The LSU Tigers began the season as one of the preseason favorites to make the College Football Playoff, but thanks in large part to poor defensive performances throughout the season, the team finished with just a 9-3 record and was not able to compete for an SEC title or a national title. And head coach Brian Kelly wasn’t happy about it.
During a press conference following the season, Brian Kelly admitted that the LSU defense did not play up to its standard this season.
“Look, 9-3, we’re here to win championships,” Kelly said according to On3. “So, our defense did not play to the level that our standard is set at.”
The Tigers finished the season ranked just 80th in scoring defense, giving up 27.8 points per game, and 104th in total defense, giving up 409.2 yards per game. And Kelly made it very clear that those numbers are unacceptable.
“Nobody is happy, including everybody on the defensive side and the head football coach, that we didn’t play the kind of defense necessary. I’m not happy about it. Nobody is happy about it. Our fans shouldn’t be happy about it,” Kelly said. “We have to do things to make sure that doesn’t happen again.”
We’ll have to see what changes the Tigers make in the offseason to address the struggles on the defensive side of the ball.
