Lonn Phillips Sullivan
Oct 6, 20207 min
Updated: Oct 12, 2020
Concerning the Tigers' less experienced players, we must point out how fearless Orgeron's defensive freshmen (or LSU newcomer) dynamos have been outta the gate.
Our newcomers have been entrusted to replace NFL studs such as Patrick Queen, Grant Delpit, Breiden Fehoko, Rashard Lawrence, Kristian Fulton (get feeling better bro), leading sacker K'Lavon Chaisson as well as leading tackler Jacob Phillips...and they've taken to the task with a gusto that's beyond admirable.
Pelini's group of freshmen / LSU newcomer defenders have been brilliant, making some hiccups along the way and proving to still be inexperienced...
These young stunners also played up to their pre-arrival hype and bluster, accepting the pressure from the star-studded 2019 defense, while some of these monstrous LSU newcomers have even dismissed those expecatations themselves through their "no ceilings" play, shocking many....except LSU Odyssey readers...we've been telling you about our high expectations for these 2020 freshmen / newcomers for the past 12 months...
While our linebackers & DBs may be a little rusty in gap control (allowing 100+ rushing yards by Vandy) or in coverage vs Miss State, they've also packed on a good share of LSU's overall tackles and big plays...
Regardless of the fans or analysts who remain incapable of looking beyond the unfortunate circumstances of Mississippi State, at full health or full capacity currently (and still without 2020 starters Tyler Shelvin, Glen Logan, Marcel Brooks & Kary Vincent Jr) Pelini's defense could very well be the best in the country when all is said and done.
This defense is building towards something special...in fact, they're already the most exciting defense in college football...
A fire was lit inside Pelni, Raymond, Busch & Johnson's unit once their guys allowed 44 points and 623 passing yards.....2020 Pelini Defense won't stop until they're the best in the nation, with many young guns leading the way...here's our 5 most impactful LSU newcomers:
Though he's not a young buck, Cox is still very much an SEC newcomer, a Tiger newb in some respects and we include him here as another upperclassmen newcomer kicking ass and taking names for our linebacker crew.
Linebacker transfer Jabril Cox has been an empirical force beyond everything he was hyped to be and more...fulfilling our preseason prediction with his first Tigers pick-six on opening day vs Miss State (his 8th collegiate interception and 3rd INT TD return).
Over two games, Cox contributed 13 tackles (10 solo), 2 TFL, 1 INT, 1 defensive touchdown (LSU's first defensive TD since November 28th 2018), 6 QB Pressures, 4 QB Hits, 3 Forced Incompletions and 1 sack. His most valuable attributes remain his organization, leadership and side to side pursuit speed, supplying far more quality than his stats ever could.
There's some valid criticism from former Tiger and DBU Ambassador Ryan Clark & Matt Moscana about the way Jabril braces for contact and stalls his momentum at the point of collision, a dangerous way to play if you're worried about re-injuring your knee....
We saw some of the same movements, random awkward blips as Cox still made the plays on the field successfully...we know his knee injury affected his angles and hit intensity during his time at ND State, showing an overall lack of aggression;
In the face of negative evidence, I feel Jabril will be fine...not only does our defense need him to be a play-maker more than a physical brute enforcer (a role Damone Clark fits) the more Cox plays, the easier it will be for him to protect himself and continue his full force lobotomous hits.
Freshman Eli Ricks already leads the SEC in INTs with 2, 1 each in his first two collegiate games (tied for 1st w/ 2 others). Though he didn't start vs Vanderbilt as he did Week 1, Eli Ricks played his way into a substantial amount of game time, finding the field for much of the 60 minutes and proving he belongs without any doubt:
Eli showed up in the tackling game as well, supplying physical hits in edge containment, adding his second consecutive pass break-up to his duo of leaping, awe-inspiring, aerial eraser interceptions to open his LSU career....what an announcement...a statement of intent from our freshman DBU newcomer, showing out like a veteran.
Ricks has been special, allowing only 4 total completions, 1 TD, 2 first downs, breaking up 2 passes while intercepting another pair all from 13 targets. In comparison, sophomore Cordale Flott allowed 4 TDs (Vandy's only score this week as he covered a tight end on an inside slant)...we believed before the campaign that Ricks should start opposite Stingley, and though we fully believe in Cordale as a shutdown nickelback, we make the call for Ricks to start NOW.
