LSU Tigers College Football Preview 2021: Defense
– The drop-off in offensive production might have taken over the spotlight, but it’s the defensive side the fell off the map. Defensive coordinator Dave Aranda left to take over the head coaching gig at Baylor, there were a slew of huge personnel losses, and now there’s a redo after finishing 124th in the nation in total D, allowing 492 points and 35 points per game.
DC Bo Pelini is gone, and in comes Daronte Jones, a mostly-NFL assistant who spent last year coaching the Minnesota Viking defensive backs. The improvement starts with the secondary that got hammered for a nation-worst 323 yards per game and was 115th in the country in pass efficiency defense. Fortunately …
– CB Derek Stingley Jr. might be the best player in college football. He’s not going to have the big stats with teams doing everything possible to avoid him, but there’s no better lockdown corner – he’s a top five overall pick next year.
The secondary came up with 13 picks with four taken back for scores – Eli Ricks was the biggest beneficiary of teams staying away from Stingley. The 6-2, 216-pound sophomore on the other side came up with four interceptions – Stingley didn’t pick off any passes – taking two back for scores.
The corners are there, but the safeties have to be stronger with Todd Harris coming back from a knee injury and Jay Ward likely moving over from corner to help out at free safety with leading tackler JaCoby Stevens gone.
– The defensive front got into the backfield and hit the quarterback, but it struggled way too much against the run. Expect a huge improvement here with a potentially loaded group on the line. There’s plenty of high end talent on the front four, and there’s experience and depth now, too.
All-star end Ali Gaye led the team in tackles for loss, 339-pound Glen Logan is a veteran anchor of a tackle to work around, and top pass rusher Andre Anthony has NFL upside in his edge rushing role.
Jabril Cox is gone from the linebacking corps, but landing Mike Jones from Clemson through the transfer portal should make up for that. 245-pound Damone Clark was second on the team in tackles and 231-pound Micah Baskerville was fourth.
In a rotation, they should both flourish now in the tweaked 4-2-5 scheme – at least that’s the hope. Throw in high-end JUCO transfer Navonteque Strong – a huge hitter with speed – and like several other parts on the team, the linebacking corps will be better.
– What You Need To Know: Offense
– Top Players | Keys To The Season
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– LSU Football Schedule Analysis