Brian Kelly addresses how LSU is balancing Jayden Daniels' ability to run

While the LSU Tigers still have work to do on their offensive identity, the dual-threat ability of quarterback Jayden Daniels has helped keep the team afloat. For head coach Brian Kelly, there is an art to Daniels’s game and his decision-making on when to run and not to. And during a recent press conference, Kelly explains the balance in his quarterback’s game.

“When we evaluate when he runs, we want to see if it was within the progression, and there was it was really good coverage. Or maybe, that play wasn’t great against this coverage, or we got beat at a particular position, and he got flushed versus you turn down a potential high low read, and you took off. And so that’s what we’re trying to evaluate,” said Kelly.

“It’s, and it’s really a little bit of both. I think there’s still growth there, where we can stay a little bit more patient and a little bit more locked in on the progression. And then there are sometimes that are really dynamic runs that there was just nothing there, and he made something happen. So, you wanna be careful where you go, ‘hey, you’re running too much.’ Then when he needs to be dynamic, he’s not. So, we have to be very careful and, along the way, keep coaching him to really do a great job of getting through his progressions and seeing the things necessary that allows us to be balanced in both.”

CLICK HERE to subscribe for FREE to the On3 YouTube channel

The numbers Daniels has put up have not been jaw-dropping, eye-popping numbers, but there have been enough to help the Tigers’ offense stay afloat as they continue to build chemistry on the season. For the year, the junior transfer quarterback from Arizona State has completed 57 of his 82 pass attempts for 556 yards and five touchdowns through the air. On the ground, he has rushed the ball 35 times for 225 yards with the two rushing touchdowns. Best of all his ability to read the field and know whether to pass or run has resulted in some impressive ball security numbers. Daniels has yet to throw an interception this season or lose a fumble.

Daniels has consistently demonstrated his dual-threat ability in the early part of the season. In Saturday’s game against Mississippi State, he completed 22 of his 37 pass attempts for 210 yards and one touchdown. He also led the team in rushing yards and attempts with 16 carries for 93 yards and added one touchdown on the ground. Kelly has been so impressed with his quarterback’s play that for his first win in the SEC on Saturday, he presented Daniels with the game ball.