Everything LSU football coach Brian Kelly said following Saturday’s practice

LSU Head Coach Brian Kelly addresses the media following the Tigers preseason scrimmage on Aug. 17. The Tigers will open the season on Sept. 1 in Las Vegas and face USC at 6:30 p.m. CT.

Brian Kelly – Media Availability, 8/17/24

0:00 – Opening remarks

• Condolences for Ed Daniels
• Graduates – Frazier, Swinson, Guillory, Roy
• Offensively struggling today – younger players
• Struggle necessary for building depth
• Helps to prepare for bad situations, improves ability to adjust
• Moves on Offensive line – Dellinger @ center

5:38 – No DJ Chester today?

• Lower GI bug among players (Jones, Weeks, Weeks affected)

6:24 – Tyree Adams?

• “Did some good things”
• “In a developmental role”
• Needs more consistency

7:00 – Chris Hilton?

• Being cautious, but injury likely not serious

7:27 – Nussmeier?

• Needs to work on decision making
• Looks under control
• “We saw a good version of him – I think there’s a better version of him out there”

8:15 – Dellinger importance to Offensive line? Also – Michigan connection?

• Have a relationship over Michigan since day one.
• Important to have an Offensive lineman that can play different positions
• A lot of experience
• Snapping doesn’t come easy to him, but he’s becoming more proficient

9:19 – Evaluation of Defensive backfield?

• “Any guy getting a 1^st or 2^nd team rep is a guy we believe can come in and help us win a championship”
• If not in 1^st or 2^nd rotation, probably not ready yet

10:48 – Guillory? Growth, progresson?

• “Wasn’t a very good football player when we got here”
• Was “technically out of control”
• Needed to improve technique and leverage
• Now “in a position to be a guy we can count on”
• Off field growth – emotional control

12:46 – TE’s? Use of personnel?

• Trey’Dez “young but learning”
• Pimpton “has taken next step”

14:18 – Donating to TAF vs NIL Collective? Which helps team more?

• Already a way to funnel the two together
• “I have a hard enough time with my own job” as head coach
• Receiving points for donation
• “It is natural in its progression”

15:51 – Highest potential Offensive line in coaching career? When did you see they were special?

• “When we decided to start the two freshmen”
• “Let’s try to keep the band together for a few years”
• Had a strong, similar group at Norte Dame

18:01 – Ahmad Breaux progression? Edge to inside?

• Made possible due to physical development
• “Guy who’s gonna be in the right place at the right time”
• “You can count on this kid”

19:49 – Day 1 to now? Also, prep for USC?

• USC prep beginning Tuesday
• Day 1 to now:
• “you want to make sure you eliminate the big play”
• Last year – too many big plays on the defensive side of the ball
• The importance of the Defense identity
• Offense – need to clean up execution, “focus on what we do well”