It's plain that we are already seeing the fruit of poor communication which results from 2 managers. You can see just how confused that defense is.
As long as we're doing this, let's throw out some names. I haven't bothered to look him up, but what about TCU's DC? They were No.1 in total defense until they played OU and held them to 35 when they'd be averaging 50. They completely shut down BYU's spread last night with defensive line twists and stunts, plus an ultra aggressive blitz package that was disguised well enough to fool a Junior QB who's 1st team all conference (even though it's the Mountain West) and is considered an All America candidate. Any others come to mind?
I don't know a whole lot about him, but the guy at Virginia Tech who always produces solid players and top defenses with mediocre recruiting classes seems to be a viable choice. Maybe not?
Well not sure where you've been, but here you go: LSU 2001: Pass Defense - 108 Nationally Rush Defense - 21 Nationally Total Defense -75 Nationally Yes please decide: #75 or #32? This was the year Spurrier put 632 yards on Saban's Defense. #108 in Pass Defense for the season...WOW! #75 Defense NCAA http://web1.ncaa.org/d1mfb/natlRank.jsp?year=2001&div=4&rpt=IA_teamtotdef&site=org #108 Pass Defense http://web1.ncaa.org/d1mfb/natlRank.jsp?year=2001&div=4&rpt=IA_teampassdef&site=org
Two words: Demetrius Hookfin. The only reason I remember that guy's name is because he was burned on almost every play. He was the Jamie Howard of the defense for a couple of years.
Did you mean 2002 Second-Team All-SEC (AP) Demetrius Hookfin? Well, here are some of the other Cornerbacks on the 2001 roster: Corey Webster Tavis Daniels Randall Gay Erin Damond Robert Davis If Saban was so unhappy with Demetrius Hookfin, maybe he should not have played him?
I believe we need a clear identity on defense. Not to say Pelini's scheme won't work, but we're missing the main ingredient: Bo Pelini. It's like like me saying I'm just as good a handy man as my father because we are from the same family. Just because the Co-DC's spent years under Pelini's guidance, doesn't mean that they are just as in tune with running his system. I hesitate to say that either Mallory or Peveto aren't good at contributing to great ideas behind closed doors, but the result on the field doesn't equate. I DO believe Mallory and Peveto are excellent position coaches, but the reality is that if you demote one or both, and hire a new DC, then we're probably gonna lose one or both of those coaches. It would depend on how they accept knowing that their trial as DC just didn't pan out. I believe Miles had the right intentions: Promote/reward from within, and felt as though both guys could continue to have some success with our returning personel. We had some question marks at a couple of positions, but truely believe that if we could minimize damage, we still had enough talent to compete for the West Division. I think Miles felt that it was better to keep the defense somewhat unchanged and hope that our veteran players could offset whatever inexperience that Peveto and Mallory had as DC's. That would have made sense if you consider that if our QB play had been more sporatic, and our offense struggled, Miles wouldn't want to have BOTH sides struggle if learning a new defense and scheme were imployed for this season as well. Having said all of that, no matter who our DC is for next season, I think we need to go with ONE guy and have that guy use his own system that coincides with the aggressive defensive play that LSU has been grown to have.
Hookfin had a nice senior season.....he was dreadful in his time before that. Instead of covering a WR he'd basically just race him....then forget to turn around when the ball was coming in. He was a 4 year starter IIRC, and he was probably one of the worst 4 year starters in SEC history....
