A lot still needs to be done to flip the switch on defense, but let’s start discussing it.
The defense showed glimpses of what looks like momentum for LSU. Looking at the scoreboard, LSU gave up 39 points and in the stat sheet, the defense still gave up over 500 total yards, but while watching the game, they showed some improvement.
To begin, LSU forced two turnovers, which it has struggled with all year. Before Saturday, LSU only had four interceptions, but linebacker Harold Perkins and safety Major Burns were able to get crucial interceptions against a high-powered Missouri offense.
Getting off the field has been a problem for LSU and one way to change that is to create takeaways. Defensive end Bradyn Swinson was able to knock the ball out on a sack with a minute and 40 seconds left. Although LSU didn’t recover the fumble, it was crucial as it ruined the entire drive for Missouri.
Speaking of the defensive line, that was something that needed to play better to take the stress off the back end. It wasn’t much, but LSU did have two sacks: one by Swinson and the other by Maason Smith. That defensive line that everyone has been asking more from started to show that potential. They also tallied four tackles for loss.
Everyone expects multiple sack games from Perkins, Smith, Mekhi Wingo and more but that’s not what they should be held accountable for. They need to cause more havoc along the defensive line.
Whether it’s being able to shed blocks and get in the backfield for tackles for a loss or making the quarterback uncomfortable and not having all day in the pocket, the defensive line needs to establish itself consistently and more often and on Saturday they began to do so.
The second-half defense as a whole was much better after giving up 25 points in the first half as they only allowed 14 points in the second half. After that brutal loss against Ole Miss where LSU gave up 56 points and 24 of them in the second half, this is much-needed improvement going forward.
The biggest thing they need to work on is consistency, they are throwing a lot of bodies out there trying to find the best fit in the secondary but only allowing 175 yards passing in the second half is a start.
Also, something that was constantly being discussed with the defense was their third down conversion rate. Last week LSU simply couldn’t get off the field. Ole Miss converted on third down nine out of 16 times.
It was an awful showing on the defensive side of the ball as the offense continued to score and kept giving them a chance to catch up but failed to get off the field. However, against Missouri, the defense was able to capitalize on third downs much better.
Missouri only converted four out of 11 on third down compared to the nine out of 16 that Ole Miss was able to convert. That was a 30% drop from last week and was able to get into fewer third-down situations.
There is still a lot of work that needs to be done for LSU in order to get to where it needs to be, but they are on the right path to what needs to be done.
LSU still has to improve its tackling and limit the big plays but showing improvement from a week that the defense was considered one of the worst of all time is a step in the right direction.
