Expectations for the LSU football team were high when the 2008 season began — and with good reason.The Tigers had just won their second national championship in the past five seasons. Their defense was coming off a season in which they finished No. 3 in the nation, surrendering 20 points per game and fewer than five yards per play. And their defensive line was composed of upperclassmen who knew how sweet those championship rings felt on their fingers.But blowout losses to Southeastern Conference foes Florida, Georgia and Ole Miss and an overtime loss to Alabama in 2008 brought heat to the defensive staff. The LSU unit finished No. 32 in the nation and No. 9 in the SEC allowing 24 points per game — the most in a season under coach Les Miles.After the Georgia loss, LSU junior safety Chad Jones said the defense was struggling to overcome such uncharacteristic performances.”As a defense we’re trying to get our identity back,” Jones said. “With a big loss against Florida and a big loss [against Georgia] and so many points being put up on the board, there’s a question mark about what’s happening with our defense. But we’re definitely trying to get our identity back and seeing and fixing the problems we’ve been having.”Things began to look up for the Tigers with their Chick-fil-A Bowl victory against Georgia Tech, 38-3.Then-freshman quarterback Jordan Jefferson started the bowl game rather than sophomore Andrew Hatch or redshirt freshman Jarrett Lee, both of whom battled injuries and inconsistent play during the season. Hatch suffered a concussion against Auburn in September, and Lee endured an ankle injury against Ole Miss.LSU fans were thrilled to see Jefferson take the field, and he rose to the challenge New Year’s Eve and posted 142 yards on 16-of-25 passing with one touchdown. Jefferson also ran 10 times for 25 yards and was named the game’s Offensive Most Valuable Player.”Coming from a national championship the year before this season, we had something to prove,” Jefferson said. “Not being ranked kind of hit us hard.”The dawn of the offseason brought a defensive coaching makeover.Co-defensive coordinators Bradley Dale Peveto and Doug Mallory took other jobs, and Miles brought in former Tennessee defensive coordinator John Chavis for the same position. Chavis led the Volunteer defense for 14 seasons, and he guided them to No. 3 in the country in total defense despite a 5-7 record.”We appreciate the idea that he’ll come in with great experience in this conference,” Miles said in January. “He ran a great defense this year on a team that was not a successful team. That speaks to great morale. That speaks to the defense playing defense just to play defense.”Miles also welcomed former South Carolina secondary coach Ron Cooper and former Chicago Bears defensive line coach Brick Haley to his staff.Cooper led the Gamecocks’ secondary to the No. 1 ranking in the SEC and No. 3 in the nation in pass defense in 2008.Haley coached the defensive line at Mississippi State from 2004-2006 and the Bears the past two seasons. Haley said he was elated to join the world of college football and the SEC.”I was very excited about what I saw up front [in the Chick fil-A Bowl],” Haley said. “When I first saw [Tiger Stadium], I was like ‘Wow.’ I didn’t have that feeling when I walked into Soldier Field. College football is exciting.”The Tigers’ spring practices began March 12 with the No. 1 recruiting class in the country and the return of wide receiver Brandon LaFell, running back Charles Scott and offensive tackle Ciron Black after they spurned the NFL draft.Freshman quarterback Russell Shepard was one of the most notable players to report, and Miles said the team utilized him at quarterback, wide receiver and even running back in one practice.In the spring game, Shepard showed flashes of success fans hoped for, as he went 7-of-12 passing for 70 yards and ran eight times for 16 yards. But the Houston native also lost a fumble and threw an interception.”When you evaluate a guy like Russell Shepard on a day, you have to see some of the things he did positive and negative,” Miles said after the game. “He has a very athletic body and needs reps to develop throws. He can be a quarterback who has the ability to both run and pass.”With spring practices now in the books, players agree the intensity and excitement is up, and they are ready to prove they will not repeat their 2008 performance.”If you’ve been out there, you’ll see it’s a good vibe,” said rising junior linebacker Kelvin Sheppard after the team’s second practice. “It’s just a new vibe to everybody. Everybody has a little bit more pep to their step.”Most recently, six former Tigers were selected in the 2009 NFL draft, and five undrafted Tigers signed free agent contracts with NFL teams.Former defensive end Tyson Jackson set an LSU record as the No. 3 overall pick to the Kansas City Chiefs – the highest LSU defensive selection ever.LSU also holds the nation’s longest active streak with six consecutive years of having a player drafted in the first round.Ricky Jean-Francois, LSU’s only junior in the draft, was chosen by the San Francisco 49ers in the seventh round Sunday, and the San Diego Chargers selected Demetrius Byrd with the 224th overall pick in that round despite health concerns after Byrd was in a car accident April 19.According to ESPN’s draft coverage, Byrd is now moving and talking in “good” condition after spending time in the intensive care unit at a Miami hospital.——Contact Rachel Whittaker at [email protected]