re: Looking at the 2013 LSU Defense...

The dline is thin and we need a middle linebacker. Those are two glaring weaknesses. But it won't be quite as bad as some would have you think.

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Heres what we lost.

6 DL that all started games and all 6 had more playing time than anyone left on the roster. Other than Johnson its not even close. We also lost Aghreye who could eat up a series or two in each game.
Our best MLB, maybe ever.
Our best safety
Our best CB.
U can understand why anyone would say we are rebuilding.

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Loston played better than Reid last year and Mills was the best corner on the field.

Yes the experience is gone on the DL, but we've added speed and strength to the inside with Freak and Ferguson who have played in bursts for the past 2 years. We've gotten bigger on the outside with Rasco, Allen and Hunter. If Allen/Maclin can get out their stance faster than Montgomery, then we'll have no problem. With Rasco we get a quality pass rusher and a strong end to make our Run D better.

What needs to happen is that we get our freshman (true and red) a lot of playing time early and often so when we play teams like TAMU and Ole Miss who have do it all QBs, and running stables like Bama, Florida, and UGA, the coaching staff can feel confident switching from juniors to freshman.

Also it will help so they won't be f***ed next year, seeing as the whole starting line can take the early out.

Do you realize how YOUNG we were in the back seven last year?

Three TrFr and two RFr were in the secondary rotation. One TrFr started every game at corner, The nickle and dime backs were both RFr. Also had a TrSo as the #3 saftey. Mills was top CB last year.

This year the only freshmen will be backup corners. If a freshman cracks the starting secondary this year he will truly be an award winner by the time his playing days in Baton Rouge are over.

Didn't we say that about K Shepard last offseason? If Barrow slids into the middle this LB crew will be lights out. Barrow, Alexander, T Jones, D Jones and Louis can all go sideline to sideline.

The '12 LBs were just as young as the secondary. Four TrFr in the rotation. Two actually started multiple games.

On the D-line we lost six including Aghayere. That is some talent and experience that just walked out the door. No doubt.

Freak and Ego will be the best DT tandem in the SEC. Rasco, Hunter and Allen are a solid DE group to build upon.

The success or failure of the LSU '13 "D" will rely on Chief and Brick finding 4-5 guys that are able to step up and provide quality depth along the defensive front.

It could be guys on the team allready like Macklin, Thomas or Micky Johnson. Maybe some of those oh so talented and raw true freshmen like Herron, Gilmore, LaCoture or Bowers.

Only time will tell. I don't see a dropoff from our '12 "D" at all. Truly expect the back seven to be way more productive this year over last.

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most notably Florida, Alabama

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Why is everyone discounting the huge losses Florida had on defense? I can understand dismissing Alabama's. As long as Saban is there, they will field a top 5 defense in the nation, period. Florida, however, lost a ton and doesn't get the Alabama treatment yet.

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and maybe Georgia.

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Lol, fans can rationalize anything in the offseason. UGA lost like 85% of their tacklers from this past season from an attrocious defense. Soooo people think the new starters who couldn't beat out those guys are going to improve the aforementioned awful defense?

Don't listen to the talking heads. I make it a point to not watch any college football live or anything until football season starts.

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I'm looking for a big year from Mills

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Same here. I look for good things from him and Collins. Loston, provided he stays healthy, will provide leadership on the defensive side of the ball.

I'm not really worried about the DL. We've got a great DE in Rasco, the other end will be worked out in the next few months. With Ego and Freak as the DTs, I feel good there.

LB's make me wonder. Not really concerned but I do look for them to play tough. Kwon, Debo, Lamar Louis, Feist, all are hungry for playing time.

Ready for the season to get here!

Of the three teams you mentioned the dawgs give me the most concern right now.

First SEC road trip.
Best offense in the SEC.
First major test for our "D".
Top 10 opponent.

Don't see the gators getting out of BR with a "W".

LSU/bama will be another LSU/bama sloberknocker. Winner goes to atlanta. This truly has the makings of a classic. Best offense yet under Miles and come november that will be one scary arse tiger "D".

Heres what we lost.

6 DL that all started games and all 6 had more playing time than anyone left on the roster. Other than Johnson, its not even close. We also lost Aghayere who could eat up a series or two in each half.
Our best MLB, maybe ever.
Our best safety
Our best CB.
U can understand why anyone would say we are rebuilding.
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Our best safety
Our best CB
Loston and Mills are still on the team.
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The OP started the post with Talking Heads believe that LSU is rebuilding this year?

I was just saying when u look at it from most peoples perspective outside of LSU or possibly the SEC you can see why they are saying this. Thats all i was saying.
Whether they are wrong or not is yet to be seen.
Both Loston and Mills are terrific players and seem poised to make their legacies this yr. I was looking at it from what most analysts outside of LSU think:
Simon's assignment more often than Mills was the other teams #1 WR and he was a 2 yr full time starter. He wouldve started even if Mathieu had returned. Reid started before Loston and had 1 more yr of playing time. Both Reid and Simon were drafted by the NFL and it looks like Reid will start for the 49ers and from what Im hearing Simon has impressed as well.
I know Ole Miss thinks its their yr to surpass LSU and Vegas has it at 15-1 vs 3 -1 last yr? But theyre all a bunch of stupid wise guys they dont know anything.

I really don't see many difference between this year and 2011.
We have two young corners in Mills and Collins who saw plenty of action in 2012, ala Claiborne and Mathieu.
We have almost an entirely new starting d-line with players who have been quite productive in their previous limited contributions like Johnson and Rasco similar to Mingo and Montgomery.
We have established starter in Barrow returning (ala Baker) who will lead a slew of promising, talented, and now even a little experienced themselves LBers (ala Minter and Tahj Jones.)
Not to mention promising freshman everywhere like Tre White, Beckwith, and the ton of new d-line guys like Gilmore, Neal, etc.

If anyone's sleeping on this team simply because there's new faces, they're going to be sorely mistaken. I'm actually enjoying all the downplaying we're getting from the media bc the true football gurus know we have just a good a chance as any to get to Pasadena.

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I really don't see many difference between this year and 2011.
We have two young corners in Mills and Collins who saw plenty of action in 2012, ala Claiborne and Mathieu.
We have almost an entirely new starting d-line with players who have been quite productive in their previous limited contributions like Johnson and Rasco similar to Mingo and Montgomery.
We have established starter in Barrow returning (ala Baker) who will lead a slew of promising, talented, and now even a little experienced themselves LBers (ala Minter and Tahj Jones.)
Not to mention promising freshman everywhere like Tre White, Beckwith, and the ton of new d-line guys like Gilmore, Neal, etc.

If anyone's sleeping on this team simply because there's new faces, they're going to be sorely mistaken. I'm actually enjoying all the downplaying we're getting from the media bc the true football gurus know we have just a good a chance as any to get to Pasadena.

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Spot on.

We lost a lot of talent, there is no question about it. But we're replacing the 2012 defense, not the 2011. Last year most of that talent didn't impact the game the way they had done in the past even though they were still good. Minter obviously had a huge year, but the next time Chavis puts an LSU middle linebacker on the field that doesn't produce will be the first, so I'm not worried about the position at all.

The issue with the new players is the uncertainty. We could take a big step back, but I don't think it is a given, and it wouldn't be a total surprise if they managed to produce similar results to last season.