Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images
By Hunt Palmer
After two weeks, questions surround the LSU offense.
No such questions are being posed about the defense. Blake Baker’s unit was sensational at Clemson and held Louisiana Tech scoreless for almost 56 minutes.
National statistics in September are to be taken with a grain of salt. Schedules are wildly imbalanced. Levels of competition vary for everyone. Water doesn’t really find its level until October, but the statistics we have are the statistics we have.
LSU’s scoring defense is ranked 13th in the country at 8.5 points per game.
LSU’s run defense is ranked 7th in the country at 44 yards per game.
LSU run defense ranked 9th in the country in yards per carry allowed at 1.9 yards.
Perhaps most impressively, LSU has only allowed two red zone possessions through two games. That’s fourth nationally.
At 3.74 yards per play, LSU ranks 14th.
Opponents are converting 23 percent of their third downs. That’s 22nd.
All of those stats speak to the consistency LSU’s unit is playing with. They don’t allow big plays. They stymie the run, and they haven’t allowed long drives.
What’s interesting is that LSU is not leaning on negative plays to halt drives. The Tigers’ numbers behind the line of scrimmage are not eye-popping to this point.
LSU has nine tackles for loss. That’s 99th nationally.
LSU has four sacks. That’s 60th.
Baker loves to create havoc. He loves his unit to play downhill. There are plenty of playmakers on this team that figure to do that regularly, but after two games it’s been more about solid play-to-play defense.
Opponents have only broken free for one gain of 30-plus yards. Just nine teams are better.
That’s a huge step forward for a unit that has struggled with big plays for two years. LSU ranked 85th in 30-plus yard plays allowed last year and 111th two seasons ago.
The balance on the stat sheet is notable.
No one on the defense has more than 13 tackles. Harold Perkins is the only defender with multiple tackles for loss. Ten players have been credited with a TFL. Eight players have broken up a pass. Six Tigers have combined for LSU’s four sacks. Eight Tigers have at least one hurry.
The entire unit is contributing which is tougher to plan for than one specific game-wrecker.
Two weeks doesn’t define a season. When you factor in the annual 66-3 beatdowns administered by power programs against FCS teams taking beatings for checks, the stats can get out of whack. Still, watching LSU for two weeks, the stellar play by this defense has been obvious. The statistics back that up.
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