Three-Point Stance: What now for LSU? Does Orgeron address needs?

Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell’s Three-Point Stance is here with an extended look Ed Orgeron's hire as LSU's head coach and what it means for the Tigers.

MORE LSU COVERAGE: Recruits react | Pros and cons of Coach O | Orgeron earned it

I have maintained since LSU named Ed Orgeron interim head coach earlier this season that the Tigers should not hire him as their permanent head coach.

The LSU job is too big to be handed to an interim coach. It's one of the top five jobs in college football. It's the kind of job, after a 17-year run of first Nick Saban and then Les Miles leading the program, that is worthy of a national coaching search with big-names and hot up-and-comers all making their pitch. It’s the kind of job that should be handed to only one type of coach: the No. 1 choice and a surefire superstar.

That seemed to be the plan just 48 hours ago, as rumors emerged on Thanksgiving that Houston head coach Tom Herman was set to accept LSU's offer and spurn Texas. But rumors are just rumors, and coaches and agents use athletic directors for leverage like Odell Beckham Jr. uses hair bleach.

Now LSU fans have to swallow the fact that their program was likely used by Herman was leverage against Texas, and the Tigers are settling on Orgeron.

This isn't as much a knock on Orgeron, who has a 21-29 career record as a head coach including interim stints at LSU and USC, as it is against the way this was handled by athletic director Joe Alleva.

Let’s take a look at what LSU needed in its new head coach and whether it addressed those needs by hiring Orgeron.

... The Tigers needed a coach with some head coaching experience, preferably with many more wins than losses. While Orgeron has head coaching experience, the results have not been spectacular. He beat some good teams while serving as USC's interim coach, but his wins this season at LSU came against Missouri, Southern Miss, Ole Miss, Arkansas and Texas A&M. Orgeron's two losses this season came against Alabama and Florida where the Tigers scored 10 total points.

... LSU needed a head coach with an offensive background to snap out of the Les Miles coma of predictable and boring play-calling. While the Tigers' offense looked good at times under Orgeron, it didn't look that much different against Alabama or Florida than what we saw for years and years under Miles. Yes, these are two of the best defensive teams in the SEC, but if Orgeron wants to win a national title at LSU he will have to score against these kind of teams. Maybe he will address that by hiring the right offensive coordinator, but that's no sure-thing in the SEC.

... The Tigers also needed to make a splash with this hire, their first in over a decade. The perception among the national media, opposing fans and many of the Tigers faithful is that Orgeron was a backup plan to Herman. Nope. Orgeron was a backup plan to the backup plan because Florida State's Jimbo Fisher was the program's top target.

... LSU needed a coach that handles himself professionally in every aspect, on the field and off. It hired someone known for ripping off his shirt to pump up recruits. He also handled USC's decision to hire Steve Sarkisian over him very poorly. Some say that’s the passion that Coach O brings and I respect that, but much more is expected when you’re given the keys to the LSU castle. I wonder how much he’s changed and matured.

... The Tigers needed a coach who could win like Miles did and take them to the next level. Do we really think Orgeron will be better than 114-34 overall and 62-28 in the SEC? Can he win 10 or more games in seven of his first nine seasons if he lasts that long? Will he finish first or second in the SEC West seven times in his first eight years?

... Finally, LSU needed a coach that could beat Saban and Alabama consistently. Does Orgeron strike anyone as that guy? I said if he ran the table and went undefeated as interim coach he should be “considered” for the job and be part of a national search because that would include a win over Alabama. That didn’t happen but he was handed the job anyhow after LSU whiffed on Fisher and Herman. Not good.

I’ve dumped enough cold water on this hire, so let’s take a look at a few of the positives of the move.

First and foremost, Orgeron's players would kill for the guy. He’s a player’s coach all the way and the players have raved about him at every stop he’s had. The current LSU roster wanted Orgeron to be the hire and the same can be said for the USC players at the time of his interim stint with the Trojans.

Orgeron is passionate, enthusiastic and gets everyone pumped up for every practice and game. He’s the kind of coach that kids will play hard for and never quit on.

LSU is also getting a home-grown Cajun, a man born in Louisiana who knows the landscape very well. Orgeron is someone the community, including local high school coaches, will get behind in a huge way.

The Tigers are also getting one of the best recruiters in the country. Orgeron has won the Rivals.com National Recruiter of the Year Award and carries a strong reputation in recruiting circles. Recruiting will not be a problem at LSU with Orgeron. Maybe the Tigers have hired someone that could have kept players such as Landon Collins, Cameron Robinson and others from heading out-of-state to play for Saban.

Finally, LSU is getting a different coach than one who failed so miserably at Ole Miss. That was about a decade ago and what I’ve seen at USC and especially at LSU this year is a much-improved version of Orgeron.

Do I think the enthusiasm of his players, his local ties, his recruiting ability and his improved head coaching ability make this a good hire for LSU? Obviously not based on my first two stances, but I’m more disappointed at the botched job that Alleva did here than anything else. He chose the path of least resistance after being rejected by Fisher and Herman.

Time will tell if Orgeron pushes LSU to the front of the SEC West or, more likely, if this move sets the Tigers back for years.