Miami Hurricanes DC Blake Baker candidate for LSU LB Coach

Miami Hurricanes defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach Blake Baker is a candidate to become the LBs coach at LSU according to Billy Embody of 247Sports. Baker has ties to Louisiana as a former LB at Tulane and DC at Louisiana Tech from 2015-18. Embody reported things have changed between Baker and Diaz.

Earlier this month, Diaz stated he will resume play-calling duties on defense. Baker will continue to be the defensive coordinator. Miami lost former Co-defensive coordinator Ephraim Banda who left to take over play-calling duties at Utah State. Banda never had those responsibilities with the Miami Hurricanes.

Jonathan Patke remains the outside LBs coach and special teams coordinator for Miami. The Miami defense remained one of the best nationally in 2019 in the first year with Baker as DC. Miami was 23rd nationally allowing 20.2 points per game and was 13th in total defense allowing 309.8 yards per game.

Miami also finished 12th in yards per play, fourth in tackles per loss per game and sixth in sacks per game. Most of those numbers fell off in 2020 that led to Diaz resuming playing calling duties on defense. Miami was 51st in 2020 allowing 27 points per game and 67th in total defense allowing 408.4 yards per game.

Miami finished 57th allowing 5.59 yards per play, was 32nd averaging 2.73 sacks per game and remained among the best nationally finishing fourth averaging 8.64 TFLs per game. Baker led an elite defense at LATech. In 2019 the Bulldogs were fourth with 3.46 sacks per game,  12th in TFLs at 7.8 per game and 33rd in turnovers.

If Baker were to leave for Baton Rouge, recently hired Miami defensive backs coach Travaris Robinson could ascend to DC either on an interim or full-time basis. Robinson was previously the DC and DBs coach at South Carolina over the past four seasons under former head coach Will Muschamp.