Kevin Steele’s hiring at LSU a few weeks back was met with mixed reactions. Memories of the new defensive coordinator’s defense getting scorched in his final game at Clemson — did West Virginia just score again? — apparently weren’t enough to inspire great excitement. When LSU announced Ed Orgeron would be joining Steele as LSU’s new defensive line coach, there was quite a bit more clamor.

There’s good reason for the positive reception. Orgeron is one of the more colorful personalities in college football, a great recruiter who should thrive going after all the talent Louisiana has to offer.

Orgeron isn’t just a luxury item for a Tigers staff loaded with excellent recruiters; he comes to correct a positional need as well. LSU’s defensive line was the weakest point on a young, hungry and effective defense in 2014, and it needs a major upgrade for the Tigers to compete at the top of the SEC West in 2015.

LSU finished next-to-last in the SEC in sacks in 2014, with just 19 quarterback takedowns on the year. They ranked near the bottom in quarterback hurries as well, recording just 37 of those on the season. LSU still managed to finish at the top of the SEC in total defense, as well as first in passing defense, but those numbers mask the issues LSU had getting after quarterbacks.

Despite how well the back seven played, that lack of a pass rush cost LSU on multiple occasions. The Tigers were a minute from a win against Alabama in November, which would have been their second straight against a top-five team. Instead, Crimson Tide quarterback Blake Sims was able to sit in the pocket and pick apart LSU’s defense on a game-tying drive. In the Music City Bowl, LSU failed to put any heat on first-time Notre Dame starter Malik Zaire, and he shredded LSU with his arms and legs.

Orgeron has more or less a blank slate to work with in his first season. Defensive tackles Davon Godchaux and Christian LaCouture, both of whom improved rapidly over the course of 2014, return to anchor the middle of the line. Jermauria Rasco and Danielle Hunter, LSU’s starting defensive ends in 2014, are both gone heading into 2015. The players behind them have precious little experience heading into 2015, rising sophomores and juniors who have ridden the bench in their careers to date.

Coach O’s track record is as solid as it gets. At Southern California, his defenses finished in the top 30 nationally in sacks in three of his four years, including a top five finish in 2012. He’s had a hand in developing a slew of college and NFL stars: Warren Sapp and Cortez Kennedy at Miami (Fla.), Greg Hardy at Ole Miss, Nick Perry and Leonard Williams at Southern Cal and several others along the way.

LSU’s bounce back in 2014 will depend on a host of factors, but on the defensive end none is bigger than an improved defensive line performance. Steele and Orgeron have set out to haul in some top-flight talent to give the area a boost, and it’ll fall on Orgeron’s shoulders to get the young guns up to speed and into backfields as soon as possible.