LSU defense flashing its upside in camp, but consistency is lacking
LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker said Saturday the Tigers’ defense needs to be more consistent, but when they do their job, they’re “pretty good.”
Baker was measured when he met with reporters. Critical of areas that are clear pain points as LSU works through camp. Clear that rotations are still very fluid with camp still in its early days. Yet also willing to offer praise where he felt it was warranted. At one point, he poured lighter fluid on the Harold Perkins hype train, saying the junior linebacker has been “playing on fire” and moving around in sub-packages.
The task for Baker in 2024 is an important one. LSU led the nation in scoring last season, putting 45.5 points on the board per game. But the defense ranked 81st in scoring. LSU gave up 30 or more 8 times in 13 games. In 3 losses, the Tigers allowed 142 points.
Baker was brought back from Missouri to help mold the pieces into a cohesive unit. LSU is wealthy in talent, but the sum of the parts wasn’t good enough a year ago.
And, frankly, it hasn’t been for some time. LSU gave up 40 in a loss to Tennessee in 2022. Later that year, the Tigers allowed 38 in an upset at the hands of unranked Texas A&M. It gave up 50 to Georgia in the SEC title game a week later. They struggled in 2021 and were ghastly in 2020. The Tigers have held opponents under 4 yards per rushing attempt just once over the course of a season since lifting the national championship trophy in 2019.
“Right now, we pretty much have 90% of our playbook in and we’re calling it all. There’s a lot on their plate mentally but I feel like they’re doing a pretty good job,” Baker said. “Still looking for more consistency out of the unit, but overall pleased with where they’re at.”
With camp still in its infancy, Baker said the 2-deep is still being sorted out. Suspected 1s are working with probable 2s. There are mistakes. Baker said LSU busted in coverage and gave up a deep pass on Saturday, and the defense was gashed for a chunk gain on the ground up the A gap.
“When we do our job, we’re pretty good,” Baker said. “When we don’t, we’ve got to get it on the ground from the secondary. Again, looking for marked improvement.
“… Overall we’ve just got to be more consistent as a unit. In today’s game, you can’t just play with 11 players. You’ve got to have 22, 25, 26 (players). Especially with an opportunity now with the Playoffs. We’re looking to build depth right now, and in the next 6 days we’ll start paring it down and figuring out who our guys (are).”
One of those players will undoubtedly be Perkins, a former Freshman All-American and a 2-time All-SEC selection. The New Orleans native has the potential to be a star in the middle of Baker’s unit. He has All-American potential. He has first-round draft pick potential. One of Baker’s biggest objectives is figuring out how to maximize all of that.
He’s back to playing inside linebacker. That has been a storyline throughout much of the offseason. While LSU has been careful not to reveal much about its plan for Perkins, Baker said Saturday he is still moving around a bit within the defense.
“He’s doing an unbelievable job. Harold Perkins right now is playing on fire,” Baker said. “Again, has a lot on his plate mentally. We have packages where we’re moving him all around so he’s not just playing on the inside. But he’s fitting the run as well as anybody we have at linebacker right now.
“I think our linebackers are doing a good job overall fitting the run. Very, very pleased with Harold and really his development. You talk about from where we started this thing at the beginning of spring to where he is now, it’s night and day. He’s an ascending player. I really think he’s not even scratching the surface still of where he’s going to be.”
LSU slipped to 91st nationally last season in run efficiency defense. The Tigers gave up 4.5 yards a carry and an explosive run on 15.2% of attempts.
Baker deploys an aggressive 4-2-5 scheme that loves to blitz. Linebacker looks like a clear strength. The defensive line is less clear, with the Tigers needing to replace the top 3 tackles from last year’s group. Getting that second level to fit properly is huge. But finding ways to harness Perkins’ natural ability as a pass-rusher will go a long way.
Like his players, Baker has a lot on his plate right now.
“Right now, I’ll be honest, we’re inconsistent. If we do our job, I think we’ve got a chance to be pretty good. I really do. I think we have all the pieces in place to have a good defense,” Baker said. “What I want to see is a little more player-led accountability and guys just doing their job on a consistent basis. If we do that, we can have a good year. We’re not there yet.”
LSU gets tested immediately. USC has its own defensive issues to worry about, but Lincoln Riley is still a sharp offensive mind. A Sept. 1 date with the Trojans in Las Vegas awaits. LSU is a 6-point favorite in that game, per the latest odds at DraftKings. And Vegas expects points; the total is 63, with plenty of action on the over.
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All eyes will be on Perkins. And rightfully so. But that front seven as a whole needs to come together over the next few weeks.
“I think we have good speed. I think we’re physical. We’re still improving as a tackling unit right now, but we have shown improvement from the spring. I think our guys really work hard at it. You don’t really have a lot of opportunities to tackle live throughout fall camp, but we work hard on it through drill work and whatnot,” Baker said. “I think we have a chance to be pretty good. We’ve just got to be more consistent.”
Related: Bet on the Tigers this fall by taking advantage of one of our favorite Louisiana betting apps. New users get a generous sign-up bonus as well to get rolling.
No Heisman, no line, no defense, no recruits, no chance.
Back under your bridge troll
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No Heisman – true, but a more than capable starter.
No line – where the heck have you been. It has probably the best O-line in the nation.
No Defense – that was last year. New coaches, more experienced players, less on field analysis. You’ll see a much improved D.
No recruits – again you’re MIA. Kelly
‘S recruiting classes have been in the top 10 each year since he’s been on campus.
No chance – we’ll see about that. Watch LSU surprise most all football fans and field a team that’ll finish in the top 10.
But the troll you are and a mind without a lick of football sense, you’ll never recognize that.
Hail and well met kind sir. No Heisman agreed. No defensive line. No defense. New coaches. No 2024 defensive line recruits or secondary recruits all added up = no chance.
To finish in the top 10 we must make the playoffs. We could easily lose to USC, UCLA, Ole Miss, TxA&M, Alabama, Florida, Oklahoma.
We need to win all but 2 of those to finish in the top 10.
Let’s be real. The season is too close to still be talking crazy. I know technically it is still talkin’ season, but you leave our good fans here like me to take the brunt of your talkin’.