The drought is over.And what a dry spell it’s been for the Tigers.Until LSU senior safety Curtis Taylor intercepted South Carolina freshman quarterback Steven Garcia with four minutes left in Saturday’s game, the Tigers had gone nearly 13 quarters without a pick.LSU had 11 interceptions through six games last season. The Tigers scored 89 points, compiled 1,296 yards of total offense and committed six turnovers — four interceptions and two fumbles — during the time between LSU junior cornerback Chris Hawkins’ third-quarter interception Sept. 20 against Auburn and Taylor’s pick Saturday against South Carolina.But LSU’s defensive woes don’t stop there.It may actually be the high note for a defense that has fallen to the bottom of most of the Southeastern Conference’s major defensive categories.The Tigers are No. 8 in the SEC (No. 24 in the nation) in total defense. They’re surrendering 295.33 yards per game.The 198.67 passing yards allowed per game is good enough for No. 9 in the conference (No. 51 in the nation).And did I mention the Tigers rank last in the SEC with a red-zone defense that has allowed the opposing team to score on 94 percent of their trips inside the 20-yard line?That’s good enough for No. 112 out of 117 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in the nation.So LSU might have a recipe for disaster this weekend when the Tigers take on the SEC’s best offense in Georgia.The Bulldogs sit atop the conference in total offense (429.57 yards per game) and passing      offense (260.1 yards per game).Georgia sophomore running back — this week’s SEC offensive player of the week — Knowshon Moreno and junior quarterback Matthew Stafford may have a field day if LSU doesn’t pick it up.It’s been seven years since the Tigers’ defense has ranked so low this deep into the season.LSU finished the 2001 season ranked No. 10 in the SEC (No. 75 in the nation) in total  defense during former coach Nick Saban’s second season.The Tigers finished the season 10-3 that year, won the SEC championship and defeated Illinois, 47-34, on Jan. 1, 2002, in the Sugar Bowl.After capturing the 2007 BCS National Championship, a Sugar Bowl berth may not be enough to please fans in Death Valley.But the Tigers’ fate all depends on which defense shows up to play.If the defense that took the field in the second half against South Carolina shows up every week, LSU will coast to the SEC championship — and possibly another BCS title game.None of the six remaining teams on LSU’s schedule can defeat the Tigers by averaging 42 yards per half like South Carolina.LSU took control of the game the way the 2007 Tigers would have by using pressure defense and solid tackling.The Tigers lost 10 starters from last season’s roster.And the consequences have been great.Since when can you say LSU is not statistically the best defense in its own state?This week you can. Tulane, ranked No. 23 in total defense, is one spot above the LSU in that category.I’m not saying the Green Wave has a better defensive unit than LSU, but they’ve allowed 294.5 yards per game compared to the 295.33 yards per game LSU has given up.Though LSU lost 10 starters from a year ago, the Tigers’ biggest lost may be someone that didn’t make the stat sheet.Former defensive coordinator Bo Pelini’s departure to Nebraska has hurt LSU since he left town.Co-defensive coordinators Doug Mallory and Bradley Dale Peveto have tried — and failed — to mimic the defensive success the Tigers have enjoyed since 2005.LSU is the only SEC school with two defensive coordinators, and fans will have the rest of the season to see if two is really better than one.It doesn’t look that way so far.—-Contact Jay St. Pierre at [email protected]