The sack attack is back.
The 2009 LSU defense was ranked near the top of the country in yards allowed, but one key component was missing — pressure on the quarterback.
The LSU defense is leading the nation with 10 sacks in two games this season —notching nearly half the sack total it had in 2009.
The defensive system remains the same, but a significant increase in athleticism has been an obvious boon for a defensive line that only managed 14 sacks last season.
“Our defensive linemen are probably fast enough to play safety or maybe corner at a lot of schools in the country, if not here,” said senior linebacker Kelvin Sheppard.
Through two games, the defensive line has accrued 7.5 sacks, led by senior defensive tackle Drake Nevis with 3.5.
Nevis has been a disruptive force in the middle of LSU’s defensive front this season. In addition to leading the team in sacks, he has been a key contributor to LSU, holding the opposition to a 1.4 yard average per rush this season.
Nevis credits defensive line coach Brick Haley with the unit’s improvement this season.
“Coach Brick, he’s on us everyday,” Nevis said. “He never lets us have a bad day at practice. He’s always on us making sure our technique’s right. It’s about discipline and all four guys working together.”
Nevis finished 2009 with four sacks, tied for second on the team. But Nevis played like a man posessed against Vanderbilt, finishing with 2.5 sacks.
“Nevis has improved. He’s always played with a great motor,” said LSU coach Les Miles. “I think he realizes that this is the back end of a very good career. He wants to make every game count, therefore his play by play stepped up.”
Redshirt freshmen Sam Montgomery and Barkevious Mingo have added a degree of athleticism to the defensive front that it lacked last season. The ends have been so quick off the ball, they have set up other players on defense.
“Montgomery is coming along,” Nevis said. “He’s starting to play like a veteran. I appreciate the pressure he takes off the defense because he does his job. He’s confident, and he takes his job seriously.”
Montgomery and Mingo have combined to post three sacks in their first two collegiate games.
Besides bringing excitement to the fans and the team, the sacks have had a tangible effect on the overall performance of the defense.
With added pressure being placed on the quarterback, the defensive backfield doesn’t have to linger with receivers. The results were evident in the box score of the Vanderbilt game — the Tigers allowed only 70 pass yards on 16 attempts.
“The defensive ends and the defensive tackles we have this year are so much quicker and faster than the previous years that I’ve been here,” said junior defensive back Patrick Peterson. “Those guys are so amazing at doing their thing that they’re giving the offensive line nightmares.”
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Contact Luke Johnson at [email protected]