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From Kirk Herbstreit to Brian Kelly, the praise is high for LSU DC Blake Baker

On3 imageby: Shea Dixon09/02/25sheadixon
Kirk Herbstreit(Photo: © Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Kirk Herbstreit (Photo: © Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Last season, Kelly looked to change this narrative by hiring defensive coordinator Blake Baker. The former Missouri DC immediately made an impact for LSU, but couldn’t maximize the team’s potential due to a lack of tools at his disposal.

This offseason, Kelly ensured Baker had whatever he needed to succeed. Kelly’s efforts paid dividends on Saturday when LSU defeated No. 4 Clemson, 17-10. During an appearance on The Paul Finebaum Show on Monday, Kelly made a bold claim about Blake Baker.

“We needed to get Blake the weapons he needs to be the coordinator that he is. We think he’s the best defensive coordinator in the country,” Kelly said. “But, if you don’t have the weapons — I know this in my time as a coach, I’m a much better coach with better players — and we needed to get him a roster that allowed him to do the things that he’s really good at.

“So the roster is different, Paul. You’ve seen the remake, in particular, on the defensive side of the ball. Blake likes to call them the ‘Old Bayou Bandits.’ They have their own T shirts. He’s created a great mindset and demeanor about our guys. But it starts with us making sure that he had the players and he’s got a better roster to work with.”

Baker’s defense certainly looked like one of the best in the country this weekend. LSU held Clemson to just 261 yards of total offense. For reference, Clemson averaged 451.9 yards of offense per game last season.

Herbstreit shifts his National Championship picks after calling LSU in Week 1

ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit and Rece Davis got a chance to reveal who their top contenders are after Week 1. Starting with Davis, he chose a team that actually lost on Saturday night. Clemson is who Davis picked in the preseason and despite the result against LSU, there will be no change.

“There’s a lot of things I’d like to change about preseason picks,” Davis said during the North Carolina–TCU broadcast. “I still got Clemson winning the national championship.”

Clemson finds itself in a similar position to a year ago. Dabo Swinney‘s squad lost its opener to an SEC team and eventually rallied back to win the ACC and make the College Football Playoff. If there is a difference, Georgia blew out Clemson while the LSU showdown was competitive for four quarters.

Which led to Herbstreit giving the Bayou Bengals some love. Penn State is mentioned in the same breath but Herbstreit, who was calling the game, came away more than impressed. Especially on the defensive end under second-year DC Blake Baker.

“I think I’m going Penn State and LSU in the championship,” Herbstreit said. “LSU — again, you’ve got to stay healthy. But they got a salty defense this year.”

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