124. The 2020 defense ranked 124th in total defense out of 127 FBS teams. The fighting Pelinis ranked dead last in passing defense. With all the talk of the Myles Brennan injury, offensive line, and running game, at times it seems to be forgotten that the offense wasn’t the biggest issue last year. Why should 2021 be any different? For starters, Ed Orgeron added defensive coordinator Daronte Jones, linebacker coach Blake Baker, and defensive line coach Andre Carter. The bulk of the defensive issues last year resulted from breakdowns in communication and an overall lack of effort. By all accounts, communication has been better on the defensive side of the ball both on and off the field. Corners and safeties are in meeting rooms together. Coaches are personally calling players simply to check on their well being. Cultivating player/coach relationships are critical to getting the most out of your players. In a perfect world we’d like to think that every player goes 100% every down, but in reality players play harder for coaches they respect. The 2021 defense has nowhere to go but up, and it’s easy to see why when examining the defense at each level.

Defensive Line

We’ve all heard the cliché before, but it all starts up front. Fortunately, this Tiger front will be the strongest and deepest unit of the defense. Seniors Ali Gaye and Andre Anthony will start at the defensive end positions. Gaye made his presence known early in the 2020 season, and Anthony quietly but consistently made plays all year. Anthony provides much needed leadership to the team as a whole, holding himself and his teammates to a high standard. Backup edge rusher BJ Ojulari, a sophomore, would be a starter on most teams, which speaks to the depth of this defensive line. Ojulari has added muscle this year and is possibly the most explosive defensive end on the team. Senior Soni Fonua adds depth, but will have to battle Landon Jackson, a true freshman, for snaps. Jackson’s name continues to come up when the coaches reference standouts, which usually means he’ll get meaningful playing time. The defensive tackle position suffered a blow with the news of 10th year senior Glen Logan’s knee injury. Logan is expected to be back for the majority of the season, but his absence shouldn’t affect the level of play of the defensive line considering the return of Neil Farrell and Jaquelin Roy. The light came on for Roy towards the end of his freshman season, and at times he looked dominant. If he raises his level of consistency this year he’ll be in the discussion for All-SEC honors; he’s that good. After switching from the offensive line to the defensive line multiple times, sophomore defensive tackle Joseph Evans is held in high regard by the LSU staff and viewed as a possible starter. Starter or not, incoming 5 star recruit Maason Smith is a player that many fans and recruiting nerds such as myself can’t wait to see at defensive tackle. Early returns suggest that the hype is real, and he will see the field early.

Linebacker

To say the 2020 linebacker play was subpar would be an understatement, but Coach O has taken notice and addressed the position for 2021. Damone Clark returns at ILB after taking a step back in his development last year. I’m still unsure if he fits best as an inside linebacker or on the edge, but he’ll have to be more confident and less hesitant to remain a starter. I don’t question his physical tools, so the onus is on the staff to raise his comfort level and simplify the game to maximize his potential. Micah Baskerville was one of the few bright spots on defense once he joined the starting lineup, and returns as a senior. This defense (as most others these days) will play 2 linebackers and 5 defensive backs the majority of the time, and Baskerville will man one of those spots. Clark will compete with incoming juco recruit Navonteque Strong and Mike Jones, a transfer from Clemson. Strong has a reputation as a hard hitter, but time will tell if he can cover well enough to avoid being a one dimensional, early down linebacker. Jones has proven that he can cover, but he came to LSU to prove that he can be valuable at the point of attack as an inside linebacker. Jared Small is a former walk on that earned a scholarship and will add even more competition at the position. Obviously, Small didn’t come to LSU with high accolades or expectations from fans, but all he does is make plays. While he’s unlikely to start, he will be a part of the rotation.

Secondary

Take the “DBU” talk and throw it out until further notice. I’ll never understand how a team could be dead last in passing defense with two future 1st round cornerbacks. On the bright side, the Tigers have the talent to bounce back in that regard. Derek Stingley returns as the best corner in the country. Although he battled injuries and wasn’t as dominant in 2020, the fact that people are genuinely surprised when a corner gets beat says all you need to know about Stingley. Eli Ricks returns on the opposite side of the field after his Freshman All-American season to give LSU the best tandem of corners in the nation. As injuries dwindled the depth of the team in 2020, Dwight McGlothern stepped up and showed the potential to be yet another star in the history of the program formerly known as DBU. Cordale Flott returns at nickel, and will be somewhat challenged by incoming freshman and Lafayette native, Sage Ryan. I’m not sure what to expect out of Daronte Jones’ defense, but Ryan’s speed and physicality leads me to believe he’d be effective blitzing off the edge. Jay Ward switched from cornerback to safety, and looks like a natural at the position. His ball skills and speed are apparent; he’ll have to prove his ability as an open field tackler. While no starters have been announced, it seems as though Major Burns will start along with Ward as the second safety. I won’t bother distinguishing between free safety and strong safety being that today’s offenses have forced both positions to require much of the same skill set. Burns is a Baton Rouge native and former LSU commitment that transferred from Georgia. I haven’t seen much of Burns, but I have seen athleticism and ball skills, both of which were sorely missing at the position in 2020. Todd Harris is a senior that has shown the ability to be a quality starter at safety, but the competition is fierce. Sophomore Jordan Toles, like Harris, did not play to the standard that’s been set at the position by guys like Jamal Adams and Grant Delpit, but I’m not sure if last year was an accurate display of his ability or if he was simply unsure of his responsibilities. LSU also reeled in freshman Derrick Davis, ranked as the 4th best safety in the country. He’s flashed at times during practices and scrimmages.

I feel confident about the talent at all three levels of the defense, but I can’t assume Daronte Jones will be able to out scheme Dan Mullen, Lane Kiffin, Jimbo Fisher, and the other elite offensive minds he will face. Time will tell if he can game plan and make the in-game adjustments needed to win in a brutal conference. The matchups will be intimidating, but that’s part of the fun as a fan. I have no doubt the defense will be better, but how much better? We’ll get our first glimpse in only 9 days. It’s puzzling that some media members have accepted 2020 as the norm when only five Power 5 teams have won more games than LSU since 2000. It’s time for LSU to reclaim their place among the elite, and it starts with defense. GEAUX TIGERS!!!