The LSU program record for most sacks in one season is 12.
LSU sophomore defensive end Arden Key wants to demolish that statistic.
“I want 20 sacks,” Key said firmly.
After watching film from last season, the lanky 6-foot-6, 238-pound defensive lineman saw the many missed opportunities from his freshman season and sees his lofty goal as achievable because of his new role on defense.
LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda has made the playbook “easier” for his defensive squad, Key said.
The Atlanta, Georgia native is the starting “Buck” linebacker in Aranda’s new defense.
The “Buck” linebacker requires Key to stand up, instead of putting his hand on the ground and using the three-point stance technique.
Key won’t only be chasing after quarterbacks this season. Sometimes he’ll drop back in pass coverage to flank a tight end or cover a running back.
“It’s going to keep [the offense] guessing all the time,” Key said. “You can’t game plan off it. We can come [any type] of way. We can blitz and we can’t blitz.”
Not only is Aranda teaching Key a new position, but he’s picking tips from a rookie.
Freshman defensive end Sci Martin, a 6-foot-4, 240-pound McDonogh High product who racked up 28 sacks his senior of high school, delivered small pointers to Key on better hand placement and the use of his long arms.
Junior defensive lineman Davon Godchaux played defensive tackle in his first two seasons with the Tigers and originally started out as the team’s starting nose tackle in the spring and into fall camp in early August.
That has since changed. And now Godchaux is lining up at defensive end, and he was more than amendable with the change.
“I’m very happy to be on the end dominating and doing what I do best,” Godchaux said about being a defensive end.
Junior defensive lineman Greg Gilmore and sophomore Travonte Valentine will now man the middle of the defense, Godchaux’s former position.
Valentine, who returned to LSU on Aug. 8 after being kicked off the team in 2014, makes Godchaux’s job easier on the edge, with he and Gilmore demanding double teams.
“He takes up double teams like I’ve never seen before,” Gilmore said.
Senior defensive lineman Tashawn Bower has probably become the Tigers most versatile lineman. Bower said one day he practices with in the “F” linebacker position and the next he can play in the “F” position.
The shuffling of positions is all to create “mismatches,” and the different linebacker roles are interchangeable.
“It helps our team show disguises and all these other things that can confuse offense,” Bower said.
Due to senior linebacker Corey Thompson’s leg injury, a duo of freshmen — linebacker Ray Thornton and Michael Divinity — assumed the role as backup to Bower since Thompson will miss the start of the season.
Ultimately, the goal of Aranda’s new scheme is simple: confuse the offense. But despite the different looks they will present on defense, none of the Tigers are too confused to grasp the nifty defensive presentation.
“It’s fairly easy to comprehend,” Neal said about the new 3-4 defense. “Just got to study the playbook like a class. That’s what makes us play fast.”