Will LSU's New Speedy Defense Dominate in the SEC West?

With question marks still lingering from 2009 about LSU's anemic offense, it may be the young, talented, and very fast LSU defense that saves the day for the Tigers in 2010.

If this team plays as a unit and with chemistry, they could return the Tigers to a dominating-type defense that all LSU fans love and remember.  

LSU returns two First Team All SEC players in Kelvin Sheppard and Patrick Peterson as starters from last year's defense, but with LSU's No. 2-ranked Rivals recruiting class from 2009 and some other experienced part time starters at defensive tackle, they will field an extremely talented and speedy defensive line. The secondary will have experienced players like Jai Eugene and Brandon Taylor plus talented new comer Craig Loston to complete the defense.   

The coaches and fans got a real good look at Barkevious (KeKe) Mingo with his 4.5 speed at defensive end in the spring game. This guy was just all over the field with constant pressure on the passer, making sacks, breaking up passes, and then helping stop the run.  

At 6'5", 235 with 4.5 40-yard speed, it is easy to see how this guy gets LSU fans excited and brings back memories of those dominating defenses that LSU was known for just a couple of years ago. Mingo is also another in a long line of West Monroe products playing for LSU.

On the other side of the line will be Sam Montgomery (Greenville, SC), who surprised LSU by choosing the Tigers over Clemson at the last minute. Sam too possesses very good speed (4.6 40-yard), and he is a little bigger than Mingo.

Between the two new defensive ends is a somewhat experienced, though slightly undersized, defensive line that promises to present lots of problems for SEC offenses.

Some analyst have said LSU's undersized line will have a tough time with big SEC offensive lines, but really, with guys like Michael Brockers at 6'5", 295 and (Senior) Drake Nevis at 6'4", 310, I have a hard time calling those guys undersized.

Of course, with All-American Patrick Peterson and budding star Mo Claiborne being lockdown corners, which some are calling the best in the SEC, the LSU defense will be able to go man to man and blitz and/or bring pressure on the QB and still be aggressive against the run.

First Team All-SEC linebacker Kelvin Sheppard will manage and quarterback the defensive for coach John Chavis' defense. Sheppard says that Coach Chavis plans to finally open up his defensive playbook to this year's Tiger defense. 

If "defense wins championships," then LSU should very well have the opportunity to win the SEC West and more in 2010.