New defensive coordinator Blake Baker key to LSU's success in 2024

Double-digit victory totals are expected for LSU football.

The Tigers have posted at least 10 victories in a dozen of the last 20 seasons.

Reaching that level in 2024 will depend heavily on new defensive coordinator Blake Baker's ability to rebuild a defensive unit that was among the worst in the Southeastern Conference last year.

Even coach Brian Kelly doesn't seem to have too high expectations for the defense.

"Believability, energy and 'want-to'… all those things are going to be there as a foundation," Kelly said about the defense after spring drills ended. "Then we have to execute. We need to get some help at the defensive tackle position, and we've got to figure out what our corner situation is going to be.

"If we answer those two, I think this defense will be a solid defense. But we have to answer those two questions moving forward."

In truth, LSU faces many more questions. Last year, the Tigers' explosive offense could compensate for the anemic defense, which allowed 416.6 yards per game.

But that was with Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels and receivers Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas. All three were selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.

Garrett Nussmeier, Daniels' successor, has made moderate success in a backup role, but he's typically played against subpar competition or in meaningless situations.

Kyren Lacy, who had 30 catches for 558 yards, is the top returner in the receiving corps. The Tigers bolstered that unit by adding transfers CJ Daniels (Liberty) and Zavion Thomas (Mississippi State).

Those are excellent acquisitions, but can they replace the production of Nabers and Thomas, who combined for 2,746 receiving yards and 31 touchdowns last season? Probably not.

One area in which LSU has absolutely no questions is the offensive line. Four starters return, including arguably the best set of tackles in the country in Will Campbell and Emery Jones.

That line likely ensures LSU's running game, which averaged 204.5 yards, remains strong.

Still, the Tigers don't figure to be as explosive. It's unlikely LSU is close to matching the national-leading 45.5 points that was averaged in 2023.

This underscores Baker's importance, who comes to LSU after supervising a Missouri defense that was ranked 34th nationally.

Of course, that Missouri defense had five players that were selected in the NFL draft. Though it seems unbelievable, LSU doesn't appear to have that much talent, especially after tackles Maason Smith, Mekhi Wingo and Jordan Jefferson left for the NFL.

They left a void that LSU has struggled to fill.

"We were in the market in recruiting and the transfer portal looking for defensive linemen," Kelly said in May. "It hasn't fared very well, quite frankly, because we're selling something a little bit differently.

"We want to recruit. We want to engage, build relationships. We want to develop, retain and have success. We're not in the market of buying players."

Perhaps not. But LSU went to the transfer portal to pursue four potential starters at tackle. Kelly went 0-for-4.

Indiana's Philip Blidi chose Auburn. TCU's Damonic Williams chose Oklahoma. Michigan State's Simeon Barrow chose Miami. Kent State's CJ West chose Indiana.

There are no worries at linebacker with Greg Penn III and Harold Perkins, who is arguably the best individual defender in the SEC.

However, there remain plenty of worries in the secondary.  LSU's pass defense was ranked 118th in the country last year and the personnel hasn't been substantially upgraded.

Much blame for that futility was directed at former defensive coordinator Matt House. The hope in Baton Rouge is Baker will devise better schemes to improve the defense significantly.

He'd better, or LSU could fall short of that 10-win goal.

LSU Tigers

2023 record: 10-3; 6-2 in the SEC

Jamie Maury, TexAgs

New defensive coordinator Blake Baker is taking over an LSU defense that ranked 105th in yards per game in 2023.

Primary area of strength: The offensive line could be the best in the country. Junior tackles Will Campbell and Emery Jones have been starters since their freshman years. Campbell has earned All-American honors. Jones has All-SEC credentials. Guards Garrett Dellinger and Miles Frazier are returning starters. There could be questions at center with projected starter DJ Chester as a redshirt freshman, but that doesn’t appear to be a huge concern. Last season, the Tigers were ranked second in the SEC in sacks allowed (22) and rushing offense (204.5 yards per game). The line, at least, could be even better. There’s depth, too.

Primary area of concern: Coach Brian Kelly acknowledged a need to add high-level defensive tackles via the transfer portal. That didn’t work out. The Tigers failed to add any transfers there. That failure, combined with Maason Smith, Jordan Jefferson and Mekhi Wingo all going into the NFL draft and several players leaving through the portal, appears to have left LSU uncharacteristically vulnerable in the interior defensive line. Fifth-year senior Jacobian Guillory reportedly had a strong spring. He had 27 tackles in a backup role last season. Beyond him, the Tigers are counting on production from Jalen Lee (2 tackles, seven starts last year), Wisconsin grad transfer Gio Paez (6 starts in 2023), JUCO transfer Shone Washington, junior converted offensive linemen Kima Makane’ole and perhaps five-star freshman Dominick McKinley.

Top three players

• OT Will Campbell: Two-time All-SEC and last year All-American.
• WR Kyren Lacy: Expected to be the Tigers’ No. 1 receiver. He had 30 catches for 558 yards as the third target in 2023.
• LB Harold Perkins: Earned All-SEC recognition in both of his previous two seasons. Thus far, Perkins has registered 147 tackles, 13 sacks and has forced 7 fumbles.

Top three additions

• DC Blake Baker: Defensive coordinator comes over from Missouri in hopes of bolstering a unit that ranked 108th in the nation.
• WR CJ Daniels: Transfer from Liberty. Daniels is a big-play threat who last season averaged 19.4 yards on 55 receptions and had 10 touchdowns.
• S Jardin Gilbert: Transfer from A&M who is expected to start at strong safety. In three seasons at A&M, he posted 80 tackles, two interceptions and broke up six passes. A shoulder injury forced him to miss almost all of last season.

Top three departures

• QB Jayden Daniels: The Heisman Trophy winner was the second player selected in the NFL Draft.
• WR Malik Nabors: The sixth player taken in the NFL Draft, Nabors led the SEC with 1,569 receiving yards in 2023.
• DT Mekhi Wingo: A sixth-round NFL Draft pick, Wingo was LSU’s most active defensive lineman last year. He had 25 tackles, 4.5 sacks.

2024 LSU schedule

• Aug. 31 vs. USC at Las Vegas
• Sept. 7 vs. Nicholls
• Sept. 14 at South Carolina
• Sept. 21 vs. UCLA
• Sept. 28 vs. South Alabama
• Oct. 12 vs. Ole Miss
• Oct. 19 at Arkansas
• Oct. 26 at Texas A&M
• Nov. 9 vs. Alabama
• Nov. 16 at Florida
• Nov. 23 vs. Vanderbilt
• Oct. 20 vs. Oklahoma