The No. 8 LSU football team made history in Tiger Stadium on Saturday — from historic home win No. 400 to a record attendance of more than 101,000 to a defensive feat not seen in Baton Rouge since Franklin Roosevelt’s presidency.
For the first time since 1941, the Tigers (3-0) posted consecutive home shutouts, as they blanked University of Louisiana-Monroe 31-0.
Coming into their matchup with LSU the Warhawks (2-1) offense averaged 443 yards of offense per game, which included 156.5 yards on the ground and 286.5 yards in the air.
But ULM managed only 93 total yards against the Tigers, gaining 16 rushing yards and 77 passing yards.
The last time LSU’s defense held an opponent to less than 20 yards rushing was in its 2011 matchup against Northwestern State, in which the Tigers allowed -4 yards on the ground.
LSU held ULM to less than 100 yards passing, marking the second game this season it has done so. LSU’s defense allowed less than three yards per attempt against Wisconsin and ULM.
Another key part of the defense’s success was getting off the field on third downs. The Tigers are second in the Southeastern Conference and tied for 10th in the nation in defensive third-down conversion percentage, allowing a conversation rate of only .256.
“As a defense, we pride ourselves on getting off of the field on third downs,” said junior safety Jalen Mills. “We have a lot of situations in practice where we do third-and-two, third-and-five, third-and-seven and third-and-long. That is the time in practice when we turn the intensity up a little more than where it already is.”
The Tigers lead the nation in team defensive passing efficiency, putting pressure on offenses at every level. The combined work of the defensive line and the secondary against ULM exemplified how effectively the team works together.
“I think by us playing the coverages right and how we are playing, it makes the d-line’s job way easier because now you have coverage sacks,” Mills said. “Then you might get where the D-line is getting pressure and we might get a turnover.”
The defense’s shutout was highlighted by the talent-ridden secondary.
“With [sophomore cornerback Tre’Davious White] and [sophomore cornerback] Rashard Robinson and really a number of guys that can step on the field and play, it allows you to sink guys into coverage and feel like their receivers are gone,” said LSU coach Les Miles. “Now, you blitz and bring an extra guy, you don’t feel as vulnerable.”
The talent is so deep within the unit that starters are rotated out every few series to get other players on the field.
“It is something that we practice and it is just what it is,” White said. “I’m okay with it because I know with those guys out there the same plays will be made.”
With the addition of freshman safety Jamal Adams and freshman cornerback Ed Paris, the depth within the secondary gives defensive coordinator John Chavis options to give players rest, especially against up-tempo offensives.
“[The depth] helps out tremendously,” White said. “Anytime you have that much depth in the defensive backfield, it helps out because with up-tempo teams we were playing guys get gassed and those guys earned their spots on the team and their playing time. They put in so much work over the summer, especially [Jamal Adams and Ed Paris] learning the coverages and becoming comfortable with the schemes.”
The defense continued to get pressure on the quarterback, allowing the secondary to play more for takeaways. Despite their success this season, the Tigers enter conference play against next week Mississippi State, which will be LSU’s first test against a proven offense.