LSU football practice report: Brian Kelly sees defensive 'resolve' on the goal line (2024)

LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker cheered and pointed while his players celebrated what they believed was a fourth-down stop on the goal line.

Some of the offensive players disagreed, and the referees never made a clear signal. It was one of those plays that probably would have been reviewed in a real game, but at practice Wednesday, it was simply another competitive moment.

LSU coach Brian Kelly said he wanted to put the team through “a very stressful situation,” so on another hot August day — during their third straight practice, this time in full pads — the Tigersconducted multiple 11-on-11 periods, including one from the 10-yard line.

“We're going to have to win close games,” Kelly said. “We're going to have to be mentally strong late in games. And we're going to have to have that kind of mindset that when things get difficult, we're going to be able to overcome and win, in particular on the road. That's the kind of day we had out there today.”

The red-zone period started with a 10-yard touchdown run that senior running back Josh Williams bounced to the outside, a win for the offense. But the defense responded.

With the second team on the field, the defense stopped two inside runs on first and second down. It then forced an incompletion by redshirt freshman quarterback Rickie Collins on a rollout. The defense switched to its dime package on fourth down and sacked Collins.

The starters took the field again, and the offense started with an inside handoff to sophom*ore Kaleb Jackson for a short gain. The defense made another stop on second down, but there was a flag.

At the goal line on third down, senior linebacker Greg Penn stuffed Jackson on an inside run. And then the defense bowed up again on that fourth down, making it unclear whether or not Jackson had scored.

“When you're backed up on first and goal from the 10 or first and goal from the 6, you shouldn't be there,” Kelly said. “You need a mindset defensively on how we are going to play this. Is it they're going to score, or let's find a way to keep them out of the end zone?

“I saw some good things defensively. The resolve that we're looking for, that we're going to dig down, bite hard on our mouthguard and find a way to keep them out.”

The offense got the better of the defense when the backups had their turn again. Redshirt junior cornerback JK Johnson broke up a pass in the end zone intended for receiver Zavion Thomas, but he was flagged for pass interference. Running back John Emery dove over the top for a touchdown on the next play.

During an 11-on-11 period devoted to situational passing earlier in practice, the first-team offense started with completions from Garrett Nussmeier to Kyren Lacy and Aaron Anderson.

The defense used its dime package on the third play, bringing linebacker Whit Weeks, cornerback Jyaire Brown and defensive end Da’Shawn Womack onto the field.

Lacy then caught a long touchdown with Brown in coverage, but the play had been called dead because of a delay of game penalty.

With the drill reset, Nussmeier was sacked. Sophom*ore cornerback Ashton Stamps then broke up a pass intended for tight end Mason Taylor before the backups took the field.

The second-team defense forced two straight incompletions, then freshman safety Dashawn Spears intercepted Collins.

"It wasn't about who's the No. 2 Star or who's the backup left guard," Kelly said. "It was a mindset day."

Attendance

Redshirt senior defensive tackle Jacobian Guillory was a full participant after athletic trainers examined his left knee Tuesday. He was back at the front of defensive line drills and doing everything in team periods.

Freshman wide receiver Jelani Watkins has “a foot sprain and an ankle sprain,” Kelly said, adding the athletic training staff “will get him back pretty quickly.” Watkins, who suffered the injury at practice Tuesday, used crutches and a walking boot.