Michigan, Georgia (twice), Alabama and LSU. The past five National Champions all have one trait in common- destructive defensive lines.
Pick any of the five, you’ll find at least a day-two pick on each defensive line: Kris Jenkins (projected 2nd round pick), Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Christian Barnmore and K’Lavon Chaisson.
LSU appears to have noticed this trend, and hired both Bo Davis and Kevin Peoples to help reinstate the program’s defensive line. Defense’s rely on linemen for a good reason; good defensive lines help mask imperfections, great ones allow teams to play at whatever speed they desire.
Football is a game of rhythm. A team able to evenly gain yards typically wins the game. The rhythm LSU’s offense possessed last year is why it was the No. 1 offense, in points per game.
Think about offensive rhythm like this: Logan Diggs rushes for four yards, Diggs rushes for three yards, Jayden Daniels throws for six yards and a pattern similar to this is repeated all the way down to the endzone. While maybe not big play after big play, it’s positive play after positive play, with hardly any negative plays.
When a team gets in a rhythm, their offense begins to flow together, making big plays easier. A defense’s job is to prevent that from occurring. Disrupting passing lanes, running lanes and collapsing the pocket all help make the offense feel uncomfortable and the defense’s job easier.
Defensive lines are so important because they’re the ultimate disrupter.
When a quarterback is uncomfortable, teams normally rely on the running game to take some of the pressure off their passer. As a running back gains more yards, the offense can begin to gel. However, if a defensive line minimizes the running game, the team is forced to pass, weakening their chances of victory.
If running lanes are closed, a quarterback is forced to throw. If the pocket is collapsing, a quarterback has less room to throw and if he throws and a defensive linemen deflects the ball at the line, then the passing lane is also closed. A defensive line is able to disrupt every aspect of offensive football, allowing them to limit more advanced play calling.
Run-pass option plays, or known as RPOs, are heavily used in college football. The play allows the quarterback to hand the ball off or quickly pass the ball, depending how the defense looks post snap.
Whenever a defensive line closes the running lanes, the quarterback is forced to throw, and depending on how well the coverage is, the quarterback could throw a pick or take a sack. Defensive lines can cause a forced throw, which can be defended by decent coverage.
Forced throws are how defensive lines elevate their teammates. Pressure eventually creates picks.
A collapsing pocket forces off platform throws with less space. While the thrower’s motion might only change a few inches, the ball placement will change a few feet. That means even if a defensive back loses his rep, the ball could potentially be incomplete or intercepted.
Last year, LSU only had nine people on its defensive line record any major disruptive play. The line finished last year producing a total 20 sacks (1.54 per game), 37 tackles for loss (2.85 per game) and 14 pass deflections (1.08 per game). These numbers might sound productive, but pale in comparison to other defensive lines.
Michigan’s top five leaders in sacks all play on its defensive line; unlike LSU, who has two linebackers in its top five. In fact, Michigan’s top five players in sacks produced more disruptive plays than LSU’s entire defensive line.
Five players outperformed LSU’s entire defensive line. The cornerstone of a good defense is a strong, disruptive defensive line, and last year the Tigers didn’t possess that.
Luckily, the Tigers appear to be in good hands, with the recent hirings of Davis and Peoples; also with talent on the outside with Jaxon Howard, Da’Shawn Womack and Bradyn Swinson.
While this group of players is a start, the Tigers will need to continue to invest heavily in their defensive line if they want to fix their defensive woes, and start competing for National Championships again.
