LSU put up historic numbers on offense last season on their way to a national championship behind Heisman-winning quarterback Joe Burrow. That’s a sentence no one could have predicted they’d see in print with any degree of truth behind it just 18 months ago.
Part of the reason was of course the Tigers’ longstanding reputation for a ground-and-pound style of football offensively. But the other reason is that LSU’s identity for nearly two decades had been as a defensive powerhouse.
That’s not to say the Tiger D was a slouch last season, but it was certainly upstaged by the Bayou Bengals’ season of scoreboard-torching.
With Burrow and passing-attack mastermind Joe Brady now both in the NFL along with the majority of key players from last season on both sides of the ball, the Tigers’ identity is once again up for grabs. And LSU head coach Ed Orgeron said Wednesday night that he expects the defense to make a play for the spotlight once again behind new defensive coordinator Bo Pelini and his 4-3 defensive scheme.
Using our speed. Putting our players in the position to make plays. The 4-3 allows you to do that. We’re not just gonna sit back and let them dictate what they’re gonna do to us. We’re gonna dictate what we do to them.
Orgeron made the comments during the season-opening edition of "The Ed Orgeron Show" and said the brand of defense Pelini traffics in should give opposing quarterbacks fits.
Bo is an excellent gameday caller. The guy is the best defensive coordinator I’ve been with since Pete Carroll. He’s from the Pete Carroll tree. He brings a lot of energy. He brings a lot of excitement. The players want to play for him. I think you’re gonna see more blitzing. We’re gonna blitz our corners, our safeties, our linebackers.
You’re gonna see a lot of press coverage. You’re gonna see a lot of pressure on the quarterback, which I like.
LSU’s season opener is set for Saturday, September 26, in Tiger Stadium against Mississippi State.