Brian Kelly checklist at LSU: What he must do in 2022

Brian Kelly enters Year 1 at LSU under huge pressure to make some gains right away

Just two years removed from winning a national championship, LSU football once again enters a new era. Brian Kelly, the winningest coach in Notre Dame history, was lured to the SEC to make things right in Death Valley.

While there's plenty of potential, there's also plenty of question marks. This was a 6-7 team a year ago, and doesn't return a lot of experience on its roster. 

The to-do list for any coach entering a situation like this is pretty conventional: get some recruiting gains, work the transfer portal, make the right coaching hires, and finally put your scheme and playbook in place.

From there, you need to start winning games, get in the Top 25 rankings, and start throwing some punches against conference opponents.

According to Kelly, LSU isn't there yet. 

"We're not ready to play," he said in February. "But we will be ready. It’s going to be a process for us."

What does that process look like?

Brian Kelly at LSU: What to do in '22

Find a quarterback

Myles Brennan and Max Johnson were supposed to battle for the QB1 spot last summer, but Brennan suffered an off-field injury that all but gave Johnson the gig.

Johnson started all 12 games for LSU, but ultimately transferred away to the Texas A&M he helped upset in the Tigers' season finale. Brennan briefly looked like he would also transfer, but Kelly and his people talked him out of it.

That would have virtually guaranteed that Brennan starts in 2022, but then LSU scored a coup in the transfer portal when Jayden Daniels committed. That gives the position an injection of athleticism that neither Brennan or the other options can provide. Will that be enough to decide things?

Brennan and Daniels also have two up-and-comers applying some pressure in the meantime — redshirt freshman Garrett Nussmeier and true freshman Walker Howard.

Brennan threw for 1,112 yards, 11 touchdowns and three picks in 2020, completing 79 of 131 passes before an ab injury ended his season. That, in just three games. It's experience and efficiency that LSU sorely needs at the most important position.

Put the DB back in DBU

Talk about a position group starting virtually from scratch.

Derek Stingley, one of the top corners in football, isn't coming back after declaring for the NFL Draft, while Eli Ricks, the ball-hawk playing in the other corner transferred out — to Alabama.

Cordale Scott and Dwight McGlothern are also out of the picture. Cam Lewis is gone after six years at safety in an LSU uniform, and coming off his best season.

All of which gives plenty of young talent a huge opportunity. Greg Brooks and Joe Foucha are coming in from Arkansas to step up in the corners, and Mekhi Garner from Louisiana to add experience at safety. Derrick Davis, Sage Ryan, and Jaw Ward also return.

LSU placed 10th in the SEC against the pass a year ago and 88th nationally in third down defense. Closing those gaps in the deep field is crucial for LSU to improve those positions.

Patch up the O-line

Since winning the national championship two years ago, LSU has allowed 63 sacks and cleared the way for a ground attack averaging just 3.3 yards per carry.

Those are two statistics which can cause either hope or dread when considering this offensive line just lost four starters. Could it use their experience, or will an infusion of new talent help this unit reach its full potential?

Offensive tackle Cam Wire is the only returning player with any real experience, but LSU scored two transfers that can help right away — Tre'Mond Shorts from East Tennessee State and Miles Frazier from FIU.

Also watch how 5-star true freshman Will Campbell — the No. 4 lineman in America and the No. 6 player in Louisiana — fits into the situation.

OL coach Brad Davis and OC Mike Denbrock need to get this group more aggressive so LSU can better run the ball and weather the likes of SEC edge rushers.

Pound the rock

Getting under four yards per carry isn't going to cut it in the SEC. Or really anywhere for that matter. LSU failed to surpass 1,000 yards in its conference slate a year ago, and it gained over half its total in just two outings.

And the Tigers won't have Ty Davis-Price to lean on anymore after he went pro. Where does that leave the position this fall? Let's look at who's coming back.

• Corey Kiner, who rushed 79 times for 324 yards with two TDs in 2021
• Tre Bradford rushed twice for 11 yards and didn't play in the bowl game
• Armoni Goodwin didn't bowl, but had 65 yards off 16 attempts
• John Emery didn't play in '21 over an academic issue, but has 699 scrimmage yards and seven career touchdowns

And one potential ace in the hole — Noah Cain, the former Penn State starting back who transferred to LSU this offseason. 

Cain is coming off a junior season in which he placed second on the team with 350 rushing yards off 106 carries. The former No. 6 recruit in Florida also led Penn State with four rushing TDs on the year and set a school freshman record with eight rushing scores two seasons ago.

LSU football schedule for 2022 season

What is Brian Kelly and the Tigers up against this fall? Let's take a look at the schedule ahead for the SEC West hopefuls.

Sept. 4 vs. Florida State (New Orleans)

Sept. 10 vs. Southern

Sept. 17 vs. Mississippi State

Sept. 24 vs. New Mexico

Oct. 1 at Auburn

Oct. 8 vs. Tennessee

Oct. 15 at Florida

Oct. 22 vs. Ole Miss

Oct. 29 Idle

Nov. 5 vs. Alabama

Nov. 12 at Arkansas

Nov. 19 vs. UAB

Nov. 26 at Texas A&M

Dec. 3 SEC Championship Game

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