By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports
BATON ROUGE – The most welcome sight for LSU head football coach Brian Kelly in the Tigers’ 17-10 season-opening victory at Clemson last Saturday was his defense playing like it was pulled by a single string.
“It’s complementary defense,” LSU starting inside linebacker West Weeks said. “It starts up front when dudes are getting pressure. The corners are locking down stuff, and we’re (the linebackers) going to be able to get after the quarterback.”
Clemson, which entered the season with its quarterback, receivers, and offensive line ranked nationally in the top three, was held scoreless in the game’s last 34 minutes.
LSU’s revitalized defense, spurred by key transfer portal purchases mixed with two returning linebackers bouncing back from knee surgeries, is a major reason why the now-No. 3 Tigers (1-0) are suddenly viewed as a possible national title contender heading into Saturday’s 6:30 p.m. home opener vs. Louisiana Tech (1-0).
In Kelly’s first three seasons and former head coach Ed Orgeron’s last two seasons in 2020 and 2021, the Tigers have had four defensive coordinators.
The talent level dropped dramatically. The once-proud Tigers’ defense that produced 13 first-round NFL defensive draft picks from 2005 to 2020 has since had one first-round pick (cornerback Derek Stingley Jr in 2021).
LSU’s combined interception total for the last four seasons of 33 (including just six last year tying the school season record for the least number of interceptions), is the lowest four-season stretch in Tigers’ history.
Admittedly, Kelly’s first three recruiting classes produced more defensive busts than legit difference makers. His Class of 2023 defensive back transfer portal purchases are the reason LSU was only 10-3 despite Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels producing record offensive numbers.
Baker, hired in January 2024 as Kelly fired his entire defensive staff, made incremental improvement last season. But not until last December and January when LSU bought eight of the top 75 defensive transfer portal players did Baker have the experienced talent in place to tap deep into his playbook.
“The one thing that I had a really good feeling about campus is these guys really enjoyed playing together,” Baker said of the transfers. But you never know until you get in a game.”
Baker got his answer against Clemson. His new defense communicated with each other consistently. Gone were the major assignment busts that haunted LSU defenses for the last five seasons.
Mansoor Delane, who started 29 consecutive games for Virginia Tech the last three seasons where he had 146 career tackles, seven tackles for loss, 22 passes defended, and six interceptions, won national honors in his first game as a Tiger.
He was named Bednarik Award National Player of the Week after he had two tackles, an interception, and two pass breakups. He played 55 snaps, allowing just one catch in eight targets.
“The interception was a case of the defense working together,” Delane said. “Looks like (edge rushing end) Patrick (Payton) got in his (Clemson quarterback Cade Kubnik’s) face. If you look at the film of the whole game, you gotta give those boys credit up front. They make my job a lot easier.”
LSU’s challenge against Louisiana Tech is continuing to improve despite the overwhelming national pats on the back for its Clemson win. There’s the belief that the maturity of the transfer portal signees has raised the level of the team.
“The biggest thing that we’ve been able to do is get rid of that idea of satisfaction,” said LSU starting offensive guard Josh Thompson, a transfer from Big 10 Conference member Northwestern. “You can appreciate the good things that you did, but you can’t. You can’t stick on them, but it’s on the things that you need to fix. That constant grasp for knowledge and the aptitude for growth is something that a lot of our guys have taken to.”
Louisiana Tech head coach Sonny Cumbie is looking forward to the challenge, despite being a 37½-point underdog.
“It’s a great football team,” Cumbie said. “Defensively, they’re big and fast and really don’t have any weaknesses. Offensively, they are very explosive with their skill positions. Garrett Nussmeier is probably the best quarterback in the country. He’s a coach on the field, getting them in and out of protections, changing into all the different things they do at the line of scrimmage.”
GO FIGURE
19-1: LSU’s record vs. Louisiana Tech, including 16 straight wins.
21: Players (14 transfers, 7 freshmen) played their first game for LSU vs. Clemson.
37: Consecutive LSU victories against Louisiana schools.
45: LSU players who will make their Tiger Stadium debut vs. Louisiana Tech.
$467,843: Clemson’s gross alcohol sales vs. LSU in the school’s first football game ever selling alcohol.
Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com