<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0lWKbg_0vFQ3h8i00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0lWKbg_0vFQ3h8i00" width="1200" height="628" >Past experience will play a role in this LSU-USC matchup in a way many can probably guess.It's a different team and the players on both rosters are wildly different in some pretty key areas. But when the Tigers take the field on Sunday night, there will be battle scars that some of these veterans will be playing with. "I think you have to keep in mind there are a number of players on this team that have experienced two openers where they weren't successful, including myself. There's a resolve there you wanna be prepared in any way to see that you come out victorious. Their preparation has been outstanding, they've prepared, now they know they gotta perform," <a href="https://247sports.com/Coach/brian-kelly-207/">Brian Kelly</a> said Thursday. "I think they're gonna draw on experiences and that's what I mean by battle scars. Battle scars are things you can really pull on that are gonna be helpful for you in allowing you to be your best when your best is needed."Kelly updated reporters one final time on a few topics surrounding the game before the team flies out to <a href="https://247sports.com/nfl/las-vegas-raiders/">Las Vegas</a> on Saturday. Plan for special teamsWe've spent an entire offseason looking at the various pieces on offense and defense, the subtle and immense differences in scheme and how they all fit together. But the third component of this week one matchup in particular is where the focus has shifted in some respects. Special teams has cost <a href="https://247sports.com/college/lsu/">LSU</a> in some big ways in the previous two opening losses to <a href="https://247sports.com/college/florida-state/">Florida State</a> and facing a pretty electric return game on Sunday fueled by the Trojans' <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/zachariah-branch-46081171/">Zachariah Branch</a>, eyes shift to the punter situation for the Tigers. The big question will be punter as Kelly didn't back off the idea of using both <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/peyton-todd-46086543/">Peyton Todd</a> and <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/blake-ochsendorf-46145667/">Blake Ochsendorf</a> but rather leaned into why the Tigers are taking that approach. "We want to include the ability to move our punter this year. Jay [Bramblett] was not somebody that felt comfortable in a rugby fashion, he wanted to be a down the line kicker but Blake is accomplished in that and feels comfortable in that kind of Aussie type environment. There are times that you want to implement that where Peyton Todd is much more of a straight down the line guy," Kelly said. "It gives us two weapons within our punt arsenal."Using Ochsendorf in this <a href="https://247sports.com/college/usc/">USC</a> game almost appears to be a given with how the strategy lines up against a return man as dynamic as Branch. "You can pin the ball to the outside third much easier and essentially kick it away from dangerous return men," Kelly said of the rugby style, moving punter. Todd will be the holder on field goals and extra points, <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/damian-ramos-46143801/">Damian Ramos</a> will be the field goal and extra point kicker, <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/nathan-dibert-46117913/">Nathan Dibert</a> will kickoff this weekend though <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/aeron-burrell-46140019/">Aeron Burrell</a> will be someone to monitor going forward. Which freshmen can you expect to see on Sunday night?In his short tenure at LSU, Kelly has played true freshmen early in their careers if they prove deserving. While Kelly did not focus much on the opportunity for offensive players to see the field in key roles (bummer for <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/treydez-green-46116193/">Trey'dez Green</a> optimists), he did point out a trio of freshmen defensive players who could earn time against the Trojans. "I think on the offensive side of the ball, there's less likely of that scenario happening. I think defensively you could see a couple of freshmen get on the field. I think <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/ahmad-breaux-46134346/">Ahmad Breaux</a> is the one guy that could see the most action. He's the most ready physically and mentally to play for us. PJ Woodland is another freshman who is likely to see some playing time. That doesn't include some who make cameo appearances on special teams. I think at safety, <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/dashawn-spears-46139424/">Dashawn Spears</a> has a chance to see some action," Kelly said. Breaux is a name that's very interesting. He wasn't someone who earned a ton of reps in the fall with the ones but was heralded as an extremely hard worker by getting his body up to 285 pounds. How much of a role that is with some of the other veterans expected to rotate remains to be seen but it is noteworthy.Woodland and Spears are two names who have impressed the staff since the spring so it's not a surprise they will be getting some looks. Both AJ Swann and <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/rickie-collins-46113104/">Rickie Collins</a> will be No. 2 quarterbacksKelly was asked about the No. 2 spot last week in a press conference and listed all three of Rickie Collins, AJ Swann and freshman <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/colin-hurley-46113658/">Colin Hurley</a> as still being under consideration. Well, not it appears to be a two horse battle for No. 2 as both Collins and Swann could see the field if something were to happen with starter <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/garrett-nussmeier-46054223/">Garrett Nussmeier</a>. "We do have a second quarterback, it's really going to be both of them. AJ and Rickie combined give us the best option at the No. 2 so we think that they have different skillsets and we're gonna utilize the combination of both of them to give us the best No. 2 situation."</div></body>

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Brian Kelly's final thoughts ahead of LSU 2024 opener against USC

Past experience will play a role in this LSU-USC matchup in a way many can probably guess. It's a different team and the players on both rosters are wildly different in some pretty key areas. But when the Tigers take the field on Sunday night, there will be battle scars that some of these veterans will be playing with.

Brian Kelly's final thoughts ahead of LSU 2024 opener against USC

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