LSU Football: 3 reasons the Tigers will struggle in 2020

2. Same story, different unit for LSU football

The story on the defensive side of the ball is a very similar one to the offense. The turnover that the Tigers must adapt to in 2020 really is astounding.

It starts with Dave Aranda, who was so vital to the Tigers’ success that they made him the highest paid assistant coach in the country. The defensive coordinator left to become the head coach at Baylor, and he’ll be replaced by a familiar face.

Former LSU coordinator Bo Pelini will return to occupy the same role, after spending time as a head coach at Nebraska and Youngstown State. While leading the Cornhuskers, Pelini’s teams won at least nine games in every season of his tenure.

However, the true key for this defense will not be who is leading it off the field, but who is leading it on the field. Unfortunately for the Tigers, many of last year’s leaders have departed. That is a group that includes edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson, cornerback Kristian Fulton, safety Grant Delpit, and linebackers Michael Divinity and Patrick Queen.

Obviously, they best returning player on this defense is going to be cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. Despite not even turning 18 until after the start of the 2019 season, Stingley was one of the best defensive backs in the nation last year. Cordale Flott and Kary Vincent are expected to fill the other two corner positions, with Maurice Hampton and JaCoby Stevens at the two safety spots.

Replacing Queen in the middle may be the Tigers’ tallest defensive task though. The middle linebacker position at LSU has been manned by the likes of Queen, Duke Riley, Deion Jones, and Devin White in recent seasons. Whether it’s Micah Baskerville or Damone Clark in 2020, high expectations exist for whoever is in this spot.