re: Barry Odom??

quote:

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I guess I just have to keep repeating this.

Rosters matter.

Can you name an Arkansas defensive player? Is there an Arkansas player that was higher than a mid-tier 3*?

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This guy actually pays attention to other SEC teams, unlike some in this thread. Odom had our defense playing very aggressive and infinitely improved over year's past, without an offseason to even teach them.

Toward the end of games, and especially towards the end of the season, our complete lack of depth on that side of the ball started catching up to us. Regardless our defense was playing MUCH better fundamentally and was rarely ever confused or in bad positions to make a play, he just didn't have the horses.

We were playing with 3rd-4th stringers, walk-ons, freshmen, players moved from other positions, and several that weren't ready to start yet. And most of them were not highly ranked recruits, mostly 3* or lower.

Despite that Odom made great strides with our defense and even molded a couple into standout players in the SEC, see Catalon and Morgan. He had a huge hill to climb after Chad left the cupboard mostly bare and with a losers mentality, and he did it without an offseason.

I obviously don't want Odom to leave because I think our defense will be lights-out within a couple years with his handpicked recruits and a new attitude, but LSU could do a LOT worse than Barry Odom. There's a reason he's being floated as the top option to replace Pelini.