LSU Football: Ed Orgeron has a great approach to defensive coordinator search
By Zach Ragan
LSU football has now gone over a month without a defensive coordinator.
Bo Pelini and the Tigers parted ways on December 21. Since then, LSU has interviewed several candidates — and offered the job to at least two of them — but they still haven’t been able to find a replacement yet for Pelini.
And that’s ok.
In fact, I actually love Ed Orgeron’s approach to this search.
LSU football has the perfect approach to finding a new defensive coordinator
Coach O isn’t in a rush to hire a new defenisve coordinator. He doesn’t feel like he has to hire someone just so the Tigers have a defensive coordinator on staff.
Orgeron knows what he wants and he’s not going to settle for just anyone.
Marcus Freeman and Ryan Nielsen were each close to landing the job because Orgeron knew without a doubt he wanted both of those guys. Unfortunately for LSU, neither deal was able to be completed. Freeman ended up at Notre Dame and Nielsen received a raise from the New Orleans Saints.
Orgeron then moved on to speaking with Mississippi State defensive coordinator Zach Arnett.
LSU interviewed Arnett but the Tigers didn’t feel like he was a good fit.
It would’ve been easy for LSU to scoop up Arnett. The hire probably would’ve been praised by most analysts (Arnett is considered an up-and-comer). But Orgeron didn’t think he was the right man for the job, which is why he ultimately decided to pass on Arnett.
I think it’s abundantly clear that Orgeron knows what he wants and he’s not going to make another mistake like he did last winter with Pelini.
Next. LSU battling rival for elite in-state DB. dark
Orgeron is going to get this right. And LSU’s defense will be better for it. I know this hire is taking a bit longer than we thought it would, but I feel confident it’s going to work out for the best.