We’ve all had those relationships. One person is thinking one thing while the other person is thinking another thing, and at some point you’re faced with the question: what are we? What is LSU? LSU was ranked in the top 25, got manhandled by UCLA, then had a cupcake buffet. LSU has had two games to correct a litany of issues exposed after getting hit in the mouth by the Bruins. A common thread amongst the talking heads at the time was “We won’t find out anything else about this team until the Mississippi State game”, which is not completely true. While McNeese St. and Central Michigan didn’t answer questions about LSU’s physical limitations, there was still a lot to draw from those games. The defense has responded well to similar concepts and route combinations that confused them against UCLA. They played faster as they’ve gotten comfortable enough to trust each other to understand their individual responsibilities. I’m not sure why Micah Baskerville wasn’t starting at the beginning of the season (all he does is make plays), but Daronte Jones has figured out who his best linebackers are. We now know that freshman phenom Maason Smith can play defensive end, which is even more significant after the unfortunate loss of Andre Anthony to a torn ACL. Offensively, Jake Peetz simply sped the process up. Plays are coming in quicker, Max Johnson isn’t looking to the sideline, and he’s giving his receivers a chance to make a play. To say the least, the receivers are taking advantage of the chances they get. The average college football fan knows what Kayshon Boutte is capable of, but Jack Bech is now a proven mismatch at tight end. Freshman wideout Deion Smith is a freak show, and he had his coming out party against Central Michigan. Let’s face it: these coaches are coaching for their jobs, and Smith has to be in the starting lineup going forward. He displayed size, leaping ability, and the ability to run after the catch. Speaking of impressive freshmen, Corey Kiner has displayed skills I’m not sure any of the other backs have. Ty Price is a good running back, but he’s best when he has enough space to gain forward momentum and flash his physical nature. Kiner is a back that can make something out of nothing, and there’s an abundance of nothing when it comes to the Tigers’ run blocking. On that note, I’ll discuss my keys to the game.

Don’t abandon the run

At this point I know that LSU will not be a dominant force up front at any point this year, but I also know that the running game looked better when Peetz called runs outside the tackles. It also looked better with faster and/or shiftier backs. I’ve spoken on Corey Kiner, but fellow freshman Armoni Goodwin will return from injury this weekend. Goodwin showed an impressive burst in his limited action. It’s important to maintain some semblance of a running game simply to keep the defense honest. SEC defenses will have a field day rushing the passer if they know the quarterback is dropping back to throw 75% of the offensive plays. LSU doesn’t have to have 200 yards rushing, they just have to give the defense something else to think about.

Hit Will Rogers

Mike Leach does not care about keeping the defense honest; he’s unapologetically passing every game. MSU’s quarterback, Will Rogers, threw the ball sixty-seven times against Memphis. This LSU team has had issues, but rushing the passer isn’t one of them. Ali Gaye returns to the lineup this week, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Gaye, NCAA sack leader BJ Ojulari, and Maason Smith will obviously need to sack Rogers when possible, but also rush him into bad decisions.

NO BLOWN COVERAGES

As encouraging as the LSU defense has looked lately, they’ve still been prone to busted coverages at times. It’s easy to dismiss when they win by 20, but Central Michigan isn’t on the schedule this week. One player not knowing the defensive call on one play Saturday can cost LSU the game. Jones will need to make his calls early in the play clock and run more zone than man coverages Saturday.

It seems like just yesterday Mike Leach left Tiger Stadium with a shocking, record breaking win. That day we learned that the LSU defense wasn’t the defense we were used to seeing. I never saw the defense, or team itself, look like what I expect to see from LSU from that point on. A lot has changed since then, but the jury is still out on this staff. A win over Mississippi State won’t quiet the doubters, but a loss will be like throwing gasoline on fire. If Coach O plays his best players and the defense communicates effectively, LSU should leave Starkville undefeated in the conference. GEAUX TIGERS!!!

College football is officially back, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Once again our state is reeling from the effects of a hurricane, and any positivity is a welcome distraction from the scramble of getting back to normal after the destruction that Louisiana and several other states have endured recently. Tomorrow we’ll have an opportunity to temporarily escape the reality of rebuilding our communities and enjoy the revival of LSU Tiger football. UCLA comes into this game in good spirits after running wild against Hawaii in a 44-10 rout. There’s always an advantage to getting a chance to knock the rust off against an inferior opponent, but even more so when you can handily defeat the opponent without showing your more advanced concepts on either side of the ball. UCLA was able to simply run the ball at will on offense and blitz heavily on defense. Rest assured, Chip Kelly has some tricks up his sleeve for a game that’s critical to his career and the direction of the program at UCLA. Coach Orgeron feels that the Tigers are well prepared, as this game is even more important to his future at LSU. If the Tigers lose the season opener the pressure would grow infinitely to somehow right the ship with the entire SEC schedule ahead of them. Talking season is over, and it’s time to see what we’ve got.

UCLA Offense vs LSU Defense

It’s not easy to draw a lot from a game when one opponent is so physically overmatched, but the physical nature itself is a good starting point. Regardless of the opponent, UCLA’s offensive line’s dominance last week was impressive. The line created space, but running backs Zach Charbonnet and Brittain Brown also proved tough to bring down. Charbonnet, a Michigan transfer, flashed explosiveness and decisiveness on several highlight reel runs. Senior quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson got off to a slow start, but he’s capable of playing at a higher level than he showed last week. The key for LSU will be to control the running game, so this will be the first test of the season for a linebacker room that struggled in 2020. If LSU stops the run they can put UCLA in third and long situations where I expect the Tigers to excel. The ideal situation for LSU is to allow defensive ends Ali Gaye, Andre Anthony, and BJ Ojulari to rush freely on third downs without the threat of the run. UCLA will have to pass more this week than against Hawaii, but they don’t have receivers that will strike fear into a defense. Expect them to utilize their big bodied tight ends over the middle and selectively take deep shots, even if they use trick plays to do so. Thompson-Robinson will have to consistently make the right reads and accurate passes against a talented secondary that’s eager to redeem themselves. I like LSU’s odds, but I also realize there are growing pains inherent with learning a new defense. I’ll give a slight advantage to LSU in this matchup.

