GeauxTo
09-28-2006, 05:19 PM
BATON ROUGE - The numbers are hauntingly familiar.
The 2003 LSU defense that won the Tigers a national championship finished No. 1 in the nation in scoring defense (11 points a game) and in total defense (252 yards a game) and ended up No. 3 nationally in rushing defense (62 yards a game).
The 2006 LSU defense is currently No. 1 in the nation in scoring defense (5 points a game) and No. 1 in pass efficiency defense (61.3 rating with no touchdowns allowed and eight interceptions), going into Saturday's 11:30 a.m. game against Mississippi State. The Tigers are No. 2 nationally in total defense (185.2 yards a game).
LaRon Landry started at safety then and now.
"I was a little younger then," Landry said Wednesday. "I don't know (which is better). I can say all four years we had a great group of guys."
Landry is not surprised at the lofty numbers this defense has put up.
"Not at all," he said. "I thought we were going to be real great during the spring and summer. I thought as soon as the younger guys came around, we'd be great."
Landry was speaking about the defensive line, which lost three starters. Senior defensive end Chase Pittman is the only returning starter, but junior Glenn Dorsey and sophomore Tyson Jackson have more than filled in at tackle and end. Sophomores Marlon Favorite and Charles Alexander have been at the other tackle spot. Red-shirt freshman Ricky Jean-Francois continues to play more and more, and true freshman Al Woods has had a role.
"They caught on well," Landry said. "They caught on like seniors. They know what keys to look for. They're willing to learn."
In 2003, it was head coach Nick Saban's and defensive coordinator Will Muschamp's defense. In 2006, it is defensive coordinator Bo Pelini's unit.
"Coach Pelini's defenses are sort of similar," Landry said. "But coach Saban's and coach Muschamp's defense was more complex. There are a lot of the same keys and a lot of the same calls, but there aren't as many checks built in with this one. With coach Saban, there was a check built in for everything. Coach Pelini's has been easier to learn. You don't have to think as much. I like that a whole lot. You don't think, you just react."
This is precisely what Pelini preached when going into his first year at LSU in 2005. He didn't want his players trying to think or remember something during a play.
"Coach Pelini emphasizes getting to the ball as quick as you can," said strong safety Jessie Daniels, who played regularly in 2003 is now in his third year of starting. "That makes it more fun."
Pelini believes the freedom to fly to the ball makes the best use of fast talent, which is what he inherited from Saban.
"At this stage having fun is the most important thing," Pelini said. "If they're having fun, they're going to fly to the ball."
Pelini also believes in a lot of pilots.
In addition to rotating seven or more defensive linemen, that many defensive backs have been playing. Pelini believes in extremely competitive practices.
"I think one of the reasons we have success is the way we practice," Pelini said. "We give our ones and twos equal reps. Three, three and three. And we're developing guys as the season goes along. I think that leads to a good attitude, being involved and developing."
Craig Steltz has played as much as a starter at strong safety, and cornerback Daniel Francis is in a lot in passing situations behind starting cornerbacks Chevis Jackson and Jonathan Zenon.
Pelini said the defense will only get better, though it cannot get ranked higher in some categories.
"We're not the finished product by any means," he said. "I like what we have. They're a very confident group that has a lot of pride in what they do. We have a lot more improvement that needs to be made."
The 2003 LSU defense that won the Tigers a national championship finished No. 1 in the nation in scoring defense (11 points a game) and in total defense (252 yards a game) and ended up No. 3 nationally in rushing defense (62 yards a game).
The 2006 LSU defense is currently No. 1 in the nation in scoring defense (5 points a game) and No. 1 in pass efficiency defense (61.3 rating with no touchdowns allowed and eight interceptions), going into Saturday's 11:30 a.m. game against Mississippi State. The Tigers are No. 2 nationally in total defense (185.2 yards a game).
LaRon Landry started at safety then and now.
"I was a little younger then," Landry said Wednesday. "I don't know (which is better). I can say all four years we had a great group of guys."
Landry is not surprised at the lofty numbers this defense has put up.
"Not at all," he said. "I thought we were going to be real great during the spring and summer. I thought as soon as the younger guys came around, we'd be great."
Landry was speaking about the defensive line, which lost three starters. Senior defensive end Chase Pittman is the only returning starter, but junior Glenn Dorsey and sophomore Tyson Jackson have more than filled in at tackle and end. Sophomores Marlon Favorite and Charles Alexander have been at the other tackle spot. Red-shirt freshman Ricky Jean-Francois continues to play more and more, and true freshman Al Woods has had a role.
"They caught on well," Landry said. "They caught on like seniors. They know what keys to look for. They're willing to learn."
In 2003, it was head coach Nick Saban's and defensive coordinator Will Muschamp's defense. In 2006, it is defensive coordinator Bo Pelini's unit.
"Coach Pelini's defenses are sort of similar," Landry said. "But coach Saban's and coach Muschamp's defense was more complex. There are a lot of the same keys and a lot of the same calls, but there aren't as many checks built in with this one. With coach Saban, there was a check built in for everything. Coach Pelini's has been easier to learn. You don't have to think as much. I like that a whole lot. You don't think, you just react."
This is precisely what Pelini preached when going into his first year at LSU in 2005. He didn't want his players trying to think or remember something during a play.
"Coach Pelini emphasizes getting to the ball as quick as you can," said strong safety Jessie Daniels, who played regularly in 2003 is now in his third year of starting. "That makes it more fun."
Pelini believes the freedom to fly to the ball makes the best use of fast talent, which is what he inherited from Saban.
"At this stage having fun is the most important thing," Pelini said. "If they're having fun, they're going to fly to the ball."
Pelini also believes in a lot of pilots.
In addition to rotating seven or more defensive linemen, that many defensive backs have been playing. Pelini believes in extremely competitive practices.
"I think one of the reasons we have success is the way we practice," Pelini said. "We give our ones and twos equal reps. Three, three and three. And we're developing guys as the season goes along. I think that leads to a good attitude, being involved and developing."
Craig Steltz has played as much as a starter at strong safety, and cornerback Daniel Francis is in a lot in passing situations behind starting cornerbacks Chevis Jackson and Jonathan Zenon.
Pelini said the defense will only get better, though it cannot get ranked higher in some categories.
"We're not the finished product by any means," he said. "I like what we have. They're a very confident group that has a lot of pride in what they do. We have a lot more improvement that needs to be made."