LSU Football: Why the biggest concern with Bo Pelini shouldn’t be a concern at all
By Zach Ragan
Bo Pelini will serve as LSU football’s defensive coordinator in 2020.
LSU football head coach Ed Orgeron made the hire of the offseason in January when he managed to lure Bo Pelini back to Baton Rouge to serve as the Tigers’ defensive coordinator (after previous defensive coordinator Dave Aranda left to become the head coach at Baylor).
The arrival of Pelini means LSU will have a different defensive scheme in 2020. The Tigers are moving from a base 3-4 defense to a base 4-3 defense.
Changing a system is always a challenge. There’s new concepts, new terminology and new responsibilities.
Now, imagine those challenges in the midst of a pandemic when coaches aren’t allowed to see their players.
It’s obviously not ideal.
But LSU fans shouldn’t be concerned. That’s because Pelini is doing his best to make this a seamless transition for the players.
Pelini has been installing the new defense via zoom meetings. And he’s trying to keep the concepts similar to LSU’s old system.
Pelini says the defenders are going to hear a lot of “same-as” concepts.
— Brooks Kubena (@BKubena) May 12, 2020
He’s trying to keep it simple, easily adjustable. #LSU
The former Nebraska head coach also noted that LSU will still be using some three man fronts (though he admitted it will mostly be four man fronts). The situation will determine what kind of defensive front is used.
Bo Pelini says there still will be some 3-man fronts in #LSU’s defense, when the situation dictates, but they’ll mostly operate out of a 4-man front.
— Brooks Kubena (@BKubena) May 12, 2020
In a way, this shutdown could actually be good for LSU’s defensive switch.
Sure, the players aren’t repping it in practice. But they’re getting plenty of time to go over the new system and learn it. By the time fall camp rolls around (which will hopefully start in August), the players should know the system extremely well.
It’s not like there’s anything to do right now except work out and study the defense. There are no classes to attend. There’s no practice to get ready for. It’s just a lot of hurry up and wait at the moment.
Next. Joe Burrow deserves more credit for 2019. dark
Pelini has one of the brightest defensive minds in college football. And he clearly knows how to get the best out of his players. These might be uncharted waters for Pelini (and every other coach in the country), but I have a feeling he’ll find a way to make the best of the situation.