How LSU football isn’t doing Ed Orgeron any favors

There will be major changes for LSU football this offseason.

LSU football will have a much different looking defensive coaching staff in 2021.

On Monday, it was reported by various media outlets that the Tigers are parting ways with defensive coordinator Bo Pelini, who was hired earlier this year to replace Dave Aranda.

Pelini isn’t the only coach on the defensive side of the ball who won’t be returning to Baton Rouge next season.

Defensive line coach Bill Johnson is expected to retire according to a report from Sports Illustrated’s Ross Dellenger.

Safeties coach Bill Busch is also not expected to return next season.

Cornerbacks coach Corey Raymond is the only defensive coach returning for LSU in 2021.

LSU football isn’t doing Ed Orgeron any favors

It won’t be easy for Tigers head coach Ed Orgeron to fill his staff vacancies.

That’s because LSU is reportedly giving Coach O a “limited budget” to work with. And Pelini’s buyout (which is around $5 million) is expected to take up most of that budget according to The Advocate’s Brooks Kubena.

Look, I get it. We’re in the middle of a pandemic and programs have lost a ton of revenue this year due to reduced crowd capacities at games.

But how does LSU expect Orgeron to put together a championship-caliber staff on such a limited budget?

Obviously, the Pelini hire didn’t work out. And it’s going to cost the program a lot of money.

However, that doesn’t mean they should go cheap on the next hire.

There are a lot of quality options out there this offseason. Guys who are proven SEC defensive coordinators that would undoubtedly do a good job at LSU. But they’re not going to work for free. Or even for a discount.

If LSU wants to be a championship team on the field, they need a championship staff on the sidelines.

And a budget dollar-store staff isn’t the way to achieve that.