By Hunt Palmer
By any statistical measure, the 2023 LSU defense was the worst in school history.
The unit struggled to stop the run, tackle and cover. Every week the issues cropped up while the Tiger offense set records trying to keep pace with the opposition.
The offseason brought about expected change, and with that change came a shift in culture. The players are quick to praise the new defensive staff for improvement.
“A lot of it is (coaching),” said senior defensive end Bradyn Swinson. “I can speak for the edges. Coach (Kevin) Peoples, he challenges guys to be better every day. Some days you’re not going to want to do it, but he makes sure he pushes you and holds you to a standard that makes you want to go out there and compete for him…overall, they’re just building the culture back in here.”
Last season the issues weren’t just on the field. Trust between the players and coaches fractured. Tempers boiled over.
Though the Tiger offense was torching opponents week in and week out, eventually leading the country in total offense and scoring, the issues with the defense were still evident.
“This year the guys on the team are more tight knit as far as not yelling at each other,” said sixth year running back Josh Williams. “They’re always very uplifting, very close to each other. Coach (Blake Baker) does a great job of getting those guys going, getting them ready for the game but also in the game keeping their energy up.”
Baker, just 42-years-old, never tones the energy down. Every practice the first year LSU defensive coordinator laces up his own pair of cleats and hits the practice field. It’s not uncommon for Baker to jump into a drill and demonstrate how he wants it done.
The players feed off of that. When asked what player brings the most energy to the defense on a daily basis, senior safety Jardin Gilbert pivoted.
“Probably Coach Baker to be honest,” Gilbert said. “It’s amazing, having a (defensive coordinator) with his intensity and his energy, and it’s every day. It’s not just sometimes. He comes with the same intensity and energy every day. So as the 11 on the field, we’re willing to run through any wall for him.”
Early in the season the Tiger defenders insisted that their instructions were to play fast and aggressively. Even if mistakes followed, the effort could make up for them.
Head coach Brian Kelly continued to reinforce that the unit was getting closer weekly to becoming a strong one. Kelly also communicated the need to start faster. Nicholls State and South Carolina both jumped on the Tiger defense early.
Ole Miss did not.
Despite a sluggish start from the LSU offense on Saturday, the defense held the Rebels scoreless in the first quarter.
“That was a big emphasis in what Coach Kelly was talking about, starting fast, and the defense started extraordinarily fast,” Swinson said. “When you see things like that, and you hold an offense to a low score amount like that, that’s a proud moment for you and your team.”
LSU’s golden era of the last 20 years has been built largely on dominant defense. The first national title team in 2003 was loaded with NFL talent on defense and muzzled elite college quarterbacks like David Greene, Eli Manning and Heisman winner Jason White.
Same story in 2007 and 2011. Even the 2019 team, despite its early season issues, rounded into form as a great unit that featured three eventual first round picks and multiple NFL pro bowl selections.
This group still has plenty of work to do.
LSU ranks 14th in the SEC in total defense and 13th in scoring defense. Big plays have been a concern as well, and that continued with a 50-yard touchdown run by Ole Miss on Saturday.
Baker preaches “havoc” which is his way of terming chaos in disruption in opposing backfields.
LSU does rank sixth in the SEC in tackles for loss and first in sacks per game. That havoc rate is emerging as the identity of a defense likely light on NFL talent. Saturday’s win over Ole Miss looked like a step in the right direction for a group maligned routinely over the last season and a half.
“We’ve still got a long season, and we’ve got to continue to prove people wrong,” Swinson said. “We’re not tying to lock in on the outside noise saying that we did well. We’ve still got tough opponents coming up. We’ve got to be able to stay consistent. We try not to get a big head about it. Instead of being surprised by (playing well), just make it an expectation.”
