LSU is not here to dazzle you. The Tigers only care about winning football games.
The Tigers’ 31-0 win against University of Louisiana- Monroe was ugly in every sense. Two completions went for more than 20 yards, and a fullback was the leading scorer. The days of Jarvis Landry, Odell Beckham Jr. and Zach Mettenberger are gone, making way for a grind-it-out style of play.
I wouldn’t have it any other way, and you shouldn’t either.
Nobody is saying this defense is the real thing yet because little should be taken away from two paycheck wins. But relying on a great defense is just as good as relying a great offense, and I think LSU is on the right track.
LSU’s secondary was its usual self, clamping down on anything deep and swarming around the ball. Sophomore safety Rickey Jefferson and sophomore cornerbacks Tre’Davious White and Dwayne Thomas all had at least four tackles. Meanwhile, the opposing quarterback was held under 150 passing yards for the third straight week.
ULM quarterback Pete Thomas actually completed more than half of his passes — they just didn’t go anywhere. LSU let Thomas complete anything he wanted for five-yard bursts, but it made sure the Warhawks didn’t hurt them deep.
It may have taken Wisconsin head coach Gary Andersen’s mysterious Melvin Gordon omission in week one, but the defensive line and linebackers are on the right path. LSU junior defensive end Danielle Hunter has gotten better every week, and the youth at defensive tackle has gained ample experience.
LSU stopping the run on first down plays into the strength of the defense. Third-and-long situations lead to big plays by the secondary, and that leads to a more cautious and predictable offensive scheme.
The most important thing to take away from the last two blowouts is the depth of the defense. I didn’t think sophomore linebacker Duke Riley would do anything significant this season, yet there he was Saturday, starting and leading LSU in tackles.
Injuries are a part of the game, so relying on your starting 11 too heavily is dangerous. Credit Les Miles for giving players like Riley a chance in games LSU is undoubtedly winning. Now those backups will be alert and able if the guy in front of them goes down.
Fans are always scared of change, so going from a quick-strike offense with a porous defense last season to a run-based offense with a shut-down defense can be scary.
A pass-first offense overwhelms opponents by scoring quick touchdowns, but a defense who constantly forces three-and-outs can be just as demoralizing. LSU’s defense didn’t just disrupt the Warhawks’ rhythm Saturday, it made playing the game unpleasant. Pete Thomas looked beaten after the game, fearful and ready to go back to the Sun Belt.
Any questions left about the defense will be answered next week when Mississippi State junior quarterback Dak Prescott comes to town. Prescott’s versatility was in full force in a win against South Alabama on Saturday, tallying a passing, rushing and receiving touchdown.
Mississippi State’s defense is atrocious, so Jennings and LSU’s arsenal of running backs will provide a decent amount of points. Getting big stops, creating turnovers and helping control time of possession will be key.
If it does stop Prescott, it’s going to be ugly. That’s something LSU fans are going to have to get used to.
Tommy Romanach is a 22-year-old mass communication senior from Dallas, Texas. You can reach him on Twitter @troman_28.