LSU Run Defense Must Improve

The saying goes, “a good defense always travels well,” and no saying is more relevant in the SEC West. This season, LSU needs their defense to travel well, because their quarterback play will not. If LSU has any shot at winning the West, the defense will have to improve from a year ago. Last year, LSU’s run defense was very un-LSU like. The defense was in the middle of the pack statistically and got obliterated by Notre Dame in the Music City Bowl, matching for a disappointing end to the season. Instead of winning what I thought was a realistic ten games, the Tigers won only eight, the first season since 2009 that LSU did not finish with double-digit wins.

That doesn’t sit well with Tiger fans. If LSU is going to win ten games this season and make a run at the division, the defense is going to have to show up on the road this season, unlike 2014. Last year, the Tigers gave up 157 rushing yards per game, ranked 47^th in the nation, and nearly 4.5 yards per carry (69^th). On the road, it was even worse. Of the five games away from Death Valley last year, the LSU defense gave up less than 100 rushing yards only once, ironically in a losing effort at Arkansas. In Arlington, against the Wisconsin Badgers, LSU gave up 268 yards. At Auburn, LSU gave up almost 300 yards in a humiliating beat-down at the hands of Gus Malzhon. Meanwhile, Florida rushed for 123 yards in The Swamp, and Notre Dame rushed for 263 yards. Not surprisingly, LSU lost three of their five road games last year.

The same thing will happen this year if LSU cannot revert to their once-stifling rush defense of yore. This year, of their four SEC road games, LSU needs to win three of them to have a shot at ten wins and a chance at the SEC West title. The Tigers’ odds don’t look good.

• The first road game of the season is at Mississippi State. Last year, the Bulldogs rushed for 302 yards in their win over the Tigers. This year, while Josh Robinson is gone, Dak Prescott returns, and he is capable of single-handedly keeping the Bulldog offense balanced with his ability to throw and run the football.
• The second road game comes in the middle of the season and has the potential to make the South Carolina Gamecocks’ season. The South Carolina running game will not be the most imposing in the conference, but with the combination of Brandon Wilds, David Williams, athletic Freshman QB Lorenzo Nunez, and dangerous Wildcat threat Pharaoh Cooper, LSU can not have an off day against South Carolina.
• The next road game is at Alabama in what will more than likely be a prime time game on CBS. Need I say more? Alabama always has a strong running game. Last year, the Crimson Tide, under the pass happy Lane Kiffin, averaged five yards per carry. This year, with Derrick Henry as the featured back and the return of the “Reggie Bush-like” Kenyon Drake, Alabama should have no issues running the ball behind LT Cam Robinson and C Ryan Kelly.
• The last SEC road game comes against the Ole Miss Rebels. Ole Miss this year should see much improvement in their run game. Jaylen Walton and Jordan Wilkins return, and are joined by Akeem Judd (the number one JUCO running back prospect who redshirted last year) and talented incoming freshman Eric Swinney. Couple that with the fact that the entire offensive line returns, and this Ole Miss running game will be light years beyond last year’s squad.

I don’t see how LSU can win three of those four games. If they are able to upset Auburn at home, it would alleviate some of the pressure later in the season, but I don’t see that happening. In all likelihood, the Bayou Bengals won’t be able to win the West this season with these losses on the road, much to the chagrin of defensive line coach Ed Orgeron, defensive coordinator Kevin Steele, and the anxious LSU faithful.