LSU Offense vs UCLA defense

UCLA blitzed early and often last week, and did little to disguise it. Fortunately for LSU, Max Johnson usually knows where he needs to go with the ball and gives his receivers a chance in 1 on 1 situations. More importantly, the best way to slow down the blitz is to effectively run the ball. In the last segment I mentioned how the LSU linebackers will be tested; LSU offensive line’s performance will be even more consequential in deciding this game. LSU will be missing freshman running back Armoni Goodwin, but the Tigers are never short on running backs. Ty Davis-Price and John Emery have the talent to be productive, but they can’t if they’re evading tacklers in the backfield. The LSU offensive line has to set the tone early. I’d welcome the blitz in passing situations if I’m Jake Peetz, because LSU has favorable matchups on the outside. Kayshon Boutte will likely receive extra attention from the defense, but Jaray Jenkins has proven effective when targeted. The Bruin linebackers looked fast when rushing last week, but can they cover? Sophomore tight end Kole Taylor is often forgotten when LSU offensive weapons are discussed, but he is a legitimate weapon. With functional speed at 6’7″ he provides an easy outlet for Max Johnson when in distress. It’s a simple formula for LSU to win this game: run effectively, lean on your playmakers, and don’t turn the ball over. I like the LSU offense, even on the road.

While I expect LSU to win this game, I do expect UCLA to put up a fight. Last week Chip Kelly showed less schematically than you would typically see in a spring game. UCLA will make plays tomorrow, but I don’t think they can consistently sustain drives. Don’t panic when the Tigers miss assignments and/or blow coverages; it’s part of the learning curve when adjusting to new coordinators. It is important that they learn when mistakes are made and avoid repeating the same mistakes. From the coaches to the players, LSU understands the urgency of getting off to a good start. They’ve said all the right things, but now it’s time to prove it. GEAUX TIGERS!!!

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!!!

It’s hard to believe that we’re only 39 days away from LSU football, and it can’t get here soon enough. Offseason news of name, image, and likeness profitability and the potential addition of Texas and Oklahoma have been met with mixed reviews amongst fans. One thing we can all agree on is nothing matches the excitement of the first kickoff of the year for your favorite team, especially when it comes against an out of conference Power 5 opponent. From 2019 to 2020 LSU went from one extreme to another with arguably the most impressive season in history to a .500 team that couldn’t get a defensive stop against the Prarieville Broncos. The good news is this team brings back a substantial amount of talent and new, motivated coordinators to help the product on the field reflect the yearly top 5 recruiting classes. Even with a championship, Coach Orgeron understands the expectations at LSU. At some point the program has to sustain its place among the elite regardless of assistant coach turnover. With that being said, what should we expect this year? Today I’ll delve into expectations on offense, one position group at a time.

Quarterbacks

I won’t waste time; everyone wants to know who’ll get the start, senior Myles Brennan, or sophomore Max Johnson. Brennan is the exception to the rule in the age of the transfer portal. He patiently waited his turn behind Joe Burrow, played well early in the season, then one bad decision against Missouri ended his season. Brennan has always had a strong arm, and has now bulked his 6’3″ frame up to 220 lbs. He’s not a threat to keep the ball in RPO’s or QB reads, but he can make all the throws. Max Johnson led the Tigers to two conference wins at the end of 2020 that gave LSU positive momentum going into the offseason. Johnson showed touch, but more importantly, poise in big moments. He’s more mobile than Brennan, but does not display the arm talent to drive the ball on deep outs or far hash throws. Both quarterbacks are capable of effectively running the offense, but Brennan allows the offense to use more of the field. Although he won’t start, freshman Garrett Nussmeier is intriguing. At 6’1″ he’s smaller than the other quarterbacks, but elusive in the pocket. In limited reps he’s shown the ability to throw accurately off balance and from different arm angles.

Offensive Line

With all the talk about quarterbacks, much of their success hinges on the performance of the veteran LSU offensive line. The line returns starters Ed Ingram at left guard, Liam Shanahan at center, and Austin Deculus at right tackle. The loss of left tackle Dare Rosenthal is not ideal, but would be a bigger problem if not for an experienced Cam Wire available to fill in at that spot. Experience is great, but this position group as a whole underwhelmed last year, particularly in the run game. The offensive line never consistently generated a push up front, and that limited the production of the running backs. Unless you’re Barry Sanders, you have to be able to gain positive momentum before contact or the running game is going to suffer. LSU will need younger linemen to step up to improve in this aspect, such as sophomores Anthony Bradford at guard and Marlon Martinez at tackle. Bradford, a Michigan native, was highly regarded as a recruit, but stars don’t matter once you’re on campus. He’ll have to prove himself in the SEC. The Tigers also bring back Chasen Hines at guard who has proven to be effective early in his career. Expect him to be a rotational player if not a starter at right guard.

