After almost a two-month search for a defensive coordinator, LSU has finally found their guy. They once again reach for the professional ranks as they hired Minnesota Vikings defensive backs coach Daronte Jones. Jones will become LSU’s second defensive within a one-year time frame. The previous coordinator Bo Pelini was apparently out of touch with today’s players and utilized a difficult to understand scheme.
The Tigers finishing the 2020 season with a 5-5 record was not enough for Pelini to keep his job as the defensive coordinator. At the time, Cincinnati Bearcats defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman was the Tigers primary choice to replace Pelini. But instead, Freeman accepted the offer to become Notre Dame’s new defensive coordinator.
Daronte Jones Resume
Jones has had previous coaching stops in both the NFL and college football ranks on numerous occasions. Earlier stints include the Miami Dolphins, Cincinnati Bengals, UCLA, Wisconsin, Bowie State, and Hawaii. Jones also was a defensive backs coach with Canadian Football League’s Montreal Alouettes. The bulk of his time at the previous stops listed, Jones served as a defensive backs coach.
What Does Daronte Jones Bring to the Table for the LSU Defense?
Daronte Jones’ area of expertise on defense is his ability to develop efficient secondary’s. His tenure working with the Minnesota Vikings was not a positive one, but it can be recognized as an outlier due to the Vikings going through a rebuilding year when it comes to their defense.
Jones has worked with defensive minds on the professional level, such as Marvin Lewis, Mike Zimmer, and in the collegiate setting, Dave Aranda at Wisconsin. Jones served as Dave Aranda’s defensive backs coach while he was the defensive coordinator at Wisconsin. Aranda would, later on, become LSU’s defensive coordinator up until the 2019 season.
According to multiple reports, Jones was considered for the position after a conversation between Aranda and LSU Head Coach Ed Orgeron. Orgeron sought Aranda for advice on who to consider hiring for the role after coordinators such as Marcus Freeman and Ryan Nielsen decided to take other jobs with the different organizations.
Daronte Jones is a young and energetic coach that the LSU defense can become revitalized after 2021. The defense has the personnel once again to become one of the SEC’s elite units. They need the right voice to bring out the best in their abilities as a defense. Jones was LSU’s first choice to hire as their defensive coordinator. But sometimes, you have to look hard to find the hidden gems when it comes to elite coaching. Hopefully, Jones can restore the swagger that LSU had as an elite defense in college.
Photo courtesy of SB Nation.
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