LSU Football: Bo Pelini’s 4-3 defense won’t be “boring”

LSU football will be moving from a 3-4 base defense to a 4-3 base defense under new defensive coordinator Bo Pelini.

LSU football will be moving from a 3-4 defense to a 4-3 defense in 2020 under new defensive coordinator Bo Pelini.

But the Tigers won’t be running a “boring” 4-3 base defense.

In fact, it won’t necessarily always be a four-man defensive front that LSU utilizes.

Florida State linebackers coach John Papuchis, who coached with Pelini at LSU in 2005, recently told The Athletic that “multiplicity” is a strength of Pelini’s defense.

Papuchis noted that Pelini’s defense has the ability to “morph from week to week”.

Essentially, LSU fans shouldn’t expect to see the Tigers trot out four defensive linemen and three linebackers every play. There might be some three man defensive fronts from time to time.

While there will still likely be some traditional looks from the Tigers’ defense, Pelini is going to do his best to disguise his defense.

Pelini is also going to adapt his defense to whoever LSU happens to be playing that week. This is in stark contrast from previous defensive coordinator Dave Aranda, who (as noted by The Athletic) didn’t change his defense much on a week to week basis.

That’s where having plenty of analysts on staff will come into play. Analysts can help break down film and game plan. Pelini will be stretched thin as it is, so having the analysts will certainly help.

LSU currently has six defensive analysts, including Donald D’Alesio, who served as the defensive line coach/defensive coordinator under Pelini at Youngstown State.

It sounds like LSU’s defense should be an exciting unit to watch in 2020. Perhaps the Tigers’ defense can have the same kind of success the offense had in 2019.