re: 2024 Football Outlook is falling fast: Transfer DT news

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Just remember that the same people downplaying Kelly's inability to fix the tremendous talent deficiency in this LSU defense will lose their minds when USC scores 50 and LSU loses its fifth straight opening game.

Like everyone else, I enjoy seeing internet lists showing that talented high school kids in the 2025 class verbally told LSU's staff that they intend to play for LSU. But that of course means zero unless / until they sign and then show up for Spring or Fall practice. Kelly's inability to fix LSU's 2024 defense could result in 4-5 losses, which will impact who actually shows up from the 2025 class.

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USC very well could score 50 on LSU. But it won't be simply because LSU failed to sign a couple of average DT transfers.

In year 1 Kelly came in and he and his staff pieced together a roster. Significantly through the transfer portal. Some key guys from the 2021 defense returned (Ojulari, Ward, Baskerville, Roy). Others didn't (Clark, Farrell, Flott, McGlothern). Yet, the additions of Garner, Wingo, Bernard-Convers, Foucha, Brooks), plus a true freshman in Perkins helped give LSU a solid defense that allowed them to compete even with an inconsistent offense.

In year 2 everything fell apart. There were personnel deficiencies and a bad scheme. So Kelly completely cleaned house of a staff that literally just a year prior was celebrated for being a big reason LSU performed better than expected.

The new staff hasn't coached a single game yet. So there is no way of knowing if they would be bad or not. Or hell, maybe you were the one guy who predicted the 2023 defense would completely fall apart. That new staff is also now working to recruit players for next season. So we really can't know the full fruits of their recruiting labor until next year.

Perhaps the new staff is no better than the old one. Perhaps the recruiting gets worse. But I'll choose to reserve judgment until I actually see them coach a game as opposed to melting down in April over the fact LSU MAY not sign a couple of "ok" DT