LSU Football: Tigers to interview another NFL assistant for DC opening

LSU football will interview another NFL assistant for its defensive coordinator opening according to a recent report.

ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg reported on Saturday night that Minnesota Vikings defensive backs coach Daronte Jones will interview with the Tigers on Sunday.

LSU previously tried to hire Marcus Freeman and Ryan Nielsen for the opening.

Freeman left the Cincinnati Bearcats and took the defensive coordinator job at Notre Dame, while Nielsen received a raise and a new title with the New Orleans Saints.

Daronte Jones is an interesting option for LSU football

Jones is seemingly an out-of-nowhere option for Ed Orgeron and the Tigers.

The Vikings assistant doesn’t have any obvious connections to LSU.

Jones has coached in the NFL with the Vikings, the Cincinnati Bengals, and the Miami Dolphins. He also has coached at Wisconsin and UCLA.

While Jones doesn’t have any direct connection to Coach O, he does have some Louisiana connections.

Jones served as a defensive coordinator at two high schools in Louisiana — Jeanerette (2004) and Franklin (2003). He was also the safeties coach at Nicholls State in 2002.

If Orgeron decides that Jones is a good fit, they should be able to get a deal done.

The big question with Jones is his lack of defensive coordinator experience. I’d prefer to see the Tigers hire someone with a proven track record as a defensive coordinator.

Jones’ NFL experience is attractive, but his lack of coordinator experience is concerning.

Then again, Orgeron knows what he’s looking for in a defensive coordinator.

And if he feels that Jones is a good fit, then we’ll have to give him the benefit of the doubt for now.