Lane Kiffin Assesses LSU Near The Midway Point, Talks Future Of The Program

LSU has just about reached the midway point of Lane Kiffin's first season in Baton Rouge, and the Tigers' head coach likes where his program is headed.

Kiffin was asked Monday to assess LSU's progress through the first half of the season and said he would feel even better about his team if not for significant injuries to key players.

“I think I’d feel really good if it weren’t for the injuries,” Kiffin said. “And again, I hope you’re figuring out I’m not making excuses. I just say how things are.

“I’d feel really good about our team. I mean, we’ve at times played as well as anybody in the country. Our first defense has given up one touchdown in the second half all season long.”

Two of LSU's biggest losses have been linebacker Whit Weeks and tight end Trey’Dez Green, whom Kiffin believes were both playing at an All-American level before their injuries.

Still, Kiffin said LSU's accomplishments in such a short period have him extremely optimistic about what's ahead.

“I feel great about the future,” Kiffin said. “If we put together this team in that short amount of time without any background with them, I know what next year and the year after will look like.

“I just know that it’s a great combination of all these things coming together. That’s why we came here.”

Kiffin added that getting Weeks and Green back at some point would provide a major boost as LSU moves deeper into its SEC schedule.

“They wear the seven for a reason,” Kiffin said. “They’re dynamic leaders on the field.”