| |
LSU's D, 5 straight yrs top-3, 2008 No Change
|
|
|
|
LSU's D, 5 straight yrs top-3, 2008 No Change
|
LSU's D, 5 straight yrs top-3, 2008 No Change
|
Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 24, 2006
|
I heard it after season's 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007...LSU's defense lost too much to be as good as last year...but somehow, we've managed to reload and finish as a top-3 defense for 5 consecutive years...currently the line is we lost our top lineman, best linebacker, and almost entire secondary.
2008 may be our best defense ever...it will definitely be our fastest.
Line - Tyson Jackson is a 3 yr starter and is projected be a 1st round and possibly an early 1st round pick in the next draft...Kirston Pittman is another 3 year starter and is also projected to be selected in the 2009 draft...Ricky Jean Francois was ineligible until the Championship game and was promptly named the MVP in the game on D and he is projected as a 2nd round pick in the next draft...Al Woods was a backup last year and is projected to be a 1st round selection in the next draft...without naming names, our backups will be outstanding and likely all will be drafted.
Linebackers - we return Daryl Beckwith and he is projected to be a 2nd round pick...our other 2 LB are likely to be Kelvin Sheppard & Perry RIley....both of whom are faster than last year's starters.
Safety - We are 3 outstanding safeties that will be battling for playing time...among them is Chad Jones who was the top Safety coming out of High School in 2006...Jones has linebacker size and CB speed.
Corners - LSU will have 4 CB's battling for PT...among them are Jai Eugene who was a 5-star player coming out of HS 3 years ago....Phelon Jones who was Player of the Year in Bama in 2006...Patrick Johnson (another 5 star) who many recruiting experts had as the best defensive player in the nation last year in HS....all 4 CB's are faster than the 2 from last year.
|
LSU's D, 5 straight yrs top-3, 2008 No Change
|
LSU's D, 5 straight yrs top-3, 2008 No Change
|
Reputation:93
Level:All-Star
Since:May 27, 2008
|
|
Looks pretty good on paper. My biggest concern is losing Pelini to Nebraska, and then replacing him with 'Co-Defensive Coordinators'...this might be a step backwards. I'd much prefer some type of defensive guru, but we'll see.
|
LSU's D, 5 straight yrs top-3, 2008 No Change
|
LSU's D, 5 straight yrs top-3, 2008 No Change
|
Reputation:95
Level:Superstar
Since:Sep 28, 2007
|
|
Safety - We are 3 outstanding safeties that will be battling for playing time...among them is Chad Jones who was the top Safety coming out of High School in 2006...Jones has linebacker size and CB speed.
Corners - LSU will have 4 CB's battling for PT...among them are Jai Eugene who was a 5-star player coming out of HS 3 years ago....Phelon Jones who was Player of the Year in Bama in 2006...Patrick Johnson (another 5 star) who many recruiting experts had as the best defensive player in the nation last year in HS....all 4 CB's are faster than the 2 from last year.
It was my understanding that none of these players have played meaningful minutes in a college football game yet.
The only reason I won't count LSU out on that fact is that I can't think of an opposing QB they face that will tear them apart before they actually get enough experience to handle themselves. Even Troy is starting a Freshman QB. 7 weeks into the season they get Tebow & only if he makes it that far w/o getting injured.
|
LSU's D, 5 straight yrs top-3, 2008 No Change
|
LSU's D, 5 straight yrs top-3, 2008 No Change
|
Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 24, 2006
|
It was my understanding that none of these players have played meaningful minutes in a college football game yet.All 3 of the Safeties the Buckeyes faced in the Championship Game (after Steltz was injured) are back and will give us a super talented and deep Safety contingent.
None of the cornerbacks have much playing time but they are faster and were rated higher coming out of HS than our 2 veteran starters last year.
|
LSU's D, 5 straight yrs top-3, 2008 No Change
|
LSU's D, 5 straight yrs top-3, 2008 No Change
|
Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Oct 3, 2006
|
The real thing that Makes LSU's D so good every year, is that their D-Line is so strong every year. And anytime you can get instant pressure with just your Linemen, it makes your LB's and CB's seem even better than they really are...and In LSU's case...the LB's and CB's are pretty amazing without the awesome D-Line.
Hopefully, They're great defense won't matter in Gainseville...where only Gators prevail.
|
LSU's D, 5 straight yrs top-3, 2008 No Change
|
LSU's D, 5 straight yrs top-3, 2008 No Change
|
Reputation:96
Level:Superstar
Since:Jul 15, 2007
|
|
4polonius...you hit the nail on the head.....it is not the talent, but the co-dc duties that will cost LSU and they will not lead the SEC in D in 2008.
Talent is one thing, but it takes coaching to make all that talent as one.
Ask the 2000 GA Bulldogs, a team that was flat out awful on D yet every player from that D played in the NFL.......coaching (Kevin Ramsey) failed the Dawgs and Ramsey was promptly fired at halftime of the Auburn game that year.
Safties with Jones, Curtis Taylor and Harry Coleman should be tremendous. Line play should be tremendous. LB play will leave a lot to be desired in my opinion as Beckwith is a benefactor of his surroundings and is an adequate LB. FL & GA have two LBs on their respective teams better than Beckwith.
And then the all important island....CB....very important and two newcomers and I do not care how many stars they have...it takes time to catch on and play outstanding CB in the SEC.....
With this said, LSUs D will not be up to par as it has been the last 5 years.....
Thus LSU will not win the West, nor defend their title 
|
LSU's D, 5 straight yrs top-3, 2008 No Change
|
LSU's D, 5 straight yrs top-3, 2008 No Change
|
Reputation:96
Level:Superstar
Since:Jul 15, 2007
| |
