LSU Football: How Bo Pelini was in a tough spot in season-opener

LSU football gave up 44 points to Mississippi State in their season-opening loss.

I wasn’t shy about praising Ed Orgeron’s decision to hire Bo Pelini this offseason to replace Dave Aranda as LSU football‘s defensive coordinator.

After watching LSU give up 44 points in their season-opening loss to Mississippi State, I still feel the same way.

That’s because I feel like Pelini was put in a tough position to start the 2020 season.

And it’s something that no one really accounted for when previewing LSU’s matchup against the Bulldogs.

Bo Pelini was in a tough spot with LSU football in his return to Baton Rouge

There was plenty of talk throughout the offseason about Pelini’s aggressive defense and how it could be what carries the Tigers this season.

I’m sure some folks are doubting whether that will be the case after watching LSU give up over 600 passing yards to Mississippi State. But Tigers fans shouldn’t worry. Pelini and LSU will be fine.

I think it’s important to remember that Pelini hasn’t served as a defensive coordinator since leaving LSU in 2007. For the last 12 years, Pelini has been a head coach, which is a completely different mindset than working as a coordinator.

Pelini is a consummate professional, but we’d be foolish to not expect an adjustment period in his return to a coordinator position after 12 years away from that position.

Look, Pelini still possesses one of the best defensive minds in the nation. Nothing about that has changed. And I’m extremely confident we’ll see Pelini find his groove in the not-so-distant future.

This is a marathon, not a sprint. LSU is going through a mini-rebuild. Everything that happens this year should be about building for the 2021 season, which is when I expect the Tigers to compete for another national championship.