Where were LSU's defensive adjustments last week? Ed Orgeron tries to explain
It was one thing for LSU to start off on the wrong foot last week against Mississippi State. But the larger question in the days since the upset loss in Tiger Stadium is where were the defensive adjustments?
Especially without their best defensive player, Derek Stingley, Jr., the Tigers largely played man-to-man coverage and Mississippi State picked them apart.
Coach Ed Orgeron tried to explain this week to reporters, and talk about why defensive coordinator Bo Pelini made the calls he did.
“All those are Bo’s decisions,” Orgeron said. “We talked about it. And they were hitting us on some pick routes, some over routes. Some of it was scheme. Some of it there was some kind of adjustments that we can do, not necessarily play zone, but you can do some adjustments in man and passing guys off, not passing guys off. We may do that, may not do that at all. It depends.”
Bo Pelini defenses have now allowed:
• Big Ten Record – most individual rushing yards (408, Melvin Gordon)
• SEC Record – most passing yards (623, Mississippi State)
— Pick Six Previews (@PickSixPreviews) September 29, 2020
Stingley’s absence was only magnified after Orgeron revealed that cornerback Jay Ward missed time recently because he had meniscus surgery in his knee and the coaching staff wasn’t sure he could play.
“Having Derek not there really hurt us, obviously, but I’m glad that he’s healthy,” Orgeron said. “His safety is of foremost importance to us, so I’m glad that he’s healthy and he’s okay, number one. Jay Ward … played a lot of snaps. I thought he did a fairly good job, but obviously was a little rusty there. So I think there’s some combination of things. We were short on corners. Not having Derek hurt us. We had a game plan that we were going to play man, and man them up, and we thought we could man up with the receivers. We should have made a couple of more adjustments during the game.”
Orgeron said Pelini has been fantastic in the days since the loss.
“He’s the first guy to come see me in my dressing room,” Orgeron said. “First guy. He said, Coach, I should have done a better job. And he was hurting just like everybody else. And we went over the film, and he saw the things that he did well, saw the things that we must and will improve. He’s been fantastic today. He’s eager. He’s an outstanding coach. He’s hurting just like everybody else.”
Yeah, well, you still didn’t make the adjustments. A simple switch to zone might have made a difference.
I’m beginning to think they couldn’t switch into zone simply because they hadn’t practiced it enough.
Yeah I 100% agree. Man coverage is alot easier to play when you have multiple players who dont know the assignments in zone coverage.
Darren Evans just stepped on campus 2 weeks ago, Cordale Flott is a sophomore playing out of position, Jay Ward barely just got back to practice from a meniscus tear, and Eli Ricks is a true freshman. You dont have much to work with in a very short amount of time. It’s like fans think they can cram for a senior level statistics test the night before and still have an A+ on the test.
Most of these players played zone in high school. It’s probably the easiest coverage to teach!!! But I disagree about Zone defense working in this game! Costello was hot!!! He was putting the ball right on the money.
Zone is easy to beat, if your a passing QB!!! More dbs in coverage would have been better. But stay man to man. Double coverage on their best wrs with safety over the top!!!!
Some might think I’m trolling but it’s not about that. I never believed in coach O and still don’t!!! Was Gene Chizik an elite coach or just a lucky one?
If he isn’t already in a deal he can’t walk out of. LSU should try to hire Joe Brady as HEAD COACH!!! He can recruit and he can coach!!! DON’T WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE ELSE HIRES HIM LONG TERM, IF THEY HAVEN’T ALREADY!!!!
PS. He would make LSU an SEC SUPERPOWER THREAT TO ALABAMA, EVERY YEAR!!!! Orgeron is NOT an elite coach period!!! BRADY IS!!!!
King Negan
Chizik was a great DC and position coach, but caught lightening in a bottle. It was a perfect storm of Gus bringing a new offense into the conference and having one of the greatest college players ever at QB. Kind of like Coach O last year.
