LSU Football: Bo Pelini is going to take the Tigers’ defense to the next level

LSU football will have a familiar face on the sideline in 2020 with Bo Pelini leading the Tigers’ defense.

Dave Aranda did a terrific job leading LSU football’s defense over the last several years.

But losing Aranda to Baylor (where he’ll serve as the Bears’ head coach) wasn’t exactly a major loss for the Tigers.

That because Ed Orgeron brought Bo Pelini back to Baton Rouge to lead LSU’s defense.

Pelini, who will move the Tigers from a 3-4 defense to a base 4-3 defense, is exactly what the Tigers need after their championship run in 2019.

Aranda was a quiet coach who brought a mostly cerebral approach to the game. He never let his emotions get too high. Pelini, however, is the opposite — at least in the emotional aspect.

Pelini is fierce. He yells. He gets angry. He throws his hands up in the air in disgust.

But most of all, he brings energy. And the Tigers will need that energy in 2020 after losing numerous key defensive players to the NFL draft.

Pelini, in fact, is making a big impact in the energy department after just one spring practice.

Geaux247 reported on Saturday that Pelini was “very vocal with the linebackers and they seemed to feed off the enthusiasm he brings to the field”. They also noted that Pelini’s coaching style was “night and day compared to Dave Aranda’s coaching style”.

I love the emotional aspect of sports. I think that’s what makes sports, in general, so great. Elite talent has to be present to win. But I think the right emotional approach, which is something that can’t be measured by stats, also has to be present.

Pelini’s fiery demeanor could be a huge X factor for the Tigers in 2020.

Perhaps it’ll be LSU’s defense that carries the team to a College Football Playoff appearance this season.