“What you say, guys?”
With that introductory outburst, new LSU defensive line coach Ed Orgeron ushered in a new era for the LSU football team’s defense. Orgeron used similar sayings and his southern drawl to take the media in the room on a swamp tour of all things “Be-Be,” one of Orgeron’s several nicknames.
He answered questions about everything from recruiting to life on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain, but with one quote, Orgeron confirmed the hope that all fans had in his hire.
“I don’t care if they’re committed to another school,” Orgeron said. “We’re going to get them.”
But Orgeron, affectionately dubbed “Coach O,” could have said anything and won over the hearts of LSU fans. His hiring was what they wanted all along, and they didn’t care what his role was.
The bigger challenge was for new defensive coordinator Kevin Steele.
LSU hired the former Alabama linebackers coach shortly after reports that Alabama’s current defensive coordinator Kirby Smart had mutual interest in the defensive coordinator position in Baton Rouge.
With Steele’s hiring, LSU coach Les Miles ruined Tiger fans’ dreams of stealing a defensive guru from under Nick Saban’s nose. He became the Grinch who stole Christmas. Twitter was beyond disappointed with the ‘letdown’ hire of Steele.
After all, his last defensive coordinator job was at Clemson when West Virginia put up a Madden-esque 70 points in the 2012 Orange Bowl. On top of that, he led Baylor to a 9-36 overall record as the head coach from 1999 to 2002.
Wednesday’s press conference was Steele’s first chance to win over LSU fans, and he more than likely didn’t. He couldn’t have with the lovable Orgeron working his Southern charm immediately after him.
But what Steele said had more substance than charm and will be crucial to LSU’s success in the fall.
In regard to his scheme, Steele preached flexibility and the importance of showing odd fronts.
“We’ll have to use them all,” Steele said. “We have to adapt things to the talent on the field.”
In other words, gone are the days of plug-and-play. There won’t be roles such as the obvious blitzing nickelback or a line composed of defensive ends because it’s third down.
The Tiger defense will give the players a chance to show their skills, and with the way Steele and Orgeron recruit, the players will have skills.
Steele helped Alabama reel in five-star running back Damien Harris, who he’ll have to stop for the next three years, along with other three and four-star defensive players.
But as Steele said, stars don’t mean anything when the players get to campus. He mentioned the Clemson defense that allowed nine offensive touchdowns to West Virginia as a squad filled with talent that didn’t play up to its ability statistically but was instrumental to the school’s first conference title in 20 years.
What Steele had at his disposal at Clemson is nothing compared to what he has at LSU. With the top-class recruiters the Tigers currently have, the talent will only get better.
Steele will make a major impact on the recruiting trail in the next few weeks, but he’ll have to wait until September 12 when LSU faces Mississippi State to prove himself in Southeastern Conference play. Tiger fans expect results, especially from someone they already don’t like.
You can reach Brian Pellerin on Twitter @Pellerin_TDR.