The interior of LSU’s defensive line is giving first-year head coach Lane Kiffin major headaches right now, and it’s not because of a lack of talent. For nearly all 11 fall camp practices, freshmen Deuce Geralds and Richard Anderson have been repping with the first-team defensive front, a move that signals both huge potential and some serious underlying concerns as the season opener against Clemson looms.
Kiffin isn’t shy about his worries. He told reporters on August 17 that he absolutely has “concerns” about the unit’s reliability. Think about it: this guy “studies everything,” as he says, and he knows “old teams win now.” That’s his phrase, and it hits hard. He’s talking about the maturity of players, especially those fourth to fifth-year veterans, and what truly matters to them. The fact that Geralds and Anderson, prized recruits Kiffin’s staff fought to keep, are forced into the top spots highlights a major problem. Kiffin himself hoped the program could bring in some “bridge players” at defensive tackle, giving these young studs time to develop. Instead, junior transfers Stephiylan Green from Clemson and Malik Blocton from Auburn, along with junior Dominick McKinley and fifth-year senior Shone Washington, are all repping *behind* these freshmen. That’s a red flag waving in the Baton Rouge humidity, isn’t it?
Now, don’t get it twisted, Geralds and Anderson are clearly studs. Defensive coordinator Blake Baker confirmed on August 14 that he expects a few freshmen to be in the two-deep and likely starting on defense. He went on to say these guys are “as good as I’ve been around.” LSU’s coaching staff has thrown more install at this group than Baker ever has in his career, and these young defensive tackles are getting the full playbook with the first and second teams. They’re fighting through that “freshman wall” right now, showing a love for football, and Baker is “proud of where they are at now and where they’ve come from.” The talent is undeniably there. They’ve got “really bright futures” and you *will* see them on the field.
But here’s the kicker, the part that keeps Kiffin up at night. Even with all that raw talent and Baker’s praise, Kiffin has serious reservations about how Geralds and Anderson will respond when the lights are on and the game is live. It’s one thing to look good in camp, another to make split-second decisions against top-tier competition. “There’s a lot of concern there,” Kiffin admitted. He’s trying to figure out “how much can we get them ready to do and that they play really well versus the mistakes that they make.” With a brutal schedule right out of the gate,that Clemson opener, plus a tough ninth SEC game,LSU doesn’t have the luxury of “easy” games to let these freshmen ease in. They need to be ready, like, *yesterday*.
So, what’s next for LSU? It’s a high-wire act for Kiffin and his staff. They’re banking on two incredible freshmen to anchor the D-line against a gauntlet schedule. The potential is sky-high, but the margin for error is razor-thin. Everyone’s watching to see if these young tigers can truly roar from day one.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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