When detailing how much LSU’s defense has improved over a year time frame, one can just take a look at a tale of two games against Ole Miss in a year timeframe.
At this point last year against the Rebels, the Tigers’ offense racked up 49 points and 617 total yards of offense, but it was not enough as the defense had one of its worst games ever statistically giving up 55 points and 706 total yards of offense in a very disappointing early season loss that ultimately put the Tigers out of the College Football Playoff race.
Having one of the worst seasons defensively in the history of LSU football held back an offense that was one of its best ever led by Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels and two first round draft pick wide receivers in Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr.
Entering the offseason, LSU decided to make a change at defensive coordinator by hiring former Missouri defensive coordinator Blake Baker. After a disastrous season on that side of the ball, there is only one way to go, but up, and what better measuring stick than to see how much LSU’s defense has improved is to see it in action against the same Ole Miss team that lit them up a year ago.
However, this time, instead of holding its offense back, it was quite the opposite for LSU’s defense this time around in what turned out to be one of the most exciting wins in the history of Tiger Stadium with a thrilling 29-26 finish in overtime.
For most of the night, LSU’s explosive offense was struggling to consistently move the ball against a tough Ole Miss defense, but Baker’s defense kept the Tigers constantly in the game. It was evident that the defense could have success when Ole Miss had an opportunity to put up at least 13 points, but a dropped touchdown, a fourth down stop, and a missed field goal made it a scoreless first quarter.
“It’s about what we can control. Getting them in that kind of mindset and getting them to think in the right way has been a chore for this group. Getting them thinking about positive outcomes and getting them to think about one play at a time, they are so much better at that now then what they were in Week 1. Control what you can control, play with physicality, and they are playing with a better awareness tactically on third down, red zone, and short yardage.”
LSU HC Brian Kelly
The Rebels had opportunities to go up by two possessions, but LSU’s defense played bend, don’t break by allowing only field goal attempts in the second half and even getting an interception in the red zone.
Not only LSU’s defense held serve, but it also made plays. Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart, who burned the Tigers last season with 389 yards passing and five total touchdowns, had a frustrating night in this year’s Magnolia Bowl.
“We did not give him a consistent look every time. We felt that the most important thing was to mix coverages up. If we gave them a consistent look at everything, that was going to be the issue. We wanted to mix up coverages and I thought our guys did a great job of holding the shell and post snap, getting into something else. It affected the quarterback in his decision making. You saw that their quarterback holding onto the football because he saw something different post snap. What Blake did a great job of is that we had a lot of check with me’s. They would check and we would check. It became a little bit of a chess match of the game as to who was going to get our last check in. When you keep them from scoring touchdowns in regulation and overtime, we felt that we won that battle.”
LSU HC Brian Kelly
Dart was harassed all night by the Tigers’ aggressive defensive attack being sacked six times and getting intercepted once. LSU also recovered a fumble and had a fourth down stop that was referred earlier. In total, they held an offense that was coming in averaging 44 points per game to under 30.
“We haven’t said anything about last year, but we had that in the back of our minds as a defense. We knew we had to come out here and play way better.”
LSU LB Whit Weeks
While last year’s LSU defense may have cost this game for the Tigers, it was this year’s defense that stepped up and really was a driving force in their revenge game against Ole Miss. Without the defense’s efforts, Garrett Nussmeier’s heroic efforts late in the fourth quarter and in overtime would have never happened.
Finally, with Baker calling the shots on defense, a lot of the same guys from last year’s defense are now thriving and playing their best football on this year’s defense.
Bradyn Swinson is on pace to having the LSU single season sack record, which was held by Arden Key with 12 back in 2016, after securing his third SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week award. He already has seven sacks only halfway through the regular season.
“Bradyn Swinson has lived up to what he has done all year. He is playing at a high level. He is pressuring the quarterback and coming up with big plays.”
LSU HC Brian Kelly
Whit Weeks has also taken the next step as one of the best defensive players in the SEC after showing some flashes his freshman year. Weeks was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week after having 18 tackles, a sack, two TFLs, a force fumble, and a pass breakup. The fiery linebacker from Georgia is also leading the SEC in tackles with 59 to go along with two sacks, a forced fumble, and two pass breakups.
“Whit had 18 tackles. 18 tackles is virtually impossible in this game today. He was all over the field. He plays with a great energy, a great fire. He runs so well down the field.”
LSU HC Brian Kelly
In the secondary, Zy Alexander was graded highly for his performance (88.9) against Ole Miss according to Pro Football Focus as he only gave up 27 yards passing on 10 targets along with one interception and one pass breakup. Alexander, who has battled his way back from injuries, also received the game ball for his performance.
“Zy Alexander was outstanding tonight. He won the matchups and tackled in space. He was outstanding and he got the game ball tonight.”
LSU HC Brian Kelly
Major Burns also had one of his best performances as a Tiger with eight tackles, 1.5 sacks, 2.5 TFLs, a forced fumble, and two pass breakups. Head Coach Brian Kelly says that it has been the former Madison Prep star’s trust in his coaching that has allowed him to have that success on the field.
“Major is the easy pinata out there. Major is playing a position that requires a lot of run fits. He is really playing in a role that he has to run fit. You have to trust that teaching. It was the first time that Major just trusted it. That’s where I am supposed to be and I am going to do it. The success that he had is he just believes is that what he is going to do is going to affect the outcome of the play. He is a really good example of that and just trusting it. He probably had his best game because of it.”
LSU HC Brian Kelly
Speaking of coaching, Kelly made a complete overhaul of the defensive staff and has hired some of the biggest name defensive assistants in college football. With a lot of the same personnel, the coaching deserves a lot of credit of putting its players in the best position to succeed.
Kelly has credited assistant coaches like Bo Davis and Kevin Peoples to the emergence of Bradyn Swinson and Saivion Jones while also crediting cornerbacks coach Corey Raymond for the improving cornerback play from Alexander and Ashton Stamps.
“Kevin Peoples is outstanding what he does. He is a great technician and a great leader. To be a great defense in this league, you got to get to the quarterback. Kevin’s the best in the business and it’s starting to show itself.”
LSU HC Brian Kelly on Kevin Peoples
“When we talk about the best defensive line coaches in the country, Bo’s name keeps coming up. I got the chance to spend some time with him about coming back to LSU. It wasn’t an easy decision. He was at a great school and a great program, but the ability for him to come back to LSU was attractive to him. The ability to do something here that is great was attractive. We got two outstanding coaches with him and Kevin Peoples that are going to do an excellent job.”
LSU HC Brian Kelly on Bo Davis
“That’s why we hired Corey. Those are our expectations of Corey. He’s got a lot of experience. He is in this business a long time and he can bring that knowledge and that wisdom of coaching the cornerback position in particular. It is not going to happen overnight, but it is going to happen in time. He has a lot of young players there and the veteran he has there is getting healthier and healthier. We are seeing Zy come to the forefront. He has really done a nice job in what we ask them to do.”
LSU HC Brian Kelly on Corey Raymond
Weeks said it best when it comes to the defense’s improved play and what better way to bolster a group’s confidence than to have success against a bitter rival.
“I mean we stayed together. They got it in the plus side of the field I don’t know how many times. We had a bend, don’t break mentality and we were able to get the job done that way. This defense today, I mean I am so proud of us because for years that I have been here now, this is the closest we’ve ever been as a defense. I mean, there was never a doubt in any of our minds we weren’t going to win this ballgame.”
LSU LB Whit Weeks
Confidence, playing free, trusting in the coaching, rallying around each other, and the players trusting in the coaching have all been key ingredients to what has been night and day for this LSU defense.
You must be logged in to post a comment.