LSU Defensive Issues: Scheming, Coaching, Player Selection, Player Execution?

The LSU nation seems to be blaming the LSU defensive struggles among one of four potential sources: poor scheming for the modern SEC/powerhouse/national offenses, poor execution by young players, poor practices and game time adjustments, or is it poor player personnel assignments?

The truth is that it is some of all of these, and the LSU nation and the LSU coaching staff must react accordingly in order to right the ship. But, does Coach Miles agree that it is all of the four, or is he thinking it is all attributed to primarily just player youth?

Anyone who has paid reasonable attention during the Miles regime has noticed that Miles is fiercely loyal to players he admires, players with seniority, and to his coaching staff.  

As such, we should no more expect Miles to "dog" his personally-selected coaching staff, than we would to expect Miles to give us accurate information on the injury status of players. And no one in their right mind believes a word Miles says when it relates to whether a player is injured or not.

Miles, in true poker player style, believes in holding information of such things close to the vest, and that makes some sense.

As such, does Miles really believe that the schemes and Co-Defensive coordinators are solid, and that the entire blame goes to the young, inexperienced defensive players failing to execute these "good schemes"?

All of his public statements certainly lead one to thinking that he believes that the predominant, if not entire blame, goes to the young players and their lack of execution... Or, is Miles just being the loyal man that he is?

Is Miles just choosing to back his personally-selected coaching staff until the end of the year because he sees no real benefit of attempting an in-season scheme or coaching change? Only Miles knows the answer to this question.

In the mean time, most LSU followers know that the blame is at least in part due to Co-Defensive coordinators Doug Mallory and Brad Paveto. And since LSU fans are free to say what they truly feel, which Miles may or may not be doing, they also believe that the scheme being employed, which is far too reminisent to the failed style employed during a dark period of LSU football history, is a big part of the issue.

The bulletin boards are on fire with many an opinion on this matter, and the far majority feel that the Co-defensive coordinators are the primary reason why the defense, which is replete with four and five-star athletes, are the reason why LSU is preforming poorly.

In the mean time, Coach Miles continues the same mantra in predictable fashion. The linebackers continue to look totally lost on the field as they miss their gap assignments, and especially against the pass.

The nickel and dime defensive backs are showing little to no progress, and certain players seem to be assigned to cover players they are just out-matched against.

The offense is certainly not at its best either, but they are certainly putting up sufficient points to win every game played, even with the struggling QB play.

The LSU nation has lost significant confidence in the defensive scheme and coaching. Coach Miles, in his typical loyal fashion, is more likely to assign blame on the young players than to his friends/coaches.

A Tiger fan is left to wonder whether Coach is playing politics, or whether he sees the same issues, but fails to see any benefit to expressing such in public.

The stretch of the season will be interesting to see unfold.

I hope Coach is right. I fear he is not. Either way, we’re all strapped in for the stretch and ready to root on the Tigers whether he is right or wrong, and whether the results are favorable or not.

Geaux Tigers!