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Rick Neuheisel analyzes LSU’s matchup with UCLA, defensive changes from 2020
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CBS Sports analyst Rick Neuheisel joined “McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning” on WJOX in Birmingham, Alabama to talk about the matchup between LSU and UCLA.
Neuheisel was the head coach of the UCLA Bruins from 2008 to 2011. He joined CBS shortly after the 2011 season.
Former @UCLAFootball Head Coach @CoachNeuheisel joined @MacandCube to preview this weekend’s LSU-UCLA matchup and discuss the Tiger’s defense following last year’s woes. pic.twitter.com/3ehEqWb30v
— WJOX 94.5 FM (@WJOX945) August 31, 2021
LSU’s defense took a step back last year, and was ranked 124th in the country in total defense.
“Bo Pelini’s defense was too complicated for a lot of those guys,” Neuheisel said of the former defensive coordinator. “There was too many checks, too many adjustments that were being asked to be made and just weren’t getting done. It just wasn’t translating from the practice field to the game field. So Ed Orgeron went back as he has done before to his comfort zone, which is how do I go back to my Dave Aranda defense?”
Orgeron made changes to his staff last season and hired Daronte Jones as defensive coordinator from the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings. Jones was previously a defensive backs coach at Wisconsin under former LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda.
“What they did is they went back and found a Dave Aranda assistant,” said Neuheisel. “Daronte Jones was with Aranda at Wisconsin. He comes to LSU from Minnesota, where he was the secondary coach, but he really is a disciple of the Dave Aranda system which is welcome news from those guys on the defensive side of the ball. He has two great corners. Elias Ricks and Derek Stingley Jr. It’ll be interesting to see how he tries to get an extra defender by using those guys in man to man situations, and basically just taking away UCLA’s wideouts.
Neuheisel also gave his take on how he thinks his former school will try to lineup against the Tigers as well.
“I think what you are gonna see is a bunch of tight end formations by UCLA,” said Neuheisel. “Trying to create gaps, and what we call constricted formations. Where you bring those wide receivers in really tight to the formation, because then it’s difficult to play man. Especially if you put them two receivers real close to one another, because you’ll try to play in and out on them. It’s kinda what the Rams do. They get in positions where you can cross the field quickly.”
Grant Bricker was a former freelancer for The News TN in his hometown of Nashville, Tennessee. He now freelances for Saturday Football. Follow on Twitter @GrantBricker.