Running backs

Juniors Tyrion Davis-Price and John Emery will lead the running back group this year. The backs have faced criticism after not producing to the standard to which we’ve grown accustomed with the likes of Edwards-Helaire, Guice, and Fournette, but part of that falls on the offensive line. Davis-Price has been the most consistent back so far, showing physicality and a burst this spring that we haven’t seen since his freshman year. Emery is more of a home run threat that needs to be more physical and a more consistent receiver receiver out of the backfield. Both are potentially NFL backs that simply need more space. It’s rare for a walk-on to make an impact at running back for LSU, but sophomore Josh Williams broke into the rotation after injuries in 2020. Williams gained the trust of the staff, earning meaningful snaps on offense and even returning kicks, gaining a scholarship along the way. Running backs coach Kevin Faulk did work on the recruiting trail with the addition of Corey Kiner from Ohio and Alabama native Armoni Goodwin. Kiner is the bigger back at 220 lbs., but also has displayed good hands. Goodwin is smaller at 5’8″, 190 lbs., but blazing fast. Also a track athlete in the 7A classification, he holds the Alabama state high school record in the 60 meter dash with a 6.82 time. This is a talented group with an ideal blend of size and speed. Look for most if not all of these players to get meaningful snaps, as LSU historically takes a running back by committee approach.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

What else can be said about Kayshon Boutte? The sophomore exploded onto the scene towards the end of 2020, capping the year with a single game yardage record against Ole Miss. The common theme amongst national analysts in the spring was “Who else can step up?”. LSU is never short on receivers, and that won’t change this year. Jena, LA native Jaray Jenkins returns for his junior season after averaging over 17 yards per catch on 23 receptions. Jontre Kirklin returns and has proven versatility and value in the slot. True sophomore Koy Moore played early in his freshman year even before Terrace Marshall opted out. I’ve been waiting for Trey Palmer to break out, and it’s now or never for the junior with the way LSU has recruited the position. Palmer’s explosiveness tantalizes fans; he’s returned both a punt and a kick for touchdowns in his career. The jury is still out on his ability as an all around receiver. The pressure is on, as there are four highly rated freshmen waiting in the wings for their shot to get on the field. Chris Hilton comes from Zachary as the highest rated receiver in Louisiana in the class of 2021. Deion Smith was the highest rated player overall in Mississippi. Brian Thomas was an elite football recruit that also had options to play Division 1 basketball, and Malik Nabers has verified 4.44 speed and a 38″ vertical. The group as a whole has garnered rave reviews from both players and coaches since arriving on campus. I didn’t forget about 4 star Jack Bech, but I expect him to have more of an impact as a receiving tight end/H back. He’ll be needed more at tight end after the departures of Arik Gilbert and Jaylen Shead. LSU does return sophomore Kole Taylor, who is a huge target at 6’7″. The team is dangerously thin at the position, but with more 4 and 5 wide formations blocking tight ends aren’t as critical to an offense as they used to be.

I’m encouraged by the amount of returning players on this offense, and comfortable with either quarterback. Frankly, the offense wasn’t the problem last year, but it could have been better, especially in short yardage situations. We shouldn’t expect new offensive coordinator Jake Peetz to be Joe Brady, but we should fully expect him to be better than Scott Linehan or Steve Ensminger. It’s imperative to create a more consistent running game to keep defenses honest and take pressure off the quarterbacks. The 2021 offense might not be the juggernaut 2019 was, but with solid offensive line play and the weapons on the outside it should be a top 3 offense in the SEC.

Welcome back, Tiger fans! I recently caught up with former All-SEC and National Championship linebacker, Darry Beckwith for an interview. This post will be longer than usual, so we’ll get right to it. Enjoy!

Louis: 2020 was destined to be a year of transition. Covid added a whole new set of challenges, to say the least. What do you feel went wrong, and how realistic is it to return to the LSU standard of play in 2021?

Darry: I think they lost a lot of players last year. You’re talking about Joe Burrow who had arguably the best season any player has ever had. Historically, that 2019 team was the best team college football has actually seen. I think a couple of things happened. You lost a lot of players to the draft, and you lost a few players that opted out.  They also lost the ability to have spring practice, especially with a new defensive coordinator. You could also say a new offensive coordinator in Ensminger. Even though he was the offensive coordinator the year before, he was still kind of being helped by Joe Brady. In 2020 he had the full reigns of the offense, so not having spring ball really hurt. Also, I think they became complacent as far as living off the high of the success of the previous season. With all that being said: moving players, opt outs, no spring…it doesn’t matter at all. I never want to use it as an excuse, because if you want to consider yourself a top tier program or top 5 program on a consistent basis you can’t have a season like last year. It doesn’t so much disqualify them as being an upper echelon program like an Alabama, Ohio St., or Clemson, but you’re still beneath them. One thing they have is consistency; you never see a dip in their performance. What LSU has to do is get back to the basics. That begins with fundamentals, tackling, and playing hard. What I saw last year on defense, regardless of the busted plays, was they didn’t play hard enough and couldn’t tackle. Get back to the basics, humble yourself, and realize that you do have enough talent to compete. I would like them to compete on a consistent basis year in and year out to the point that they’re mentioned as a championship caliber team. They have the talent to do it.

Louis: One of the more disappointing position groups were the linebackers. What stood out to you when watching the linebackers? Were the shortcomings more physical or mental?

