I just wanted to show the rankings for this LSU defense: #12 Scoring Defense http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/natlRank.jsp?year=2009&rpt=IA_teamscordef&site=org&div=IA&dest=O #22 in Total Defense http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/natlRank.jsp?year=2009&rpt=IA_teamtotdef&site=org&div=IA&dest=O #20 Pass Defense http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/natlRank.jsp?year=2009&rpt=IA_teampassdef&site=org&div=IA&dest=O Before Auburn we were #40 in Total Defense and #17 in scoring defense.
Two things: 1. Washington game was not good for this defense. 2. I believe that this is one of the best defenses in the nation. If our offense could have kept a few more drives going, our D would not have to be on the field so long. therefore, not give up as many yards. In other words, as compared nationaly, If LSU had performed better on offense, Our D would jump quite a few spots. One of the best in the nation. Even with LSU's D having been on the field for so many plays, those are good stats.
One thing that I noticed is that we are exactly ONE yard per game behind Alabama in passing defense. This comes as quite a surprise, because we all know that Saban is the best in the business in terms of molding his secondary. I’m not insinuating that Bama is lackluster in that regard, I think it just speaks very, very highly of not only our DB’s, but also Ron Cooper. . .one of the unsung heroes of the defense but whom many of us expected to make a serious & immediate impact. Man, just think back to last year and how atrocious our pass defense was. . . Having these sort of defensive statistics in a coordinator’s first year is remarkable. There’s always a learning curve at the beginning of the year, so that usually weights the stats against you at first. If you could mathematically flatten out that curve, we’d most likely be top 3 at this point.
F the HATERS! lol But really, what a good job. Much respect to Coaching staff on that side of things.
I think we are going to see more of what we saw in the AU game from here on out. JC may have been reluctant to be over agressive in that area, being concerned about the secondary. Now that it is apparent that the secondary is pretty solid, having the LB's make a stronger push to the QB will be possible.
I think that we will continue to see a more fluid offensive attach like we saw in the first 20-30 plays of the AU game. Having the plays scripted well, to set up short yardage situations, where we can continue to move the chains.
