Brian Kelly Talks Alex Atkins Role In The Offense With Joe Sloan & Improving The Run Game

During Monday's press conference, LSU head coach Brian Kelly addressed several questions about the Tigers' run game, which has struggled to gain momentum this season.

Here's what Kelly had to say:

On getting the running game going:

"You don't want to be one-dimensional. You want to be able to run the football and have some success, like we did against Ole Miss late in the game," Kelly said.

"We're not going to the 'bludgeon' anyone up front, that's not who we are right now..."

"But we need to have a running game that keeps you honest, where you can't put five guys in the box and cover down seven others. With fair box runs, we need to be better. We need to run the ball efficiently when you give us that look. If you want to play two-high safeties and give us fair numbers, we need to be efficient in running the football."


On how LSU run game coordinator Alex Atkins works together with OC Joe Sloan on game days:

"They are collaborating. Alex has been assigned to the run game. That collaboration occurs. I can hear it on the headsets. They work well together," Kelly said.

"I've said this before, we want to run the ball more efficiently. But I see the signs of that coming together. We expect that to get better and better as the season goes on."


On sticking with the running game:

"It's circumstantial, in terms of the runs. You want to be able to set up with what you are doing as a playcaller. 

"Joe (Sloan) does a really good job. Obviously, he's under the microscope; we get it, he gets it."

"We are looking for balance in our offense. And sometimes the circumstances are such that a run call doesn't make sense here. We clearly understand the need for balance. We clearly understand the need to complement our defense. And you can't do it by just throwing it."


LSU is currently averaging 104.8 rushing yards per game this season, placing them 117th nationally out of 134 teams.

The Tigers ran for just 57 yards in the loss to Ole Miss while Caden Durham was out with an injury. Durham will return Saturday for Saturday's game vs. South Carolina.