Darry: I am a big proponent of making sure that you put your players in the best position to be successful, and you use their skillset to benefit the team. I’m so high on Damone Clark. I will beat the table for Damone Clark. I really would. I know people gave him a lot of flack last year but to me Damone Clark is not an inside linebacker. He’s not an off the ball linebacker. In the 2019 season his biggest impact was when he rushed the passer from the edge. Damone Clark is a stand up outside linebacker. He can rush the passer, he’s physical, and he can run. Also, from the inside linebacker position he had to drop in coverage. When you ask a guy to do that it would be like asking Khalil Mack to play inside linebacker. It’s a different ball game. Now you’re not just reading how the tackle kicks back and doing a couple of pass rush moves. As an inside linebacker you have to read the tackle, guard, and running back. In these RPO offenses it’s a lot to process. I think they put too much on his plate in such a short period of time. I also think that it’s not that the guys didn’t have the physical ability; I think they did. A guy like Jabril Cox probably had a great year, but he’s more of a nickel linebacker. He’s good for coming in on the nickel packages. I think they had the lineup kind of messed up. I would have had Micah Baskerville starting all year at inside linebacker, found another player to play linebacker in the base defense, and brought in Cox on passing downs. I think it was a personnel issue not based on ability, but more so in how LSU had the guys lined up on defense.

Louis: I completely agree with your last point. Make the scheme fit the personnel, don’t make the personnel fit the scheme. The one silver lining from a bad year is it forces you to make changes. LSU had a youth movement take place on the coaching staff in the offseason that I hope will add passion, hunger, and better communication to the team. Are you familiar with the new additions? How do you feel about the coaching changes?

Darry: I don’t know any of the new coaches, and that’s probably a good thing. Because if I did know them that would mean that they were there when I was there. I heard something the other day from a defensive player that I can’t recall. I saw him do the interview where he talked about the youth movement, and he talked about how these coaches can relate to them on the field as well as on a personal level. That’s key. If you look around college football right now the programs that are successful have youthful coaches. That’s the name of the game right now. The top teams like Alabama and Ohio St. have youthful coaches. Not only do they have youthful coaches, but like you mentioned a few minutes ago, they’re hungry. They’re hungry to prove themselves. They’re hungry to get promoted. They’re hungry to come to LSU and get a head coaching job. They’re hungry to come to LSU as a position coach and get a coordinator position. They’re hungry, so they’re going to do everything in their ability to make sure they’re going to win at the top level. If these guys are successful, and they win at this level other schools could come calling for them. They’re going to put their best foot forward. The key for LSU is this; what Ed Orgeron has to realize is if they’re going to have success like I think they should have success he’s going to have to put himself in a position to be able to replace coaches every year. That’s one thing Coach Saban is a master at. I’m telling you right now, he already has coaches for 2022 lined up. I know he does. So if I’m Orgeron, it’s great that I’ve made these hires. I know it’s hard work, but I’d better be thinking about 2022. You’d better be thinking ahead. The youth movement is great; I’m excited about it. But be prepared to replace these same coaches with another wave of coaches, because that’s the name of the game.

Louis: To that point, if you want to be elite that comes with the territory. Alabama loses coordinators and position coaches every year, but how long to they take to replace these guys? Not long, because they have targets in mind before the coaches leave. The bulk of our coaching deficiencies last year were on defense. Offenses are stronger than ever in today’s game. I’ll use power 5 teams as a reference, since stats can be misleading considering the competition. The top power 5 total defense in 2007, Ohio St., allowed 233 yards per game. The top power 5 defense in 2020, Northwestern, allowed 341 yards per game. With RPO’s, targeting calls, and the like, what are some of the challenges teams face in the modern era of college football?

Darry: Man, the RPO offense has taken over college football. People don’t realize that the RPO offense comes from high school. It originated at high schools, and college coaches started to adapt it to their college programs. In high school if a team isn’t as talented as their opponent, they run gimmick plays. So you take the gimmicks and implement them at a college with big time athletes; that’s hard to stop. The game now is so tailored to offenses. You can’t hit them after 5 yards, and if they come over the middle they’re not afraid to get their block knocked off. You can run rub routes or crossing routes and the defense can’t touch them. If you’re a defensive coordinator it is difficult to prepare against offenses. Let’s say I’m a linebacker, and the offense has a run play called. They can literally have a run play called with a guard that pulls. If I see a guard that pulls, whether I’m front side or back side, I’m going to attack him downhill. Whether I spill it to my safety or turn him back in to my other linebacker, I’m going downhill. You can’t do that anymore because the quarterback is reading you. If you attack downhill he’s just going to pull it and hit you with a hot route. It’s difficult; defenses have to be a lot more technically sound in today’s game. In the past you had your simple iso’s and leads, stuff that was easy to attack downhill. Now you have to be mindful about attacking downhill. You have to be patient, patient, patient, and then attack. I think it’s difficult but it does make the game more exciting for fans offensively. I do believe if I was a defensive coordinator I would be sweating bullets every Saturday.

Louis: It seems like you can’t win. You’re forced to play with a hesitant mentality, which goes against what’s been taught for years. I like the point you made about this style of play starting in high school. You used to see concepts trickle down from the NFL to college to high school. Now you see it the other way around, even with the spread. Teams are putting the ball in their best athletes’ hands and letting them make a play. Let’s say you’re the coach of LSU. Based on last year with no information from spring practices, who’s the starting quarterback for Coach Beckwith in 2021?

Darry: Going strictly from what I’ve seen, I would go with Max Johnson. Myles Brennan was successful. It’s nothing against Myles. He was successful when he played, but the defense was so terrible. I’m looking at the future of LSU football. Myles Brennan has one year left. Max Johnson has 2 or 3 years left. If you’re looking for upside and going in the right direction, go the youth route. Just like a few years ago with Trevor Lawrence; of course, Clemson would have won games with Kelly Bryant. Would they have gone to the playoffs? Absolutely, but guess what? Kelly Bryant only had one year left, Trevor Lawrence was better, and he was a freshman. Their thing was let’s go with this freshman, and it worked out for them. There’s something about Max Johnson. He has this calmness about him, he’s athletic, he makes the right decisions, and he has a strong enough arm to get the ball where he needs to get it. I would go with Max Johnson. The one with the most upside is TJ Finley. I think at times last year he would force it a little. People knew he had a strong arm, and at times he didn’t know when to put some touch on the ball. Sometimes on a slant he would throw the ball 100 miles per hour.

