John Chavis is trying to get his defense to round into form. (Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports)
What’s going on at LSU?
Oh sure, the Tigers are winning. That’s nothing new. They are doing it with a hot quarterback, a strong running game and an offense that is averaging 45.5 points per game.
So what is the problem at LSU?
The Tigers are 5-1 and they are doing it by flexing their usual offensive muscles. What is unusual is that they are doing it with as leaky a defense that has been seen in Baton Rouge in many years and never in the Les Miles era.
Opponents are scoring on LSU at a 24.7 points per game clip overall and an amazing 30.3 points per game in Southeastern Conference play.
This weekend the Tigers play host to one of the SEC’s least prolific offenses when the Florida Gators come to Death Valley for a Saturday afternoon date. Florida is finding offensive life after the season-ending injury to quarterback Jeff Driskel. Tyler Murphy has stepped in and has injected more life into the Florida offense and that could spell trouble for the LSU defense, along with defensive coordinator John Chavis.
“On to Florida … We’ll be challenged. A very, very talented team,” said Miles. “They have good players. So good, quality Florida team, ranked number 17, which in my opinion, they look a lot better than 17. They’re the No. 1 team defensively in the league. They’re allowing 12 points, 217 yards, 65 yards rushing and 152 yards passing.
“They lead in all major defensive categories. Again, a very sound scheme. They don’t give up big plays. Again, Will Muschamp does a great job with that defense. Offensively they’re averaging 25 points, just under 400 yards a game, 107 yards rushing and 200 yards passing.
“The quarterback is a playmaker, Tyler Murphy, and they have two very, very quality running backs and this Trey Burton comes in. He’s a playmaker. He leads them in receiving, and he can play quarterback kick. I thought he seems like we’ve been playing that guy for a long time. We need check his eligibility.”
Last week LSU was in a battle against Mississippi State leading just 28-26 in the third quarter until the Tigers’ defense adjusted and ran off to a 59-26 victory. But the fact that Mississippi State rolled up 468 yards in total offense brings the LSU defenses into question.
“Really all we have to do is play our technique and do the things that we’re being coached to do and be confident and play with poise that’s all we need to do. That’s it,” said Miles. “It’s the things that we’ve coached you to do, and accept the adjustment in a like fashion and play.
“Tackle well and do the things that we’re used to doing, and our football team, for that matter our defense, will take strides really each week.”
Miles said the responsibility for executing the defense that he and Chavis are teaching ultimately comes down to the players themselves.
“There is a point in time where your players have to realize that this is a technical game and that this is what you have to go through,” said Miles. “I don’t think that contact is necessary to teach that kind of technical ability. I think that you understand how important the small things are in your daily regiment, that you can continue to improve. Not necessarily tackling a guy to the ground, but will tackle, legitimately tackle every day.”
It is a game by game progression.
“I think that there’s definitely room for improvement,” Miles said. “I don’t think that we’ve gotten to the high side of the water mark, if will you, of our defense. I think it’s taking strides. I think they took a really nice stride last Saturday. I think our guys will see this film and go, yeah. That’s what we’re capable of. That’s how we need to play. Let’s continue to move in that direction.
“Well, I just want to win the next game. And I want to win the next game by one more than the opponent. If we can continue to do that, we’ll get to the back end of this thing and look back and go, yes or no. But in any event, that’s really all about the very next game.
“I can tell you this: It’s not nearly as much fun when it’s a game that you feel like you may have to just score more than the opponent,” said the LSU coach. “I like how our defense is coming, and I think we’ll get back to great LSU defense very quickly.”
The next big test will come Saturday afternoon against the Florida Gators.
