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Georgia converted three LSU turnovers into 17 points during Saturday’s game. But LSU’s defense couldn’t keep pace and collected no turnovers.Forcing turnovers has been one area on defense where the Tigers have noticeably struggled this season. The team has recorded just seven takeaways through seven games compared to 19 — six fumble recoveries and 13 interceptions — through the first seven games of last year’s national championship season.LSU’s defense has also allowed 316.4 yards of total offense per game this season, the most ever under coach Les Miles.LSU senior defensive tackle Marlon Favorite said giving up numbers like that is “embarrassing,” and a goal for the defense is to improve on forcing turnovers.”We’re practicing to create turnovers,” Favorite said. “Obviously the running backs we’ve played the past few weeks have been very sound in ball control and handling the ball, so strips are a hard thing to get.”The biggest difference from 2007 to 2008 has been the rushing yards given up per game. The LSU defense is allowing 110.57 yards on the ground, compared to a mere average of 68 yards through seven games last year. Since Miles became LSU’s coach in 2005, the team has never averaged more than 100 yards rushing allowed per game.The Tigers are also allowing 26 points per game — the most in Miles’ tenure. The team has given up 103 total points in its two losses this season.Senior defensive end Tyson Jackson said seeing that statistic is hard to swallow.”[The losses] both stung really bad and are still stinging,” Jackson said. “A loss is a loss, but having that many points put up on you is disappointing for me as a defensive player.”Sophomore safety Chad Jones said the defense’s performance this season is uncharacteristic.”As a defense we’re trying to get our identity back,” Jones said. “With a big loss against Florida and a big loss this week and so many points being put up on the board, there’s a question mark about what’s happening with our defense. But we’re definitely trying to get our identity back and seeing and fixing the problems we’ve been having.”Miles said the effort he saw Saturday from his defense was good, but the unit may be trying to do too much.”One play, we were gap-sound, and we pursued the ball like we were supposed to, but a play later in the script when the exact defense was called, it’s not played the way it was described or coached,” Miles said. “And the reason is the defensive guys are trying to make great plays before they execute their assignment. They’re pressing if you will, maybe trying too hard.”The Tigers’ decreased performance on defense has come against arguably weaker opponents. LSU has faced four unranked teams this season and three ranked conference foes. And Auburn, which was No. 10 when the teams faced off, is now unranked.Junior linebacker Perry Riley is stumped as to why the defense has been unable to effectively stop their opponents.”If I knew the answer, it would make it less difficult than it is,” Riley said. “Teams have done a good job scheming us as far as spreading us out and running the ball. Everybody is disappointed, and we know we have to do better.”—-Contact Rachel Whittaker at [email protected]