Louis: Like at Auburn.

Darry: YES!! Just dump it in there; we know your arm is strong. He has the most upside. I want him to do well, but I’m going with Max Johnson from what I saw last year. He went to Florida and won that football game, and Florida is not an easy place to play.

Louis: Unfortunately, it’s common for college and/or professional athletes to struggle with their identities after their playing days. What advice would you give to help transition to life after sports?

Darry: The first thing I would tell them is to spend as much time as they can outside of the athletic bubble while they’re still playing. What I mean by that is athletes see the same people every day. You eat lunch with the same people, you go to meetings with the same people, and you go to class with the same people. This applies to all sports. When you have the opportunity to hang around different people, do that. Begin to network. At major universities you have so many opportunities and resources to meet other people. There are opportunities to meet people that own companies. You have opportunities to meet people in your field. Go spend time with these people. Get a mentor. When you go to college to play ball nobody tells you to get a mentor. Your playbook is your mentor. You have to be able to network and see other things besides the ball in your hands. If you see something different the transition won’t be as hard. The mistake is not opening our minds to anything else. When you have tunnel vision and suddenly the blinders are taken off, it’s a whole new world. Then you’re shocked.

Louis: You haven’t exposed yourself to anything else, so what do you know outside of that sport? It’s easy to be closed minded when you don’t have to think about anything else. On that note, tell me about what you have going on these days.

Darry: We have the Darry Beckwith Foundation that we established six years ago. The aim of the foundation is to progress the lives of high school student athletes and give them a different identity outside of sports. We let them know that they can be just as successful without sports. The seed is planted early on in life that they’re going to play professionally. We want to cultivate their minds at an early age and show them things outside of the sports realm. There are other avenues in which you can be just as successful. We teach financial literacy, how to dress, how to interview for jobs, and we offer tutoring. On July 10, we’re putting on a workshop for area high school athletes where they’ll learn the aforementioned topics like financial literacy, dress etiquette, and networking skills. That’s what we have going on, and it’s going well. We’re going to give away a scholarship in a couple of weeks to an area high school athlete who’s graduating. The scholarship will go to an athlete that’s going to a four year university, but not playing sports in college. We just want to give some money to help with books, food, or anything else he or she might need. I’m excited about what we have going on.

Louis: It’s awesome that the foundation offers these tools. It’s so much information out there that a lot of kids are unaware of. This will have a positive influence on so many students and be a blessing to them. I appreciate the interview, and I appreciate your time!

The LSU football coaching staff is finally complete. After a long, circuitous, and at times embarrassing search, the Tigers landed on Minnesota Viking defensive backs coach Daronte Jones as defensive coordinator. Jones has Louisiana ties with coaching stops at Franklin High School and Jeanerette High School as defensive coordinator, and he also coached safeties at Nicholls St. I won’t pretend to be even somewhat familiar with Jones, but there is a common thread amongst the comments of coaches that he has worked with; he’s an excellent communicator. That is very encouraging after watching a defense that never quite got on the same page last year. To round out the defensive staff Coach O went with Miami defensive coordinator Blake Baker as linebackers coach, and New York Jets defensive line coach Andre Carter to serve the same role at LSU. The offensive coaching search went much smoother than defense, as LSU hired Carolina Panthers’ QB coach, Jake Peetz, as offensive coordinator. The Tigers brought DJ Mangus back to Baton Rouge as the passing game coordinator. He was Joe Brady’s assistant at LSU in 2019 when Brady was the passing game coordinator. Both hires came highly recommended by Joe Brady, whose stock continues to soar as he’s in the running for several NFL head coaching jobs. My biggest takeaway from LSU’s collection of coaching talent is the youth of the group. At 53, Bo Pelini isn’t exactly elderly, but he had no desire to recruit, and he obviously wasn’t getting through to his unit. Steve Ensminger brought significant knowledge and a selfless attitude to the staff, but he’s been coaching since WWII. It was time for him to go. At the elite level of college football there isn’t room for “good enough” on your coaching staff. Your shot callers have to be on the cutting edge when scheming, motivating, game planning, and recruiting. Now that we have new coaches, I’m ready to talk about how the hell we got to this point.

What Went Wrong

LSU never put 2019 behind them. Staff, players, and media alike thought LSU could lose 30 players, two elite coordinators, and stroll right into 2020 with a top 10 team. Unfortunately, I bought into it, too. Coach Orgeron spent valuable time on news outlets yelling “Geaux Tigers!” while the actual Tigers were geauxing on a campus march to raise awareness for social injustice without him. Nick Saban led his players’ march in Tuscaloosa, and Ed Orgeron didn’t know his players were marching. These things matter when building trust within your program. Trust can be the difference between a player opting out or sticking with the team. The personnel losses, the off the field disconnect, and Covid taking away spring football created a perfect storm resulting in downright dreadful football.

