re: Why the '13 defense will be fine - Positive thread and may be lengthy

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I'm not worried about Florida

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In the Swamp? I'm always worried about Florida, especially there.

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In the Swamp? I'm always worried about Florida, especially there

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Then you won't have to worry until 2014.

As long as Chavis is running the Defense and we keep getting top 10 talent on defense, we should be good. Even with inexperience and attrition, we will have a top 25-30 defense next year.

Really all that I question is the offense. Like most Tiger fans, I feel like this is the first solid offensive coordinator we have had since Jimbo (I know some of you didn't like him), and it will translate quickly into a more organized, efficient offense that can actually avoid wasting timeouts and pre-snap penalties. The Organized nature of the offense alone should improve the numbers and put pressure on opposing defenses. If LSU's offense is just slightly better next year, the Tigers will be a top 10 team and contending for a BCS bowl. If Mettenberger improves by get better pocket presence and works more with his WRs on deep and intermediate routes for the touch and timing, this will be a scary good football team. If LSU can consistently put up points in the 28-30 range this team will be a title contender.

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Defense goes from 9 to a 7

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That seems like a pretty big drop off. Maybe if you are docking us a couple of points due to question marks with the depth, but like you pointed out in the OP, I really don't see much of a drop off this year with the starting 11 that we will run out there. Obviously losing Reid, Mingo and Minter were big, but as always there will be someone there to take their spots and flourish. And some of the guys that were inexperienced last year now have experience.

If the Oline stays healthy I think the offense will be just fine.

Leslie and Dural, if as good as advertised, will push our starters for PT. this can only make our WR corp stronger.

Even without Hill we have Hilliard. If he returns to form we will be fine. Add in a healthy Blue and a hungry Magee; the Tigers have a solid stable yet again.

If Mett can manage this offense, I really think the team is balanced enough to match up well in every game this year.

Sure the schedule is a gauntlet, but I'd rather play UGA over Kentucky any day.

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But it also contradicts some of what I say in the OP..

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Ha, it's all good.

I trust the Chief. People just doubt the defense because of all the big names that we lost and people are unfamiliar with some of the guys playing behind the starters. We haven't really had any off years recruiting and we have one of (if not the) the best DCs in the country, so I am fully confident in yet another smothering defense this year.

The potential on D is definitely there (at least 4 names keep popping up as potential 1st rounders in next year's draft) and Chavis is a freaking boss. I'm interested to see if Loston and co. bring a little bit more swagger to that unit. I'm thinking that the D won't be as dominate this year from a statistical standpoint but we'll create more turnovers. The offense is the big ? that keeps rearing it's ugly head.

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End of bama '12 

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Not his fault that the offense couldn't get a first down to ice the game.

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End of Clemson '12

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Not his fault that the offense couldn't stay on the field long enough to sustain a drive.

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End of Clemson '12

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Christ, really? 4th and 16 and Boyd made a perfect pass that missed Reid by about 6 inches and their guy was able to make a play on. I guess fire Chavis.

I like it when our players and or coach are always to blame for everything. It can never simply be that the other team made a play.

I think overall, this team will be a huge surprise to the nation. People outside only see the departures and assume LSU will fall off. I look at not only what LSU has lost, but what the teams LSU plays lost. Georgia still has very good offensive personnel, but the lost 8 studs from a very good defense. Florida lost 7 very good defensive players and Jordan Reed(a nightmare matchup). Bama lost a great corner, Huge NT, 5-technique(DE), LB, FS and 3 of the best linemen in the counrty. Yes, they will still be a top 5 team, but they had some losses that have to catch up at some point. A&M lost 2 very good linemen and 4 outstanding players on D. Ole Miss will interesting and Auburn is transitioning again.

As for LSU, last season, from a personnel standpoint, will be better. Start with D line. We all love Sam, but it came out that his effort wasn't there and he fell off last season. Mingo, while crazy athletically, he was double teamed(primarily because of Sam not producing) and failed to make the impact we thought. Logan was solid and Downs was a mystery. Now, Rasco will be just as productive if not more so than Sam. The other spot should be solid. So DE's with Allen, Bowers, Herron, Hunter, and Rasco may actually be a wash as compared to last season. DT should be more close to what LSU has seen in the past that dropped off a cliff last season. There was no push up the middle last season and that also hurt Mingo and Sam. This year with Freak and Ego coming into their own, this will resemble Dorsey and Jean-Franois or Dorsey Favorite. We will have run stopping size and pass rushing athleticism. The inside ability will make the DEs better. So an overall better Dline. As for LB, loosing Minter was huge. But, at one point last season, there was Minter playing with 3 Fr. Spells last season where LSU was so inexperienced at LB(which killed us in the last minutes of the Florida game). This year, even though Minter has to be replaced, I think he can be replaced by a very experienced and capable Barrow! Add Tahj Jones back and now those young LBs from last season are experienced, hungry, athletic LBs. Alexander should have a big year and add to that Beckwith, whom I am so excited to see and hope he stays at LB. This corp should be slightly better due in part to the fact that we will have 7-8 LBs with big game experience as apposed to half that last season. Now to the secondary..... Obviously LSU lost 2 very good players in Simon and Reid, BUT. Along side those 2 were 2 true Fr and a player in Loston who had yet to be healthy an entire season. LSU expected to have TM7 and all of a sudden had to rely on youth. Now, take a version of Loston that we all have waited to see and Ronald Martin(who has made plays each time he has been given playing time), to go along with Thompson and a mature Eugene. You have in that, a better overall safety squad then last season. At corner, take away a horrible season by Simon and put in a more physical Jalen Collins. He has experience and should play better this year then Simon played last. Now to Fr all american Mr Mills. He was thrown into action last season earlier then expected and played well. He should be so much better and may end up on some AA lists. Throw in White, Rodinson, Raymond and Thomas and the corner group should look a lot like the team a couple years ago that had a young Reid, Mathieu, and Claiborne.

To some it up, I know some will scream sunshine pumper but I believe last seasons' team was very good on D but had youth and a talent drop off in areas that hindered this Defense from being a dominant LSU D. Yes there were losses but only 2 I see that were significant. Minter and Edwards! Yes Edwards was more significant than Sam and Mingo. Because he was so versatile. Chief lined him up at DT on passing downs and stood him up when we went to odd fronts. He also played a lot on 3rd down for Sam. Sam was taken off the field a lot more then people realize and it was Edwards that took those snaps. So, now last season saw as many as 5-8 players with little to no experience playing big roles in games. This season that number will be half and those that may not have experience will be highly touted. So, I am excited to see this Defense perform because each player has something to prove vs the vets last season who may have been comfortable and thinking about the NFL. Rasco was a bigtime recruit and has yet to show. Freak was the #1 defensive player in the country coming out of HS and was said to be the next GREAT LSU DT. Ego was highly recruited. Loston was supposed to be the next LaRon Landry. So, this years leaders have something to prove which drives players to greatness. This drive normally brings the best out of those around you as well. So, we should be in for a treat this fall and I can't wait.

Sorry for the long post fellas. Happy Thursday and Geaux Tiger Baseball team!! On to Omaha.