The Curse of Orgeron manifests itself in a myriad of ways.
Yeah – he’s been nothing but a pariah for LSU, winning a Natty in his 3rd full year as head coach and all.
@ArmadilloMan……….Sorry but coach O was totally AVERAGE until last season! That was just a PERFECT STORM CALLED JOE BRADY and EXACTLY the type of talent he needed!!!! All coach O was last season was a cheerleader!!! I said last year that it wasn’t coach O and I’m still saying it!!!!
I wouldn’t put it past coach O to be feeding the team steroids!!! But either way. Your a ONE & DONE!!!! Any great recruits that commit to LSU based on last year will be sorry!!! Because sadly coach O will be fired before they even get comfortable!!!
KIRBY SMART WON THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN YEAR 2!!! ONLY THE REFS CHEATED HIM OUT OF IT OFFICIALLY!!! THAT IS A FACT!!!!
Kirby Smart will be coaching at UGA as long as he wants to!!! He is an elite coach. And so are the UGA STAFF! All the negative recruiting that has been done behind closed doors, to hurt UGA. ALL OF IT IS COMING BACK TO BITE HARD!!!!!
There are reasons the so-called elite players opted out at LSU! It’s because they know what I know. And what you all will find out!!!! Y’all might love coach O now. But soon you’ll turn on him. Mark my words!!!! LSU EVENTUALLY WILL GET BACK TO RESPECTABLE. IT MIGHT NOT BE THIS YEAR!!! We will have to see. Years from now after Coach O gets fired. LSU will find a truly elite coach. Then with that Louisiana talent bed in the back yard. They will eventually take over Alabama’s first place spot in the SEC WEST. But I doubt it is this season!!! Coach O is NOT THE MAN!!! He was just lucky just like Chizik!!!!
Don’t look past vandy or you’ll be 0-2!!!!! If UGA can survive their early schedule intact or maybe 1 loss at most. Then look out SEC EAST!!! In fact unless something unfortunate or unforseen happens. UGA WILL TAKE THE SEC CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!! ON THEIR WAY TO THAT DYNASTY THAT MR. ED POKED FUN AT!!!!
PS. Hey coach O aka Mr Ed. Now who looks like a horses A$$????? Now you look like you sound!!! Good luck with Vandy, maybe you’ll rise to the occasion!!! LOL
King Negan
Nice retort Megan, but your coach actually lost to Vanderbilt and is 0-2 against Orgeron. Orgeron is the coach that actually won a real national championship, not the one in your head.
Put this on Bo, Washington has shown the way to defense Mike Leach is to take away what he likes to do the most – Pass. They play a six man zone and dare him to run the football and have shut them down continuously! Bo want to apply pressure – why? Five sacks and man-coverage (with very few DB’s) and they killed the inexperienced DB’s with yards-after-the-catch! Crossing routes against D. Evans (Nicholls St. transfer) and Jay Ward (who hasn’t practiced in 2 weeks), which they just couldn’t keep up but Bo refused to help them by using a zone!?! BTW, MS St. had 7 sacks, using a 3-3-5 defense, which flooded the short routes and confused Brennan during the first half (just like AU did J. Burrows btw). Put this on Bo!!
UGA plays Miss State this season later on. I’m not going to say they won’t score. But ill bet you they don’t go off on us, like they did LSU! As long as we STAY HEALTHY. And bring a healthy defense. And play to our potential. I believe COSTELLO WILL HAVE NIGHTMARES OF UGA FOR YEARS AFTER!!!!
I believe we can play 1 on 1 with a safety over the top. Maybe two safeties! And shut down both the run and pass!!! Either way. Kirby and staff will have them ready!!! Coach O had best worry about 0-1 Vandy! Otherwise Vandy will be a respectable 1-1, while LSU will be 0-2!!!
PS. If Mr Ed thinks this is a bad look for LSU. Wait until Vanderbilt beats his tigers! I’m not saying they will. But I am saying THEY CAN!!!
King Negan