If we want a hope in hell of beating #3 Florida @ The Swamp in Week 4, Corey Raymond MUST start 6'2 Eli Ricks' length over 6'0 Cordale Flott if we have any hope of containing Dan Mullen and Kyle Trask's score-happy offense.
Eli's long, Stingley-esque reach is crucial to his intercepting and play-making abilties; when coupled with his bruising tackling on the outside, Ricks is the complete corner package and a reliable Tiger, not just for the future, but the present.
JUCO transfer Ali Gaye has an SEC-leading 15 pressures leading his 2 sacks, 3 PD and 5 forced incompletions total. He told an inspiring story to LSU's Cody Worsham, revealing why he wears #11 in tribute to the loss of a friend, a teammate he played with during his junior college year in Arizona....it's must see TV and can be found on lsusports.net.
Gaye is rising faster and faster as a big time NFL Draft prospect, an elite pass-rushing, play-disrupting specimen every team will want in the next two drafts: what can you say about Ali he's 6'6 and 250+! He's a great kid...he can do it all on the edge as well as inside, but the manner in which his length cancels the passing game is intriguing (3 PD vs Miss State, 2 forced incompletions vs Vandy). Gaye always brings something new to the game, affecting another facet of play we didn't anticipate.
We are rooting so hard for this kid...always have, before many even knew his name or if he even existed on this roster...we knew about the Gambian's abilities and we wrote about them back in May when we published our 2020 Almanac republished at that highlighted link. We forecasted his length to affect the opposition, although I'll let you in on a secret: I NEVER expected Gaye to fly this high so soon...I expected his ascension to happen next season...instead, Ali is out there making his future millions now.
He told Cody Worsham "all my parents do is work...I've never seen them take a day off in their entire lives...I just want to take care of them so they don't have to work another day in their lives".... out there in his first SEC season, Ali is already fulfilling his hopeful promise.
The real question isn't how good can Gaye be, I expect him to swat a pass to himself and return the ball for a touchdown at some point this season among many other boisterous back field disruptions, the question is HOW LONG WILL GAYE STAY AT LSU???
When deployed vs Vanderbilt, #99 DT Jaquelin Roy orchestrated the edge rush around his interior savagery, destroying Vandy's guard and center, holding off double teams with one hand, stiffing and blasting inside with both vicious club hands, grabbing 2 solo tackles, 1 forced incompletion, 4 pocket disruptions and he dictated Vandy's protections.....
Roy is a straight up badass who we projected to be a serious contender to start at DT.
"He's our most athletic defensive tackle," Coach Orgeron said on Monday, impressed with Roy to the point his ears perked up.
Roy's time is now....his opportunity is there for the taking, just as Cam Wire's chance came at left tackle...will Roy continue to answer when Orgeron comes calling?
We believe so...in fact, we were convinced Roy could be an LSU superstar THIS SEASON at LSU, we just didn't see the possibility due to the presence of Shelvin, Logan, Farrell, Ika etc...
Now that Shelvin's opted out, Logan wasn't allowed to play for two games and Farrell opted out before opting back in, Roy has seized control of the interior blood decorator spot along Orgeron and Johnson's D-Line...expect Coach O to keep Roy at DT....we're hearing Roy is now a confirmed starter vs Missouri.
B.J Ojulari was far more effective in Nashville than he was vs Miss State, yet this must be due to his increased amount of reps...
Registering 1 assisted tackle, 2 QB hits and 2 pressures vs Miss State (he was also a Jacoby Stevens push away from recovering Costello's first fumble)....vs Vandy, Ojulari received far more playing time and made his emergence count, crunching Ken Seals for 2 more QB hits, 3 pressures, 1 forced incompletion (due to his pressures), 3 total tackles (2 solo stops) and 1 TFL.
Still very much under the radar, LSU's Nigerian Prince is a freshman waiting to dominate and ascend from the weak side defensive end position. He's demonstrated his intense pace, fortified strength and a lengthy range which reminds us of Ali's 6'6 height. While Ojulari is 4 inches shorter, his outrageous vertical leap makes up for that difference when the ball is thrown at the line.
Expect Ojulari to take over a role for the Florida game, whether as a big time pass-rushing option from the bench or as Orgeron's primary edge-blitzer, starting over Andre Anthony perhaps.
"B.J Ojulari is our best pass rusher," Orgeron said recently, "We think he's gonna be in the NFL one day."
That makes two of us, Coach O.
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