BATON ROUGE – In most cases, before a defense can do anything well, it has to get lined up right.

This was often a problem at LSU the last two seasons. Frequently, as the ball was being snapped, LSU players were looking at one another in confusion and pointing in various directions like lost motorists before GPS as they tried to adjust their play call to how the offense lined up and shifted. Consequently, there were often wide open spaces in the middle of the field.

The Tigers’ Global Positioning System may be solved in 2016 by new defensive coordinator Dave Aranda, who has almost always had his defense pointed in the right direction regardless of where he has been on the globe – Wisconsin the last three years, Utah State in 2012 and Hawaii in 2010-11.

“The call is the call,” Aranda said at the high school coaching clinic at LSU last week. “You align to the field (wide side or short side), not to the offensive formation (strong side or weak side based on which side the tight end lines up at). And you just go.”

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Sounds simple. And it has worked.

Wisconsin had the No. 2 scoring defense in the nation last year with 13.7 points allowed a game under Aranda. Only national champion Alabama was better at 13.4. LSU was 41st with 24.3 points a game allowed. The Badgers were No. 3 in the nation in total defense with 268.5 yards given up a game, while LSU was 25th with 347.2 given up. Wisconsin was fourth in rushing yards allowed at 95.4, while LSU was 17th at 122.9. Aranda’s pass efficiency defense last season was No. 2 in the nation, while LSU’s was No. 51.

From 2013-15 under Aranda, Wisconsin’s defense was in the top five in the nation in scoring defense, total defense, pass defense and rush defense. His Utah State defense finished No. 8 nationally in points allowed with 15.4 a game. His Hawaii defense in 2011 finished 15th in the nation with 35 sacks. His 2010 Hawaii defense led the nation in turnovers caused with 38 and was second in interceptions with 23.

Aranda tries to get his defense to fool the offense before it fools his defense.

“It’s that ability to make things look like more than they are,” he said. “We move guys around so the offense thinks it’s one thing, but it’s another.”

So far, LSU’s defenders are having a blast despite the fact that they are on their third defensive coordinator in three years with John Chavis leaving following the 2014 season for Texas A&M and Kevin Steele bolting to Auburn after last season.

“It’s not a lot of adjusting to what the offense is doing,” said defensive tackle Christian LaCouture, a two-year starter who will be a senior next season. “I feel like we’ll be trying to make plays and keep the offense on their toes instead of the other way around. We’ll not be sitting back and letting them come to you. Coach Aranda’s brought that in. You’re attacking.”

Aranda has also brought in a variety of fronts for the offense to look at react to first. He will use a 3-4 alignment much more than LSU has used in decades in addition to its customary 4-3. And he may use a 2-man front at times.

Aranda plans on keeping things simple, fast at LSU

“You’re not going to see the same look all the time,” said LaCouture, who will be in the nose guard position with sophomore Greg Gilmore as his backup. “We’re not going to run a 3-4 the whole game. We’ll run a 4-3. I mean, gosh, we might run 2-man fronts. I’ve seen him run that at Wisconsin on film. So far, we’re multiple, and I think it will change on a week-to-week basis.”

Sophomore Davon Godchaux, a starter the last two seasons at defensive tackle in the 4-3, has been working as a defensive tackle in the 3-4 with sophomore pass rushing ace Arden Key, a defensive end last year, as an outside linebacker.

Godchaux had a one-word answer when asked what will be different about LSU’s defense in 2016.

“Violence,” he said. “Violence. Aggressive. I mean, coach Aranda’s laid back, but when you’re on the field you can tell by the play calling, he just turns it on. That’s what I love about him. Laid-back guy, not much hollering, but when you get on the field, you’re going to see aggressive play calling.”

Aranda loves to play man-to-man coverage, thus freeing up his options for various blitzes or disguised blitzes. LSU is very strong at cornerback, particularly with Tre’Davious White returning for his senior season instead of becoming a likely first round NFL pick. There is also Dwayne Thomas, who started five games at cornerback as a junior, Keven Toliver II, who started seven as a freshman, and Donte Jackson, a track star and LSU’s fastest player who will return for his sophomore season in August after academic issues recently forced him out of spring practice.

“The ability to play man has always been at the forefront for me,” Aranda said. “And I’m really excited about the ability to do it here.”

Aranda has plenty more defense to put in, but the players feel that they will not be thinking too much and trying to remember where they are supposed to be as their opponents are about to snap the ball.

“I feel like it’s going to be easier for everyone to understand,” White said. “It’s looking more like we’re all going to be on the same page.”

With free minds, LSU’s talented athletes can be free to run.

“He’s had top defenses wherever he’s been, whether it’s Utah State, Wisconsin, wherever, and he knows what to do. He knows how to make you great,” LaCouture said.

“I’m very excited,” Godchaux said. “I think we will be a lot better. It’s going to be a lot more exciting. So far, I think he’s probably the best defensive coordinator I’ve ever been around.”

Dave Aranda’s career highlights

• His 2010 defense at Hawaii led the nation in turnovers caused (38).

• His 2011 defense at Hawaii was 15th nationally in sacks (35).

• His 2012 defense at Utah State was eighth in scoring defense nationally at 15.4 points per game.

• His 2013-15 defenses at Wisconsin allowed an average of 289.4 yards per game, first in the nation over that span, and 16.4 points per game, second in the nation during that time period.

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