In its first two games, the LSU defense allowed 461 yards passing and four touchdowns to Arizona State quarterback Sam Keller and 250 passing yards to Tennessee. In the following two games, the LSU defense has allowed just 13 points.
Coach Les Miles said the sudden improvements on the defensive side of the ball has been apparent through that stretch.
“The defense is continually improving,” Miles said. “What they did in the third game, in the last 10 days, shows that the defense is coming up to speed.”
Following the victory at Vanderbilt, LSU’s rush defense ranked No. 2 in the nation, giving up 62.5 yards per game. LSU has yet to give up more than 70 yards on the ground to an opponent this season.
“The rushing defensive is there,” senior defensive tackle Kyle Williams said. “We have an opportunity to make a team one-dimensional. If we can take the run game away and force them to put it in the air, that’s when we can pin our ears back and go after them.”
In LSU’s third game, a 37-7 win at Mississippi State, quarterback Omarr Connor completed 11 of 26 passes for 173 yards despite an early 66 yard touchdown pass. The 173 yards through the air showed improvement from a week before, when LSU gave up 250 passing yards to Tennessee at home in a 30-27 loss.
“You see less busts and people understand where they’re supposed to be,” Miles said. “[The defense] has good confidence in what we’re doing.”
With continuous improvement since the beginning of the season under new defensive coordinator Bo Pelini, Williams said game experience is the reason for the improvement.
Saturday’s game will be just the second home game of the year.
“When you have a new defensive philosophy, there’s only so much you can simulate in practice,” Williams said. “The more games you play, the better you’ll get with your scheme.”
LSU’s defense may have improved just in time for Florida, which ranks No. 1 in the conference in passing at 258.2 yards per game. Quarterback Chris Leak ranks second at 244.7 yards a contest.
“In the past, Leak would run to throw the ball,” Williams said. “Now he’s running the ball to gain yards, and that just gives us a whole new aspect to prepare for.”
Williams said pressure on Leak will be key in maintaining a strong defensive front.
“We have to keep after the quarterback,” Williams said. “We have to force them to make some bad throws in helping out our defensive backs.”
Contact Jeff Sentell at [email protected]