LSU Football: CBS Sports says Ed Orgeron has the hottest seat in the SEC
By Zach Ragan
CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd recently revealed his “hot seat rankings” for 2021 and he had a surprising ranking for LSU football head coach Ed Orgeron.
Dodd gave Orgeron a hot seat rating of “4”, which is the hottest seat of any SEC coach in his rankings.
Yes, the head coach who led LSU to a national championship just two years ago has the hottest seat in the SEC according to Dodd.
The national media, man. They never cease to amaze me.
How can anyone justify Ed Orgeron having the hottest seat in the SEC?
247Sports’ Brad Crawford tried to offer a few reasons why Dodd says Coach O has the hottest seat in the SEC.
“Orgeron took a major step back in our own head coach rankings this summer after LSU surprisingly stumbled last season coming off an unbeaten run to a national championship,” wrote Crawford. “The season culminated with several staff changes and Orgeron hopes those new hires help put this program back on the path to success in the wildly competitive SEC West.”
I have a few issues with those reasons.
The biggest thing here is that LSU stumbling in 2020 wasn’t necessarily a surprise. The Tigers lost 14 players to the NFL draft after the 2019 season. And they lost their defenisve coordinator (Dave Aranda) and wunderkind passing game coordinator (Joe Brady). Combine those losses with the ill-fated hiring of Bo Pelini as defensive coordinator (a move that was celebrated at the time, but proved to be a mistake), and you have a perfect recipe for a letdown season.
And let’s not forget that COVID-19 was a thing last season. Multiple player opt-outs (including stud wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Terrace Marshall, and freshman sensation Arik Gilbert) and injuries were a major factor in LSU’s 5-5 season last year.
Really, the fact that LSU was able to rally and finish the season with two straight wins is a testament to what a great coach Orgeron is.
Next. Coach O passes up opportunity to confuse everyone. dark
The Tigers would be foolish to fire Orgeron unless the program just completely tanks. But that could be true of any program in the country — even Alabama.
Dodd missed the mark with this ranking.