LSU's Defense Dominates Early, But Real Test Awaits

The LSU Tigers have opened the season with a 4-1 record, but the toughest challenges are still ahead. They wrapped up their non-conference slate with a commanding 63-14 victory over McNeese State.

Much remains to be learned about Lane Kiffin's squad. The team bolstered its roster significantly through the transfer portal, and as SEC play gets underway, a clearer picture of the Tigers' identity will emerge.

One thing that has become evident is the elite play of LSU's defense. This unit's dominance stems from a couple of key factors.

Playing With a Lead

A defense performs much better when it has a lead to protect. Except for the Ole Miss game, the Tigers have trailed for just under five minutes all season. Blake Baker's defense has only had one poor half all year. When LSU is ahead, Baker can be more aggressive with his play calls, forcing opponents to become one-dimensional. Consequently, the Tigers have allowed the second-fewest rushing yards per game in the SEC (58.40) and the second-fewest rush yards per attempt (2.01).

It all starts up front. Led by Princewill Umanmielen, LSU is a force on the defensive line. Deuce Geralds and Jordan Ross are emerging as stars, and the Tigers have multiple players capable of stopping the run or rushing the passer.

Getting Off the Field on Third Down

LSU is preventing teams from sustaining drives. This season, opposing offenses are 18-for-69 (26%) on third down. That is an astonishing achievement for Baker's group. No matter how good an offense is, if a defense is that effective on third down, scoring drives become difficult to maintain.

But getting off the field on third down begins with early-down execution. The Tigers have allowed 220 total yards per game, which ranks second nationally. Offensive schemes struggle without good first-down plays, and LSU is shutting everything down. They have playmakers at every level, whether it's Umanmielen, Whit Weeks (when healthy), DJ Pickett, or Ty Benefield.

Offenses haven't been able to exploit the Tigers' defense yet. Could this strong defensive performance be a product of an easier schedule? Possibly. Clemson and Texas A&M have looked like a shell of their former selves this year. But it's impossible to ignore this unit's talent.

Baker's defense is playing at a high level. They'll get a chance to prove how legitimate they are over the coming weeks, but Lane Kiffin has to be pleased so far.

Zion Trammell graduated from TCU with a degree in sports broadcasting and journalism. He joined on SI in 2022. In addition to writing for LSU on SI, he is a play-by-play announcer and writes for MLB on SI. Follow zion_trammell.