For years, LSU football has been known for producing NFL-ready defensive backs and flashy playmakers.
This year, the Tigers are trying to form a cohesive unit by building an identity on defense that can withhold against some of the country’s best offenses.
That job belongs to defensive coordinator Blake Baker, now in his second season calling plays for LSU. A year ago, inconsistency defined the Tigers’ defense – strong stretches of pass rush would be undone by missed tackles or blown assignments in the run game. This defense has turned around and established itself as the backbone of the Tigers.
“Part of the job, being the defensive coordinator is obviously fitting the scheme to your players,” Baker said. “I think from an overall athleticism standpoint, we’ve upgraded. Also from an experience standpoint; we’ve brought in, like we’ve talked about a thousand times, guys that have played a lot of football.”
While the offense has slipped at times, it’s Baker’s defensive plays that have kept LSU in games, showing milestone improvement from the inconsistency that has haunted the program in recent years. Through six games, LSU is allowing just 11.83 points per game, a number that ranks among the nation’s best.
The Tigers are also holding opponents to an average of 297 total yards, with an average of just 102.5 rushing yards per game. That dominance against the run is no accident — Baker spent the offseason hammering tackle fundamentals and run-fit discipline. The results have shown on the field, with fewer broken plays, and limited damage after contact.
“There’s definitely some things that we’re going to do different schematically to give our guys a better chance at that,” Baker said about defending opposing teams’ run game. “[We’re] making sure that we give them the tools necessary to stop the run.”
The pass defense has been more of a rollercoaster. Opponents are completing 58% of their throws against LSU and averaging about 10 yards per attempt. The Tigers have given up their share of big plays, as Ole Miss racked up 314 passing yards in LSU’s first loss of the season.
The Tigers have been able to balance it out with opportunism; LSU’s secondary has even snagged seven interceptions, including a five-pick performance against Florida that tied a school record for most interceptions in a single game since 2007.
That very chance to take an opportunity like that has become a defining trait of this defense. Safeties have been used as versatile chess pieces, rotating from the box to deep coverage and creating confusion for the quarterback. The edge rushers have supplied enough pressure to force hurried throws, though LSU’s 16 sacks through six games still lags behind many other SEC defensive powerhouses.
The story of this defensive unit is not just about talent but also about buy-in; players have spoken about the trust this team has built in Baker’s scheme.
“This is one of the most fun defenses I’ve ever coached,” Baker said. “It’s a group of guys that are all pulling the rope in the same direction.”
Now, in its second year, this trust has been shown, but compared to other SEC schools, the unit still sits in the middle ground — better than most, but still chasing the top tier.
A top school like Texas A&M is the SEC’s sack factory, producing pressure and disruption at a higher average than LSU. While the Tigers’ front is sturdy against the run, LSU doesn’t generate the same backfield chaos.
A storied school like Alabama thrives on versatility, disguising coverages and thriving in situational football. The Tide are able to excel at third-down stops and red-zone defense. LSU has improved in those areas, but Alabama’s consistency in high moments sets it apart.
LSU’s identity halfway through the season is clear: stop the run, rush to the football and let the athletic defensive backs make the plays. It’s a formula that works against middle-tier SEC offenses, but the Tigers still need to show it can contain the heavyweight teams.
“This is the part of the season now where teams begin to show what they’re made of, and for us certainly what we are looking for is a complete game, but our defense is playing well,” LSU head coach Brian Kelly said.
Until then, the Tigers’ defense is best described as dangerous, but not yet dominant. Only time will tell for the remainder of the season to see if the LSU defense can turn unstoppable.
