quote:
Guys do get better and elite coaching can absolutely make a difference.

I'm just saying, counting on half of the defense to make MASSIVE strides between last year and this year is pretty fricking ambitious.

I think it's clear the defensive staff failed pretty badly last year, as evidenced by the complete overhaul.

In 2023, we lost the d line coach, and the other coaches tried to take up the slack. They couldn't, to the point where Kelly called up an 80 yr old out of deep retirement to help out.
I think in trying to help with the line, those guys neglected their own position groups in the process, and it was a systemic failure.

We've hired an entire new group of coaches, with more dedicated to the defense than we would have in 2023, even if we had a line coach.

The only "ambitious" thing is roster assessment, seeing if you have enough talent to work with (assuming you can develop them).

I will point specifically to Omar Speights as evidence for this. He had the physical talent, as seen by his performance in pro day stuff. He had the on-field performance at a P5 school prior to coming here. Spare me the SEC vs Pac 12 drivel, Speights would have faced Washington, Oregon, Utah, USC, Boise and then Florida in the bowl in 2022. Oregon was 10-3, with a blowout loss to Utah, and 3 pt losses to USC and Washington.
Speights was named 1st Team All Pac 12 based on how he did.

That should have translated to being a good linebacker here at LSU. If not All SEC, he still should have been solid as hell, someone you don't have to worry about at all. He looked lost all season long.
That's coaching.