What Went Right

At times, watching LSU was like signing up for 3 hour torture sessions, but along the way we had some bright spots. Myles Brennan looked ready and capable to be a winning SEC quarterback before his injury. TJ Finley displayed elite size and arm strength, although with somewhat inconsistent play. Max Johnson simply did everything he was asked to do when given the opportunity to do so. Kayshon Boutte is a star in the making. LSU loses only two starters on defense, and bring back to best starting tandem of corners in the country in Derek Stingley and Eli Ricks. Bear with me on my next point: sometimes it’s good to be bad. The Fighting Bayou Bengals were so bad they left Orgeron no choice but to make coaching changes. If the Tigers went 7-3 instead of 5-5, he might have been tempted to bring Ensminger back. Maybe Pelini comes back if the defense wasn’t the worst LSU defense in history. 2020 was so bad it put Orgeron squarely on the hot seat one year after a championship season, and left no doubt that his off season decisions will decide his fate as LSU’s head coach.

What Now?

LSU has a new, energetic coaching staff with far more returning players than usual. They currently hold the 4th best recruiting class of 2021 according to the 247 composite rankings, with a chance to add 3 more players to the class as early as Wednesday. Spring football is back this year. With UCLA as the Power 5 non-conference opponent and personnel losses at Florida, Auburn, and Texas A&M, the schedule looks relatively manageable. There’s no reason LSU can’t be nationally relevant again in 2021. As we learned in 2020, we can’t take that for granted. GEAUX TIGERS!

From 2008 to 2018 we’ve wondered why LSU can’t develop a quarterback. The only two that had success were transfers, Zach Mettenberger and Joe Burrow. After four games this year, it’s safe to say that times have changed. Myles Brennan has quietly thrown for over 1,000 yards in his first 3 starts. Last week Coach O announced Brennan would be out with an injury, and I took it as another blow to an already disappointing season. In walks 6’6”, 240 lb TJ Finley. Finley threw for 265 yards with an 81% completion rate in the most impressive game I’ve seen from a first time starter at LSU. As great as his stats were, they don’t tell the whole story. The most impressive part of his performance was the poise and command of the offense he displayed. He avoided pressure and calmly went through progressions. While that might be normal for some schools, LSU has had quarterbacks that played four years that soiled their pants if the first read wasn’t open. Coaches can help with footwork, mechanics, and reading defenses, but a calm demeanor under fire can’t be coached. Intangibles are either in you or not. Beyond that, he showed a live arm, accuracy, and an effortless throwing motion. I could write a whole column on what he did well, but there were also adjustments that the coaches made that contributed to his success.

Commitment to Run

The Tigers had trouble (to say the least) running the ball against Missouri, and simply stopped trying to do so. The coaching staff showed a renewed commitment to the run against South Carolina, particularly on first downs. The offensive line responded with their best game of the year, which resulted in an 80% 3rd down conversion rate after converting a whopping 0 3rd downs a week earlier. Much credit is due to the masterminds on the LSU coaching staff for putting their heads together and deciding to play their best running back, John Emery. Emery needs less open space than any other LSU back to gain positive yardage, and adequate space was given as evidenced by his average of 3.17 yards before contact against South Carolina. The effectiveness of the run led to bigger passing lanes, which brings me to the next adjustment the staff made.

RPO’s

Steve Ensminger made a concerted effort to simplify the game for his young quarterback. LSU ran more run/pass option plays than we’d seen in the first three games. Successful runs brought the linebackers closer to the line of scrimmage, and the slants were there for the taking. Finley was not only able to take what was given, but he threw multiple slants slightly behind receivers, avoiding leading them into big hits and allowing them to change direction for more yardage. The execution of the offense as a whole was nearly flawless with open receivers, accurate throws, and no drops.

On to Auburn

The next test for Finley is an SEC road start against the Auburn Tigers. While Auburn has had their own struggles this year, this is rarely an easy game. Defensive Coordinator Kevin Steele has proven to be one of the more creative minds in terms of creating confusion for opposing quarterbacks. Lucky for LSU, Auburn’s front seven is not nearly as good as they usually are. They’re giving up 180 yards per game, good for third worst in the conference. The LSU coaches will trust Finley to do more within the offense this week, but effective running is critical to their continued success. LSU still has a lot to prove defensively, and Auburn has a future star at running back in freshman Tank Bigsby. If LSU gives up the edge as easily as they did against USC, he’ll likely run for at least 700 yards. Ok, I might be slightly exaggerating, but Bigsby is good enough to singlehandedly keep Auburn in the game. I have little to no confidence in Auburn quarterback Bo Nix, but LSU must account for his running ability in their game plan.

LSU/Auburn is a long, strange rivalry in which we’ve literally seen everything from earthquakes to fires. This is an unpredictable matchup. The only thing I can confidently say about the game is TJ Finley won’t be intimidated. If the defense continues to improve along with an expanded offensive playbook for Finley, LSU should climb above .500 with Alabama looming after a bye week. The Tigers’ performance last week was a start to salvaging the season. Another win this week would be monumental in terms of team confidence and the temperature of the fan base. However, a side effect of a second consecutive win would be the inevitable quarterback controversy, but I’ll give my two cents on that when the time comes. I will say this; the future is bright! As always, GEAUX TIGERS!!!

586 yards. LSU gave up 586 total yards to Missouri in a 45-41 loss yesterday. This Missouri is the same well oiled offensive machine that gained only 344 yards against Tennessee a week ago. “We lost so much.” “It takes time to learn a new defense.” “But Stingley was hurt.” Folks, we’re running out of excuses. There’s no excuse to be this bad defensively. I try to write honestly, without an effort to be overly positive nor negative. Honestly, this is the worst LSU defense I have ever seen, and I witnessed the Doug Mallory/Bradley Dale Peveto co-disaster of 2008. Going into the season I was prepared to deal with the growing pains that come with a new defense. I expect missed assignments, but not every drive. I expect missed tackles, but not every play. The defensive line was pushed back, the linebackers were nowhere to be found, and the secondary can’t tackle, nor identify their man. 

