By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports
COLUMBIA, Mo. — It didn’t take long for LSU head coach Brian Kelly as he watched film of his team’s 55-49 loss last Saturday at Ole Miss to confirm why his defense played like crash-test dummies in allowing a school-record 706 yards.
While the Tigers’ inexperienced cornerback rotation received much public criticism since Rebels quarterback Jaxson Dart threw for 389 yards and a career-best four touchdowns to exceptionally open receivers, the crux of LSU’s woes started on the line of scrimmage.
The Tigers’ starting D-line, regarded in the preseason as one of the team’s strengths, recorded zero sacks and also got gouged for 317 rushing yards and 3 TDs.
“We have to do a better job up front,” Kelly said after Thursday’s practice before he and his 23rd-ranked team (3-2 overall, 2-1 SEC West) left town Friday for today’s 11 a.m. SEC battle at No. 21 Missouri (5 -0, 1-0 SEC East). “This game is not that complicated when it comes to breaking down the areas that you need to improve. We need to improve at the line of scrimmage.
“If we improve at the line of scrimmage, we create less air in our defense. And by doing so we put our guys in better tackling positions. If those two things come together, we’re going to be improved right away.”
In LSU’s first three SEC games, LSU’s primary eight-man D-line rotation (starters listed first, then the backup) of DTs Mehki Wingo/Jordan Jefferson and Maason Smith/Jacob Guillory, DE Sai’vion Jones/Paris Shand and JACK linebacker Ogie Oghoufo/Bradyn Swinson have combined for just 4½ tackles for loss including 2 sacks and just 7 QB hurries.
The last two Saturdays vs. LSU, Arkansas QBs KJ Jefferson and Ole Miss’ Dart combined for 756 total offense yards and 8 TDs.
With the Tigers tied for 86th nationally in sacks with just 9 in five games and ranked 100th or worse nationally in five defensive categories, Kelly hired former LSU defensive line coach and defensive coordinator Pete Jenkins last Monday as a consultant.
Kelly had the 82-year-old Jenkins, regarded as one of the best D-line teachers in football, open LSU’s defensive hood, eyeball the D-line on film and tinker with the Tigers’ fundamentals and techniques. He tightened all the loose nuts and bolts hoping to keep the defense from being tossed in the scrap heap for the final seven games of the regular season.
Wingo, who earned All-SEC honors last season after transferring from Missouri, said Jenkins’ visit was beneficial.
“It’s always great when you get a great mind like him in a room just to talk ball and technique and things like that,” Wingo said after Tuesday’s practice. “He was out there (during practice) and the guys responded well.
“He said we had to clean up our eyes, focus on really getting off on the snap, crowding the line more, being disruptive in the backfield and making things easier for the linebackers.”
Kelly said Jenkins was able to make some technique adjustments.
“I enjoyed having Pete here,” Kelly said. “He loves LSU. He’s got an incredible resume of knowledge and the believability factor with our players is immediate.
“It’s going to take some time to make the kind of impact that you can see for the long haul,” Kelly said. “It’s going to take time to work on the necessary techniques. I just probably wish I did it sooner.”
LSU’s defensive challenge vs. Missouri is stopping the Mizzou pass-catch combo of QB Brady Cook and WR Luther Burden.
Cook ranks second in the SEC behind LSU’s QB Jayden Daniels in passing efficiency. He has 1,468 passing yards and 11 TDs and is coming off a win vs. Vanderbilt in which he threw for a career-high 395 yards and four touchdowns.
Burden leads the SEC in four receiving categories, including receptions (43) and yards (644).
Missouri leads the SEC in rushing defense (74.8 ypg), but Mizzou hasn’t faced anything this season as explosive as LSU’s lethal offense. Led by QB Jayden Daniels, who ranks second nationally in total offense (400.4 ypg), the Bayou Bengals lead the SEC in total offense (551.4 per game) and in TDs (29).
“Whatever I do good or bad doesn’t translate to now,” Daniels said during his Tuesday media availability. “Whatever we did on offense last week doesn’t translate to Missouri. We have an `on-to the-next-one’ mentality.”
GO FIGURE
4: Consecutive games LSU QB Jayden Daniels has accounted for at least four touchdowns
6: National offensive stat categories in which LSU ranks in the top 10
13: Combined TD receptions for LSU WR Brian Thomas and Malik Nabers, the most of any duo nationally
348: Passes without an interception, which is Missouri QB Brady Cooks current streak and an SEC record
625: Receiving yards for Nabers, which ranks No. 2 in the nation
Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com