LSU football defensive coordinator Bo Pelini said at the Tigers’ preseason Media Day that LSU’s 2006 defense would be a better unit than the one that took the field in 2005. At the time, fans throughout Tiger nation scoffed at the notion that a defense that lost six players to the NFL could compete at a very high level. So far this season, not only has Pelini’s prediction come true, but the LSU defense has statistically surpassed Nick Saban’s vaunted 2003 BCS National Championship defense. So far this season, the LSU defense has given up a little more than 12 points per game, ranking the Tigers sixth in the NCAA and second in the Southeastern Conference in scoring defense. In 2003, with most of the difficult games played at home, LSU gave up 11 points per game. Critics argue that point-per-game totals may be flawed because they do not take into account how many points were scored as a result of short fields and turnovers, but further comparison shows Pelini’s unit to again be superior to that of former defensive coordinator Will Muschamp’s team. The national championship defense surrendered 252 yards per game thanks to a stout rush defense that gave up only 67 yards rushing per game. This season LSU is second in the NCAA in total defense allowing only 238 yards a game, led by a secondary that is rated No. 4 in the country, giving up 145 pass yards per game. What makes the LSU secondary more impressive is the number of blowouts LSU has been involved in this season. The Tigers have won by 30 or more points six times this season, and by 40 or more points four times, forcing their opponents to be in passing situations more frequently than the other defenses in the conference. LSU is also good at rush defense, thanks to a strong defensive line. “I said it before the season watching the team over the summer, this is the best defensive line I’ve ever seen assembled at LSU,” NFL draft expert Mike Detillier said. “And I’d include that in the group that won the national championship.” The numbers of underclassmen that have started on both defenses is also impressive. In 2003, LSU started three seniors, five juniors, two sophomores and one true freshman. This season, the Tigers start three seniors, five juniors and three sophomores. “This is a very, very talented team,” Detillier said. “When you consider that you’re only losing three seniors, one of which has been injured most of the season, you’ve got quite a unit coming back.” The strength of LSU’s schedule this season also plays in the favor of this season’s team. LSU’s 2006 opponents have a combined record of 71-52, and the Tigers had to face four top-10 teams – Auburn University, the University of Florida, the University of Tennessee and the University of Arkansas – all of which were on the road where a team is more likely to have coverage breakdowns which lead to easy points. The 2003 team faced a far weaker schedule, playing teams with a combined record of 73-78, including Division I-AA opponent Western Illinois, who was 9-4. The only top-10 team LSU played in the 2003 regular season was the University of Georgia, and that game was played in Tiger Stadium. One area in which this year’s team cannot yet stack up with the 2003 squad is in the number of players projected to play in the NFL. All eleven starters from the 2003 defense either are in the NFL currently, have been in the NFL or are projected to be a first round pick in this year’s upcoming draft. The feat is extremely rare and may not be accomplished again for years to come. Various NFL draft experts, including ESPN.com’s Mel Kiper Jr., predict that senior safeties LaRon Landry and Jessie Daniels along with senior defensive end Chase Pittman could be first-day draft picks in the 2007 draft, but the rest of the starters’ draft statuses will be determined by how well they perform in the final years of their career.
Detillier said he expects similar results from this year’s team, because LSU has a pro-style system. “I think that every one of these guys will get an opportunity to play at the next level,” he said. “This LSU defense reminds me of when you watch an NFL team, because they have the talent level, the speed level and the abilty to make plays all similar to an NFL team.” Although this season may not produce the results the 2003 team did in terms of wins and losses, Pelini’s defense is playing at a championship level. “You have to tip your hat to the job [Pelini] has done for LSU,” Detillier said. “Replacing Nick Saban isn’t easy, but it’s been a smooth transition.”
—–Contact Casey Gisclair at [email protected]