re: Dellenger: Dave Aranda Interview tidbits

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Be disappointed if you want, but the #15 class in the nation is not as bad as you sad-sacks would like others to believe.

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If you really want to get their panties in a wad, tell then there are like 120 teams that play in FBS, making that class in the top 10%.

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If you really want to get their panties in a wad, tell then there are like 120 teams that play in FBS, making that class in the top 10%.

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I think people are pretty sour about Surtain and Goodrich

Had we landed one of the 2 (or in a perfect world both) people would be understandably less apprehensive about the class.

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Please list the areas you think LSU will be better in 2018 than they were in 2017. Position by position will suffice.

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I would like you to list where they won't be better. Position by position will make do just so the lists can be compared for future reference.

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The entire front 7 on defense stands to improve as a unit


Based on what? Losing 6 players off of the two deep?

Lacouture - Shelvin/Fehoko Better
Gilmore - Shelvin/Fehoko better
Herron - Inconsistent
Key - Hurt most of year
Alexander - Was actually pretty damn bad this year
Thompson - Will miss the most out of this list

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Devin White and Rashard Lawrence are the best players on the front 7 and both return. We have more depth at LB than people admit and Shelvin/Fehoko + freshmen are going to be an improvement up front. Divinity, Thornton, Anthony, Chaisson, etc. are all very talented guys with another year in Aranda's system.

Alexander/Shelvin/Fehoko/Lawrence will be the best 4 DL's we've had in a long damn time. And Aranda said he wants to run a lot more "peso" which only calls for 2 DL at a time.

This front 7 is going to be special.


ETA:

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you seriously think LSU is going to improve?

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I just think our front 7 on defense will improve. We got pushed around by teams up front on defense last year, which was really disheartening. We've got more beef and talent up there IMO.

Our offense could be a disaster with talented, but unproven OL and QB, a weaker than usual RB core, and an OC that is a bargain basement hire. And CB is really thin.

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If you really want to get their panties in a wad, tell then there are like 120 teams that play in FBS, making that class in the top 10%.

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Considering the big picture, our class is outstanding. It is every single year.

Relative to the SEC, it's not special at all. Unfortunately LSU is still in the SEC. As long as they remain in the SEC we have to view the class with that lens. When UGA and Bama are getting top 5 classes (UGA just put the finishing touches on a historically great class) we need to do better.

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How is the LB group going to get worse in your opinion?


Is losing 3 of 4 starters not a bad thing?

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As stated, Donnie was putrid and Taylor started half the year as a true freshman, so not including him as a starter is intellectually dishonest. Phillips got good PT and we have Divinity, Thornton, Anthony, Queen, etc.

Arden Key was a ghost last year except for 2 games, so we aren't missing him from last years squad. Chaisson got a ton of PT in his place as a guy in his 3rd year playing competitive football. He's an athletic specimen and will make major leaps at the position with another year under Aranda.

Front 7 is going to be dynamite.

But I agree we are very unproven at OL and QB, and have a weaker than normal RB core (though I think CEH and Curry will be pretty good). Tons of talent at WR including Giles who has a lot of experience, and we added an actual WR coach that knows how to coach the position. Issue is just getting them the ball.

Offense could be very, very bad.

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Right

I think RB10 has blinders on. And based on your posting history you're no Orgeron sunshine pumper.

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I fricking hate Ed Orgeron

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Or very good

It's definitely a complete unknown at this point

Great WR talent but we don't know how the QBs will perform

I'm confident that the OL group will be pretty good despite some new faces

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I mean, I agree.

We don't know. I just know we have virtually no good experience at QB, Ensminger as OC, don't have a game-changer at RB, and lost some talent at OL.

I have all the confidence in the world at WR position, but WR's are pointless if a QB isn't good or a OL can't block.

If Traore is a beast at OT and CEH steps up to be play-maker, we could surprise. I just hope Ensminger doesn't shite the bed. Seems like a great guy in over his head.

QB: Push (will probably make more plays, but also more big mistakes)
RB: Worse (Not their fault they follow Hill, Fournette, and Guice)
OL: Push (lost good players, but return stud freshmen that played a lot and well and Traore, and new coach seems very good)
WR: Better (Giles is legit, great class, existing talent, and we added a solid WR coach)

CB: Worse (obvious)
S: Better (unless Battle plays a lot )
LB: Better (White is elite, Donnie was not good, freshmen got a ton of PT)
DL: Better (Return best 2, add 2 that are better than Lac and Gilmore)

The freshmen having another year under Aranda is something that is really going to make a difference. We had TONS of young guys play meaningful minutes last year on defense. Aranda even said we're a lot deeper on the front 7 and Fehoko is the best DL on the team, which is crazy to think about with Lawrence there.

Obviously, QB is the most important position on the team and if that doesn't work out well for us, it'll be a long season regardless of how good the defense is.

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We have serious talent on this team. We have a chance to be really good

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When have we not ?