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When LSU filled its defensive coordinator vacancy with Kevin Steele, the reception was lukewarm. The reports out of spring practice and early scrimmages have been gleaming, so perhaps the early hand-wringing was a bit overwrought.
The coaching hire that had everyone pumped up was Ed Orgeron, brought on the run the defensive line. The Louisiana native and former head coach at Ole Miss and Southern California has a sterling reputation for coaching up defensive linemen and brings all sorts of fire to LSU’s defense.
Orgeron has already professed his love for his new employer, going on about how much he enjoys everything LSU has to offer at the Tigers’ coaches clinic last weekend. But how is Orgeron doing on the field and behind the scenes working with his new charges?
After LSU’s first practice of the season, Miles went out of his way to say that Orgeron is doing a good job working with the Tigers’ young, talented defensive linemen.
LSU has to replace both starting defensive ends from 2014, Danielle Hunter and Jermauria Rasco. Reports from practice indicate that LSU’s young defensive ends — Tashawn Bower, Sione Teuhema, Lewis Neal and others — have begun to play up to their potential halfway through spring practice.
At defensive tackle, the Tigers have their starting spots all but locked down. Davon Godchaux blossomed into a very nice player as a freshman, while Christian LaCouture was strong playing alongside him. The question is whether a group of rising redshirt sophomores, including Maquedius Bain, Greg Gilmore and Frank Herron, can get up to speed after none of them found consistent playing time last year.
According to reports, Bain has been practicing with defensive ends, but he’s available to provide depth in the middle if need be. Quentin Thomas, a rising senior, will be there as well to provide depth after an injury-marred 2014. Herron, along with Trey Lealaimatafao, has reportedly been running with the second-string defensive line.
The other side of Orgeron’s hiring is his recruiting prowess. He got his hands on touted defensive end Arden Key late in the 2015 recruiting cycle, and he’s already making his impact felt on the 2016 class. Orgeron helped score an early commitment from No. 1 cornerback Saivion Smith and is putting in work on several top defensive targets for the Tigers.
We’ll get a better sense of Orgeron’s true worth come September. LSU ranked 13th in the SEC in sacks (19) and had one of the lowest quarterback hurry totals (37) in the conference. If the Tigers can get those numbers up — way up, preferably — the über-talented secondary should be able to feast, while life becomes easier for a thin linebackers group.
A former freelance journalist from Philadelphia, Brett has made the trek down to SEC country to cover the greatest conference in college football.
