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Tigers’ playoff hopes rest on shoulders of Baker, defense
Improvement for LSU defense can catapult them into playoff discussion
LSU is in a pivotal season in Year Four of the Brian Kelly tenure as the Tigers desperately need a defensive revival in order to compete for a College Football Playoff berth.
Second year defensive coordinator Blake Baker is No. 2 among highest paid assistants in the country and its imperative that his unit continues to improve this fall. It’s not hard to envision that happening since the Tigers were better to an extent after finishing No. 105 in total defense in 2023 before his arrival.
Baker spent two seasons with Missouri with his second year making him quite the coordinator commodity. He led a massive turnaround which saw the Tigers win 11 games for the first time since 2014 and finished No. 33 in total defense.
Tigers’ faithful and Baker himself are banking on a similar trajectory at LSU this season. Those prospects are within reach with linebackers Whit Weeks, Harold Perkins and cornerback Ashton Stamps return.
“We have a chance to look much different than we did last year,” Baker said. “We’ve got a long ways to go. But hey it’s been exciting so far. The first year you put in a defense, and especially as multiple as we are, there’s no way to see every single call vs. every single offensive play.”
Returning to the Standard
Familiarity and continuity between players and coaches will be a tad easier with so many returning to the team. LSU brings in the No. 1 transfer portal class, which includes seven defenders led by safety Tamarcus Cooley, linebacker Jack Pyburn, defensive back JaKeem Jackson.
Those returning are given a chance to lead their new teammates in Baker’s scheme all while performing up to the LSU standard.
“It was the same thing at Missouri from year one to year two – you’re not having to teach the nuances and the exceptions,” Baker said. “We’re able to coach those exceptions and nuances before it actually happens, whereas last year it had to show up by, ‘Oh, hey by the way, this is how we defend that.’ It’s been really good as far as speaking the same language now.”
Keeping Guys Fresh
There’s still an issue when it comes to blending a roster every year made up of returners, transfers and incoming freshmen. Things can go smoothly or bad in a hurry because things don’t always go right instantly in football.
“It takes time. I always say, everybody wants instant oatmeal,” he said. “They want a player right away. They want to pour the water in and mix it up and boom, here it comes. It’s not always that simple, especially at this level and especially what we ask our players to do.”
In this day and age of college football, it’s often hard to keep just 11 guys fresh on the field at one time. The Tigers coaching staff has done a solid job recruiting its needs in the portal and Baker believes there is plenty of solid players to implement an improved and deeper defense in 2025.
“Very rarely will we use the same 11 guys,” Baker said. “We’re going to put it together come the summer and fall camp as far as all those guys playing off each other.
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