Brian Kelly remains adamant about LSU's offensive potential

LSU’s playcalling and offensive identity have been called into question throughout the first three weeks of the season. Is there some merit to that? Sure. The Tigers’ offense hasn’t looked quite right, and that was never supposed to be a genuine concern heading into the season. But for multiple media members and fans, it is a concern. But the head coach isn’t hitting the panic button. 

Brian Kelly spoke with the media on Monday, and most of the questions revolved around those offensive concerns. Kelly maintained his confidence in the offensive process, citing the need to let his guys loose.

“We felt the same way, right, that maybe we were trying to be too perfect, right, in our play calls. Let’s just go play, let those guys get the ball in space and play. It’s the same thing with Garrett. You know, doing a little bit too much checking everything,” Kelly told the media on Tuesday. He’s so smart; I mean, he can manage the whole thing, but sometimes, you know, less is more. And, I think as you continue to go into the fourth week, we’re developing what that identity should look like from an offensive standpoint.”

So, will letting these players play fast and free make it work for LSU? The concern about the passing game from the outside is just that – a concern from the outside. Kelly continued to dance around the theme that this group could pass if they wanted to. He countered though that the situations hadn’t dictated that to be the case.

“I mean, if we need to go out there and throw the ball 50. times we’re capable of doing that. I’m not sure I want to play that way, you know, nor do we have to. Now there’s going to be some times in the SEC we’re going to have to score more than 20 points. Let’s get that straight. I think we all know that,” Kelly told reporters. “So this is about continuing to develop the areas that need that work, it’s our running game. I believe we can throw the football every down if we need to, and I believe that we can protect effectively. So this is really about trying to work on your weaknesses and develop them as we go through this week and moving forward.” 

So there are no alarm bells. There’s a confident attitude that Kelly carried throughout the presser when asked about his offense’s potential. It’s been par for the course when it comes to the way he has spoken out about his team from the get-go. Kelly was aware of what this unit faces, but it hasn’t changed his tune that situations dictate different things. Currently, LSU is winning with its defense and special teams. In Kelly’s eyes, that switch could be flipped, but hasn’t needed to be.

“I guess what I was trying to say, more than anything else, is that from an offensive standpoint, we know what we have as a team…You have to manage games, and this one we managed last week. This was about managing a game, and at the end of the day, my job is to win football games for LSU,” Kelly said.

“That’s how we had to win the game, and that’s what I was referring to more than anything else. Yeah, I know it didn’t look the way it wanted to be, but trust me, that offense is gonna have to score a ton of points at some time during the year, and we’re gonna have to turn that loose because our defense might just not play as well as they have been. Playing. We have a great defense, and when we get into games like that, I’m gonna make sure that we minimize any of the mistakes that could be made on offense.”

Situations dictate what you do and how you manage a game. It makes sense. Maybe this offensive catches fire over the next two games. Managing the game is essential, and it’s undeniable that this approach has led to a 3-0 record and a top-five ranking thus far.