Defense is the key

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By Jeffrey Hathorn

After a sluggish start in the opener against Washington, in which quarterback Jake Locker torched the LSU secondary for 321 yards passing, John Chavis' squad has gelled to become one of the SEC's top defenses.

LSU's defense is not leading the conference in any major statistic categories, nor led by a Heisman candidate, but the Tigers are still getting the job done in 2009. LSU is holding their opponents to 13.9 points a game, compared to 24.2 in 2008.

In its last three SEC games, LSU combined to limit Georgia, Florida and Auburn to a total of 36 points. Last year, those three teams combined to score 124 points on the Tigers (Auburn 21, Florida 51, Georgia 52).

LSU head coach Les Miles likes the way his defense is progressing.

"This defense seems to have a smile on its face when it goes out to play, and they are playing aggressive and downhill to the football. There is a sprit there that is allowing them to continue to get better."

Harry Coleman was converted to linebacker in 2009 due to John Chavis' defensive mastermind. Coleman has played well in his new position and is tied for second on the team in tackles with 47. Against Auburn, Coleman had a career day finishing with nine tackles, two sacks and two forced fumbles in the 31-10 LSU win. Both of Coleman's forced fumbles turned into LSU scores.

Miles' said Chavis's scheme has always flourished with a hybrid, a player who is a blend of linebacker and defensive back, at the outside linebacker spot. It is that sort of ability that enables Chavis' defenses to avoid nickel and other packages requiring wholesale substitutions on a particular down.

LSU's defense has drastically improved since the departures of last year's co-defensive coordinators Bradley Dale Peveto and Doug Mallory. Peveto is now the head coach at Northwestern State and his Demons are winless in 2009. Mallory took over the defensive coordinator position at New Mexico and his defense ranks #109 nationally out of 120 teams.

It appears that Les Miles got his act together with his hire of John Chavis who is helping LSU fans forget about the dismal defense Peveto and Mallory fielded in 2008.

This year's Tiger defense has been fun to watch. They are flying to the ball, making big hits, causing wreckage to opposing quarterbacks, and most importantly, they are winning ball games.

If LSU's defense can continue to play to the level they have the last few weeks, this team can win a championship. LSU controls their destiny the rest of the season; however, it is not going to be easy. The Tigers lost to Alabama, Ole Miss and Arkansas to finish the season last year. This team is going to want revenge and they will get it started in Tuscaloosa on November 7th.

Alabama is undefeated on the year and who better to come rolling into town to ruin their season than the LSU Mad Hatters? Alabama has turned into a one dimensional football team behind sophomore sensation Mark Ingram. Ingram has emerged as one of the favorites to win the Heisman trophy with 1,004 yards and 8 touchdowns this year. This is due to a poor starting quarterback for the Crimson Tide in senior Greg McElroy. After a good start to the season, McElroy played terrible in Bama's last two games.

McElroy can't even get the ball to Julio Jones, who only has 229 yards receiving and one touchdown on the season.

With a weak passing game, LSU will need to stack the box and stop Mark Ingram. If LSU can hold Ingram to around 100 yards rushing, the Tigers will walk out of Bryant-Denny Stadium with a victory thanks in large part to an improved defense

Prediction: LSU-23 Alabama-13

Originally Published: Issue 822 - November 4, 2009

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