WHO LSU ARE INTERVIEWING ON DEFENSE

LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN

@LonnPhillips

THANK YOU DEAR SUBSCRIBER!

In just 24 hours, LSU have ousted Bo Pelini, their $2.3 million former Tigers' National Champion defensive coordinator, much-loved safeties coach Bill Busch, Bill Johnson their Super Bowl-winning D-line coach, a subtle yet effective piece (like Busch) of the 2019 team...while on offense, PGC Scott Linehan will be kicked to the curb as well, all of which we reported on Sunday: if you're an Odyssey subscriber, you knew what was coming.

And no, you didn't need Brooks Kubena or Brody Miller to tell you...

Busch was surprising, considering his necessity on the recruiting trail, however you cannot claim the LSU safeties played well at all this year...in fact, I didn't think I would ever see Mo Hampton or Todd Harris turned into subpar players....they were this year.

Whether that was on Busch, who has a great track record, or the Pelini-istic defense isn't the point....

Orgeron felt change had to happen, and I guarantee it has something to do with Busch's stubborn personality angering his fellow coaches (specifically Corey Raymond) rather than the numbers his safeties allowed.

Busch is a damn solid coach, there's a reason he was on a few Urban Meyer staffs (Utah and Ohio State) yet is he a better coach or recruiter?

I've been told by my defensive source that there was a lot of apathy from Busch and a major problem with Raymond that went unsaid, unspoken.

"It was....like a silent war..."

Losing Busch is big, but his replacement is already available:

Personally, I like either Michigan's Bob Shoop, OSU's Matt Barnes, any number of former Tigers (including Ryan Clark, Brandon Taylor or Craig Steltz) or Travaris Robinson to take the job as safeties coach:

Shoop's pedigree is known, however Travaris Robinson is a man who has a solid record coaching DBs and playing All-SEC football at Auburn, as well as coaching safeties at South Carolina most recently.

But it doesn't matter what I feel, I'm hearing Coach Orgeron has consulted Corey Raymond on candidates for the job and already has a name in mind.

Also, we don't know whether these two candidates would be considered for the DC job over Raymond, whether Raymond even wants the DC role, or merely considered for other defensive roles, however the names I can confirm LSU are interviewing:

The first is Cincy's Marcus Freeman, a former NFL and Ohio State star who became the first hire by Cincy / former OSU Head Coach Luke Fickell once he took the job.

Freeman transformed the Cincy defense into the powerhouse top ten squad who pushed for the ultimate this season, only allowing 16 points (144 total), 4.4 yards per play, 5.68 passing yards per attempt, 168 passing yards per game and only 314.4 yards of total offense every 60 minutes...

Undefeated Cincy actually played 3 ranked teams this year as well as UCF, with only one opponent scoring more than 24 points and six under 17...

Combined with Corey Raymond, Freeman would be fantastic in my opinion....

Is he ready to be defensive coordinator?

Will it be Freeman or Raymond at DC?

The other name I keep hearing?

Derek Mason from Vanderbilt, however his name has been going around for some time.

There's more going around....

As far as taking the retiring Bill Johnson's D-line role, I look to no one better suited than current Saints' D-line impresario Ryan Nielsen, a madcap raver who's done a formidable, nearly terrifying job coaching Cam Jordan and company across what is, alongside Washington, the best D-line in the NFL...

I'm hearing Orgeron has already been in contact with Nielsen concerning the position; although Ryan is focusing on the NFL season first and foremost, the "D-line Joe Brady" is someone high on Orgeron's Christmas list...right next to the shoes.

Stay tuned...

BLACK LIVES MATTER

By LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN

@LonnPhillips

SHOUTOUTS: I LOVE HER!!!!

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO NOTICED BROOKS KUBENA DIDN'T BREAK THAT STORY....

WHO LSU ARE INTERVIEWING ON DEFENSE

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