When you don’t have answers on defense, you have to find ways to compensate for their deficiencies. One way is to keep them off the field. It’s great to see Myles Brennan grow more confident and throw accurately in the pocket, but this team can not afford to abandon the run. Balance on offense helps both Brennan and the defense. I can not adequately explain how hard it is on the offensive line to throw the ball the whole game then suddenly expect them to get enough push to run 2 yards with the game on the line. Running the ball encourages a physical mentality. With this mentality the offensive line gets stronger as the game goes on while simultaneously demoralizing the defense. As we’ve seen from the LSU defense, if a team can run the ball then they can do whatever they want. Play action and big plays stem from players overcompensating to stop the run. LSU has to use the run to shorten the games and take some of the pressure off Brennan. 

On a more positive note, Brennan has grown leaps and bounds in three games. Now that he’s more decisive with the ball he’s able to show the arm talent that earned him 18 scholarship offers coming out of St. Stanislaus in Bay St. Louis, MS. Terrace Marshall is an unstoppable force playing against defenses that are geared to limit him. Ensminger has done a great job of moving Marshall around formations in an effort to prevent defenses from double teaming him. Even when lined up outside where it’s easier to double him, he’s simply out running coverages at 6’3”, 200 lbs. Arik Gilbert could not be covered. He is a matchup nightmare that will continue to give teams problems all year. I’ve seen knocks on him for his blocking shortcomings, but I’ve never seen a freshman tight end that was a great blocker. Let’s appreciate him for what he is, a constant mismatch. 

Kevin Steele is the defensive coordinator for Auburn. His defense held the 2019 LSU Tigers to 23 points. When he was the defensive coordinator for LSU in 2015, I felt his defense was too complex due to coverage busts in the secondary well into the year. That defense gave up 347 yards per game. Needless to say, I had no idea how good I had it as a fan. I’ll be the first to admit that I had high hopes for Bo Pelini this year. I like 4-3 defenses and more importantly, aggressive defenses. Pelini has a very short time to make dramatic improvements on the defensive side of the ball. In a year where no team seems to be able to get stops, LSU looks worse than any other SEC team I’ve seen. The players can’t control the way they’re coached or the defenses called, but they can control the pride they take when wearing an LSU jersey. They can control taking an angle to the outside shoulder when running down a ball carrier. They can control squaring up and making secure tackles. The players have to focus on what they can control, and show the pride to strive to get better every day. This season is not lost. In a year in which every team is vulnerable, the Tigers will have a chance in every game. At the end of the year I’d like to be able to say I saw the pride and fight in this team that made me become an LSU fan in the first place. Be accountable. Be strong. Be positive. Be relentless. Win or lose, GEAUX TIGERS!!!

Welcome back, Tiger fans! I hope you all stay dry and safe throughout the weekend. In an effort to allow LSU and Missouri to play safely tomorrow, the game was moved from Baton Rouge to Columbia, MO at 11:00am Saturday. I’ll dig further into that matchup, but first I’ll do a quick recap of LSU’s 41-7 win over Vandy last week. I’ll start with the positives.

Good LSU

Myles Brennan was much more comfortable in his second start at quarterback, which is to be expected. Brennan consistently stepped up in the pocket and threw with confidence and conviction. Although I think the wide receiver rotation will shrink as the season goes on, I like that Brennan is spreading the ball out. 11 different players had catches for the Tigers, and that makes it harder for a defense to key in on an obvious threat like Terrace Marshall. 

I would say that John Emery had a breakout game had the game been against stronger competition. Emery ran for over 100 yards with an 8.6 ypc average. I’m still not sure if he’s LSU’s best back, but he’s definitely the most dynamic. A big play threat in the running game will make life easier for Myles Brennan, and Emery is a threat every time he touches the ball. 

The defense would’ve looked better than last week by simply showing up to the game, but they actually showed up AND made plays. Ali Gaye had help in the pass rush from Andre Anthony and Travez Moore. Eli Ricks got his second interception in his second career game. Derek Stingley showed no lingering effects from his illness, and looked like himself, the best corner in the country. He toyed with defenders on his punt returns, and you feel like “maybe this is the one” every time he goes back to make a return. 

Bad LSU

The drops have to stop. It happens with all inexperienced receivers, from Dwayne Bowe to Brandon LaFell to Odell Beckham, but the margin for error will get much smaller as the competition gets stiffer. Drops kill drives and momentum, but they will slow down as the receivers get more comfortable. They just have to get comfortable fast.

While the defense played better, they still gave Vandy opportunities that would be costly against better teams. There were still plays where the running back was somehow uncovered in the flat on pass plays. This LSU team is not good enough at this point to blow coverages, especially with Florida looming in the near future. The linebackers have to make more of an impact, especially in the running game. From hesitation to over pursuit, they have not been what they will need to be to make this a dominant defense. The good thing is the talent is there. Players can get experience, but their talent is what it is.

LSU vs Missouri

I can’t judge Mizzou too harshly for getting blown out by Alabama; Bama would blow out most teams right now. However, I can judge them for getting routed by Tennessee. Tennessee is improving, but it doesn’t bode well for your team to lose by 3 touchdowns to them. To make things worse, they’ll be missing 7 players due to Covid and contact tracing. I won’t make the mistake of assuming a win (like I did against Mississippi St.), but there are some things I’d like to see from LSU in addition to eating W’s. 

LSU needs to be more efficient on third downs. They converted 33% of their 3rd downs against Vandy. Yes, VANDERBILT. The offense has to manage to stay on the field and give their defense rest when needed. Part of this problem goes back to the drops, but offensive line play is key. 

