By Ryan Rogers
LSUsports.net
Last year LSU’s defense improved tremendously under new head coach Nick Saban. After a one-year stint defensive coordinator, Phil Elmassian left LSU for a position at West Virginia. LSU was able to lure a new defensive coordinator with a resume that is about as impressive as they get.
Gary Gibbs became LSU’s new defensive coordinator on Jan. 9, 2001.
After coaching under Barry Switzer at Oklahoma from 1975-88, Gibbs eventually became Oklahoma’s head coach in 1989 and led the Sooners to three bowl games. Gibbs was a part of three national titles during his tenure at Oklahoma.
Gibbs comes to Baton Rouge after serving as defensive coordinator at Georgia in 2000. In only one season, he helped the Bulldogs rise from the bottom of the SEC defensive rankings to the nation’s 19th ranked defense overall.
Now Gibbs takes over a defense at LSU that returns ten starters from last year. He also inherits a defense that boasts star players on national scale including linebackers Trev Faulk and Bradie James, defensive end Jarvis Green and free safety Ryan Clark.
“Sure we’re excited about the upcoming season,” said Gibbs. “We have a number of starters and players returning who contributed last year in a variety of ways. They have a very solid understanding about our program and the roles we all need to try to play. They really have a good understanding about the mental toughness we need to play with each and every week. That’s not just from the first 10 players, but I think it’s across the board in terms of our overall defensive group.”
Although Gibbs was not a member of the staff in 2000, he made it quite clear that he had become a part of this team very quickly. Gibbs has an awareness of what the team accomplished in 2000 and he has already developed integral relationships with the players.
“I look at this year as a new journey,” said Gibbs. “Last year was an exciting year for us. We grew as a football team last year and we continue to grow. The journey began after the bowl game when we had the chance to go through the off-season, we had an opportunity to go through spring training and a summer conditioning program. Now the journey gets a little bit closer to what we are all looking forward to and that is the season.”
Schematically LSU’s defensive philosophy won’t change very much from last year. The Tigers will continue to play a base 4-3 style with an inverted 5-2 look. The nickel and dime packages will remain the same as well. And of course Saban’s reputation of bringing the blitz often should play out as well this year.
LSU improved as the year progressed up front on the defensive line. The Tigers should pick up right where they left off at last year and continue to get stronger up front.
Senior defensive end Jarvis Green is eyeing a monster year for LSU.
“As a defensive line we all have the scheme down more and more each day. We just need to improve more and more every day,” said Green. “We need to help the whole defense by getting pressure on the quarterback. I feel 100 percent now, I feel brand new, and I want to go out and have a good season.”
Battling on the front line along with Green will be Kendrick Allen, Muskingum Barnes and Chad Lavalais. Adding depth will be Howard Green, Kyle Kipps, Byron Dawson, and Junior College transfer Torran Williams.
It’s no secret that LSU has a superb linebacking corps. Led by Trev Faulk, Bradie James and Jeremy Lawrence, LSU’s super trio is as good as it gets at this level.
“Certainly we want to play better against the run, we want to play better in third down situations,” said Gibbs. “Last year we were very fortunate that our linebackers stayed healthy throughout the season. It is critical that we continue to build depth behind Faulk, James and Lawrence.”
Senior Walter Moreham is a great talent that is pivotal to the team’s depth at linebacker. Transfers Jason LeDoux and Dave Peterson will also be counted on to contribute.
Developing depth on the defensive side of the ball has become a priority for Gibbs.
“You know, you never win with 11 football players,” said Gibbs. “You play with 16, 17, 18, 19 football players during the course of the year. Everybody will contribute. Some will contribute in short yardage and goal line situations, some will contribute in terms of third downs and long situations.”
In the secondary there is a lot of competition for starting roles, however the competition seems to have made a positive impact on the team.
The vocal safety Ryan Clark will lead the group. Clark is coming off an excellent season in 2000 and LSU will look to him to gel the secondary together.
Lionel Thomas and Domanick Davis are both taking reps at strong safety.
Cornerback is a very interesting position to watch. Four talented athletes are competing for two spots. Robert Davis, Demetrius Hookfin, Erin Damond and Norman LeJeune have all had impressive fall camps. It looks like regardless of who wins the battles for the starting job, LSU will get production from the cornerback position in 2001.
LSU’s defense ranked ninth in the conference last year. The Tigers gave up 351 yards per game a year ago. Those are numbers that LSU would like to improve on in 2001. With a more mature defense the Tigers should be able to slow down opposing offenses more effectively.
“It’s important that we continue to grow as players in terms of understanding what we’re trying to do mentally, but also what we’ve got to do physically to be a better football team over last year.” said Gibbs. “Our players are excited, I am excited and we are looking forward to the upcoming season.”