The previous two BCS title-winning defenses faced off last weekend in what was supposed to be a tight battle between Southeastern Conference juggernauts. LSU’s defense returned from The Swamp wondering what went wrong, as Florida thumped the Tigers, 51-21.This weekend LSU travels to Columbia, S.C., to face the nation’s No. 3 total defense, which surrenders an average of only 241 yards per game.LSU has a history of success against South Carolina and leads the all-time series, 15-2-1. The Tigers have never lost in Williams-Brice Stadium.But LSU coach Les Miles said he’s only thinking about the Gamecocks’ defensive play this year.South Carolina’s run defense improved greatly under new defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson.”They get to the ball,” Miles said. “They made a change at the coordinator spot on defense, and it’s really benefited [them].”The Gamecocks allow an average of 109 rushing yards per game, roughly half of last year’s mark.In conference play, South Carolina has held each of its opponents below its season scoring average.But Miles said he’s more concerned with eliminating mistakes in the offensive line and the secondary.”It just seemed that there was a mistake about once a play, and it was not necessarily any one guy but one guy on every play,” Miles said. “It’s more about fixing us than it is about the teams we play.”South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier said his offense’s running game will rely on the No. 3 passing offense in the SEC.The Gamecocks average fewer yards per carry (3.1) than any SEC team.”We’ve got to keep mixing it up,” Spurrier said. “But we also know we need to throw the ball to move it consistently.”A QUICK LOOK BACKDefensive end Tyson Jackson said the LSU defensive front simply wasn’t “gap sound” Saturday night. “Every time someone stepped out of his gap or tried to control two gaps, it was easy to spot on the offensive side of the ball,” Jackson said. “Once [Florida] recognized that it was easy to start gashing us.” The Gators piled up 265 yards rushing against the Tigers, who entered the game as the SEC’s No. 3 run defense. The performance caused LSU’s rushing yards allowed to skyrocket from 69 yards per game to 108 after the loss. Jackson said the defense feels disrespected by both the points and the statistics LSU allowed Florida to rack up. “It’s like a slap in the face,” said Jackson, who recorded two sacks and three tackles and recovered one fumble against the Gators. He also said the Tigers know they aren’t out of the picture for the SEC Championship. “Losses come every Saturday to the best teams in this conference,” Jackson said. “Now it’s time to redeem ourselves.”Running back Charles Scott had 12 carries for just 35 yards against Florida.He entered the game as the first LSU rusher to gain 100 or more yards in the first four games of a season.Scott said the players know they have to improve upon their performance against Florida if they want to beat South Carolina on Saturday in a game he and several Tigers believe will be a “dogfight.””It was understood when we got here Sunday, we’ve got to do better than this,” Scott said.PINPOINTING THE PROBLEMMiles attributed blown coverages to many of the woes the Tiger pass defense has had recently.”It’s got to get fixed, and it’s too regular,” Miles said. “Our guys want to fix it too.”Junior safety Harry Coleman said communication in the secondary will help correct missed assignments.”Sometimes we have a tendency to look in the backfield at the quarterback instead of our man when we’re in man-to-man,” Coleman said.The defensive backs can’t afford to get caught jumping routes, Coleman added.”A lot of teams are running double moves on us, where we anticipate one way, and the receiver goes the other way,” Coleman said. A MAN WITH A PLANCornerback Jai Eugene said he noticed a pattern of what opposing offenses are doing to keep LSU off balance.”Last year South Carolina ran an offensive formation that we really couldn’t stop, and teams who normally don’t run that have been using it against us.” Eugene said. “It’s called trips slots — with three receivers on one side and a backside tight end — and they got a lot of yards off it.”In the Tigers’ 28-16 home victory against the Gamecocks in last season, South Carolina gained 244 yards through the air, including pass plays of 45, 27 and 24 yards.The Gators opened Saturday’s game in the trips formation for the first two plays before scoring on third down using a similar look.—-Contact David Harvey at [email protected]