Prior to the season, LSU coach Ed Orgeron said he thought the Tigers’ defense would be better than last year’s.
LSU was switching to a 4-3 scheme under first year defensive coordinator Bo Pelini and Orgeron said he saw a defense that was creating pressure and “running around making plays.”
But, so far, this season that mostly hasn’t been the case.
Through three games this season, LSU is giving up nearly 500 yards per game. Orgeron said Monday that he “told the truth” and that he expects LSU to show what saw this season.
“I still think we can have an outstanding defense,” Orgeron said. “I know there's not a lot of great defense being played in the SEC right now. That's no excuse. I don't want to hear that. I want to play great defense at LSU, and we're going to play great defense one way or another.
“So the things that I saw, like I always did, I told you all the truth. I thought we were pressuring the quarterback more. I thought we were flying around. I thought we were fitting the run. That's what I saw in practice. That's what I told you all.”
Orgeron said this week LSU would focus on fixing the defensive problems that helped the Tigers beat themselves.
“Man, we're plus six in the turnover ratio. We scored 41 points? We need to win the game,” Orgeron said. “…Our guys are causing turnovers. Our guys are going after the football. Just like I saw all camp, our guys are rushing the passer; we're putting pressure on the passer.
“So those are some good things. Those are the things that we have to build upon. I really think that we're beating ourselves.”
Oregon said those corrections start with coaching staff.
“We gotta coach them better,” he said. “There are some things going on in that film, some busts guys running wide open. Not the right calls on the goal line. We didn't block some people. So as coaches we gotta clean stuff up, man. It starts with me.”
Orgeron also said the Tigers will simplify the defense ahead of this weekend’s matchup with Florida.
“I told both Steve and Bo to simplify, make sure that our players can do it,” he said. “I don't care if we have to play one defense and one coverage; play it, play it right, do whatever we need to do, put our athletes in a good position and let them make plays.”
