He had a decent year for the Sun Devils last year tallying over 2,300 passing yards, 10 TDs and 10 interceptions, along 700 rushing yards and 6 TDs. He needs to improve on his accuracy and turnovers but you can expect for the Baton Rouge staff to have worked on this throughout the offseason. A familiar face returns at running back with John Emory Jr. taking the lead position in the backfield. Emory was a part of that national championship team as a backup and has logged rushing attempts in almost every game since 2019. The receiving corps returns one of the best wide receivers throughout the country in Kayshon Boutte. He recorded 9 touchdowns in the 2021 season alone before going down with injury, and that was with a slower scoring offense. Add in Jaray Jenkins and Malike Nabors and this unit alone scored almost 20 TDs last season. With a dual threat, dynamic quarterback like Jayden Daniels taking the snaps, this offense should be much improved from last year.
The LSU defenses of old were known for their blood thirsty, pain inciting, no mercy tenacity that we have not seen in awhile. For years now, the Tigers may have dubbed themselves DBU but wins were not won in the trenches, they were won on the outside during offensive shootouts (this can be said with the exception of the few Fournette years). This year’s D will look to turn that around and become a spine tingling unit that leaves fear in the mind of ball carriers. The majority of the defense are upperclassmen. The D-Line and linebackers consist of mostly guys who have started or played multiple games for LSU the past few years. The secondary may be juniors and seniors but they are all transfers that are coming in and will have to adapt to a new program, scheme, and coaches. Luckily, they will have a solid front that will limit the time the ball is in the backfield, allowing some of these new-to-the-program starters to call themselves a part of DBU.
It is hard to hold a program like LSU down for too long, but after last year’s atrocious showing this year might be a struggle as well, especially with a brand new coach. There is not much they can do besides get out there on that field and show the nation that last year was a fluke and that the program is still one to be respected. If there is one thing I believe with certainty about this team it is as goes Brian Kelly, as goes the team.
LSU 2022 Schedule
Sept 3: Florida State
Sept 10: Southern University
Sept 17: Mississippi State
Sept 24: New Mexico
Oct 1: @ Auburn
Oct 8: Tennessee
Oct 15: @ Florida
Oct 22: Ole Miss
Nov 5: Alabama
Nov 12: @ Arkansas
Nov 19: UAB
Nov 26: @ Texas A&M
The Tigers kick off the season right away with a bang. They play Florida State in New Orleans at the Superdome. Two historical powerhouses, both banging on the door to be let back into the national contender conversation. Both with a chance to show the current state of their program. College football does not get much better than that. LSU is a favorite with the line being set at LSU -3.5. I think this game could be an upset alert depending on which Tiger team we get. Will we get a 2013 Brian Kelly coached National Championship game team, or a Ed Orgeron coached 2019 National Championship game team? This one is a toss up but I will take LSU to cover just because the margin is so slim.