LSU’s Dave Aranda: Summer months critical to build upon spring foundation

6:53 PM ET

BATON ROUGE, La. — LSU started implementing new defensive coordinator Dave Aranda’s scheme over 15 practices during spring semester, which just ended a few days ago.

Now is when some of the Tigers’ most important work will take place.

“I’m excited about the future,” Aranda said after last month’s spring game. “I think summertime’s going to be real integral for us and we’re going to need as coaches and as players to work on football and work on building upon what we have.”

Aranda forced himself to be patient during spring practice, slowly integrating the basic principles of his 3-4 defense for a group of players accustomed to playing a 4-3.

Previously known for his ability to create mismatches with exotic defensive looks at Wisconsin, Aranda didn’t get to much of that yet in his short time working with the Tigers. Instead, he wanted to make sure that his players understood why they will do what they do once he adds new facets to the scheme.

Former Wisconsin defensive coordinator Dave Aranda is trying to start with a firm foundation in his new job at LSU. Joe Robbins/Getty Images

“I feel really good about the foundation,” Aranda said. “I think I’m the first of any of the coaches to want to get to this blitz or get to this overload coverage or get to this disguise. And even now in this spring, I’ve done that once or twice and it hasn’t been great. And so, so much of it has been, ‘Let’s get a …

continue reading in source espn.go.com