Brian Kelly didn’t flinch. His press conference tone was businesslike, and the message was unmistakable. “We just need to play a complete game,” he said, pausing for emphasis. “Offense, defense, and special teams complementing each other. That hasn’t shown itself yet. It will.”
Coming off the bye, LSU faces six SEC games in seven weeks, starting with a dangerous South Carolina team led by quarterback LaNorris Sellers. “He’s an outstanding athlete. Incredible arm,” Kelly warned. “He can change a game. We saw what he did against us last year.” Kelly’s concern extended to special teams, where Carolina’s Vicari Swain “has three punts for touchdowns already. That gets your attention immediately.”
Kelly’s team has been uneven with strong second halves, sputtering starts, and missed chances. “We’ve been so much better in the second half than the first half,” he admitted. “We’ve got to hit shots down the field, and we’ve got to be much more efficient with the run game.” He pointed to offensive coordinator Joe Sloan and run game coach Alex Atkins as “collaborating” to find that rhythm.
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When asked about converting turnovers into touchdowns, Kelly didn’t sugarcoat it. “Those have turned into field goals. We need to turn those into touchdowns. They haven’t been empty possessions, but they haven’t been impactful.”
In light of the criticism his quarterback Garrett Nussmeier has faced, Kelly also cautioned patience, not just with his team, but with the sport’s broader obsession over quarterbacks. “Let’s be a little bit more patient,” he said. “Whatever your narrative is on our quarterback, so be it. But there’s so much in front of us. Let’s wait until all the facts get out.”
With South Carolina looming and LSU looking to reclaim balance, Kelly’s message circled back to focus and maturity. “It’s four to six seconds, one play at a time,” he said. “You can’t let the next play affect the one that’s coming. That’s competitive maturity. And we’ve got to get all our guys on the same page.”
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