The LSU football team’s secondary returns all but free safety Curtis Taylor from last year’s 8-5 team, and this year’s group hopes to return LSU’s defense to championship form with the help of a new defensive coaching staff.Junior free safety Chad Jones said new defensive coordinator John Chavis and defensive backs coach Ron Cooper have brought more intensity to the practice field.”There’s definitely a different intensity level,” Jones said. “Players don’t really know the coaches well or feel how the coaches think yet. It’s a great feeling out there. It’s time to  play ball.”Sophomore cornerback Patrick Peterson said everyone is trying to impress the new coaches.        “It’s going to be a tight competition between all of us,” Peterson said. “Everybody’s going to get a chance to go in there and show the coaches what they got. The transition’s pretty smooth right now.”The Tigers return starting corners from last year’s defense in senior Chris Hawkins and sophomore Patrick Peterson, who became starter midway through last season. Junior Jai Eugene, sophomore Ron Brooks and sophomore Brandon Taylor will provide depth.”All of us are coming back for our second year together,” Peterson said. “The way we went into practicing, we are going to be more aggressive, more of an in-your-face, smash-mouth defense.”The Tigers also return a group of experienced safeties to help the cornerbacks. Jones and senior Danny McCray both return at free safety. Jones moved to free safety during last season’s Chick-fil-A Bowl. Senior Harry Coleman could likely come in as starting strong safety while sophomore Karnell Hatcher will back him up.”The scheme is a little different,” Jones said. “We’re jumping routes much quicker, more aggressive. I like fast-paced defenses, ripping and running around, everybody flying to the ball. That’s my type of play.”While LSU coach Les Miles said Jones would likely remain at free safety, he didn’t rule out the possibility of other players moving down to linebacker.”Chad Jones played a lot of free safety and looked pretty strong to me,” Miles said. “He’ll play a lot of football for us. Danny McCray and Harry Coleman are both pretty strong physical guys. They’ll definitely be on the field.”Jones agreed he’s better suited for free safety. “I feel [free safety] is my natural position,” Jones said. “Safeties get to roam around and take control of the whole field. Last year at nickel and dime, I was thinking  of  so  many  different things at one time, but now I can focus.”Jones said his position isn’t the only thing that has changed, as he is working at being more of a leader.”I’m definitely taking a different mental approach,” Jones said. “I’ve got to step up to the plate this year and show how I play. With me being a big-time role player on the team, I like to lead by example and take care of what I need to do.”
 
 
 
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