The defense has to be prepared and disciplined. Read keys, Identify responsibilities. I mentioned the linebackers needing to step up, but the safeties do, too. Credit is due to Todd Harris, who had an interception in the end zone last week, but the Tiger safeties need to be more active in the run game and consistent in pass defense. Jacoby Stevens is an athletic linebacker listed as a safety, so I’m talking more about Harris and Maurice Hampton.

LSU should win by 3 TD’s, but I don’t know what LSU I’m getting at 11:00am. Kudos to LSU and Mizzou officials for making a decision early and moving the game to Columbia. Nobody wants to move a game to a different date with the uncertainty that 2020 brings. It’d be just my luck that the game get moved to a bye date just to get washed out by another hurricane. It’s important not only to play this game, but to play it before LSU plays Florida. The Tigers will get better with every game. This team has a lot of growing to do, but there was a lot of growth shown from the first game to the second one. Hopefully we’ll see that trend continue tomorrow. Until then, be safe, stock up on food (and beverages), and GEAUX TIGERS!!

44-34. This score would’ve surprised me had I not seen the game. I’d be even more surprised to hear LSU was on the losing end of this score. I was overconfident, and the game showed that the LSU coaches were overconfident, too. I’ll delve deeper into that opinion later, but this won’t be a column aimed at bashing defensive coordinator Bo Pelini and Coach Orgeron. I was more impressed with Mike Leach than I was angry with Coach Pelini. After the loss, much was made of how much LSU lost from last year’s team. LSU returned 3 starters on offense, and 3 on defense. That number dropped to 2 with the unfortunate news that Derek Stingley would be out for the first game. Well, Mississippi State returned 4 starters on offense and 4 on defense. That’s not much of a difference, and Leach had to prepare a new staff and a transfer quarterback. The Bulldogs were sharp, efficient, and almost penalty free on offense. All credit goes to Mike Leach and KJ Costello, his pinpoint accurate quarterback. Very few teams playing their first games have executed offensively as effortlessly as MSU did Saturday. As well as they played, there’s no excuse for LSU to give up 600+ yards through the air. Several factors contributed to this performance (or lack thereof), so let’s talk about what went wrong on both sides of the ball.

Defense

Earlier in the column I mentioned being overconfident. It’s no secret that Bo Pelini prefers aggressive, man to man defenses. That’s fine, and that’s what I expected, but that was the wrong approach. Leach’s offenses at Washington State had less success against zone defenses. I understand if Pelini was confident in his game plan, but when it doesn’t work you have to be willing to change it up. It’s not easy to teach so many new players zone responsibilities in a limited offseason, but 2 million per year jobs aren’t easy. The defensive backs were heavily criticized, and rightfully so in some cases. They lined up in bump man coverage and didn’t get hands on the receivers. They lined up in off coverage and stood still (anticipating a short route) while receivers ran right by them. These issues will get better with experience. The bigger issue was the defensive game plan. Even if a DB plays with perfect technique, it is impossible to be in position to play the ball in man coverage with the constant picks caused by Leach’s route combinations. Considering the accuracy of Costello, that’s a recipe for disaster. No matter what defense you’re in, someone has to account for the running back coming out of the backfield. Kylin Hill was missed several times, and this mistake was made worse by terrible tackling after he was already 20 yards down the field.

Offense

Welcome to big time football, Myles Brennan. This game showed that it’s one thing to be in the program for multiple years, but a completely different animal when it’s your team as a QB. Myles was hesitant, didn’t trust his eyes, uncomfortable in the pocket, and refused to throw check downs to backs. The play calling was criticized, but I saw open guys on most passing plays. Myles was sacked 7 times, and several of those sacks came from indecisiveness resulting in holding the ball too long. At this level of football you can’t wait until the receiver is open; the ball has to be out before he’s open. This is even more important when you have a slow delivery. His lone interception would have been a touchdown to Racey McMath had the ball been thrown a half second sooner. The offensive line has to play better, and dropped passes are discouraging for an inexperienced quarterback. The Tigers must improve in both areas. The offensive staff has to do more to incorporate the running game. This is a new team that will have to form a new identity. Brennan can make the throws, but the 3 backs are too good to not get involved while the offense struggles.

Positives

Ali Gaye could not be blocked. I’ve never seen a transfer defensive player for LSU come in this dominant from the start. Mississippi State did everything short of hog tying him to keep him from the quarterback (I don’t know what holding is anymore). Apu Ika was also very effective in getting an interior push. Jabril Cox made a momentum changing play with the pick 6. As bad as the DB’s looked, true freshman Eli Ricks only gave up 2 catches while grabbing his first career interception. I spoke on everything Myles Brennan did wrong, but he still threw for 345 yards in his first game as a starter. I would’ve killed for that kind of production in 2011. Brennan kept his head up after bad plays, and one of the most important traits for a quarterback is resilience. Of all the talk about receivers stepping up after Chase’s departure, Jaray Jenkins was never mentioned. The veteran broke out with 5 catches for 85 yards, and would have had a touchdown if not for an under thrown ball. Arik Gilbert is the physical freak he was rumored to be. He bailed his quarterback out with an athletic touchdown catch in the 2nd quarter. I have to give credit to cornerback Jay Ward, who was forced into action coming off an injury. There were no plans to play him until Stingley was ruled out at the last minute. This leads me to the most impactful news, which is Stingley being cleared to play with no restrictions. Although it’s now obvious this team was facing some unrealistic expectations, they will get better. They’ll have to do it quickly considering there are no cupcakes this year. As usual, win or lose, it’s still and always GEAUX TIGERS!!!