re: LSU's defense isn't on par with past Tiger title contenders

The article kind a makes our defense seem average (when it's above average) and our offense as pretty good (when it's very good).
In fact.. The difference between yards gained per rush and yards given up per opponents rush is 3.83.
That's, by far, the highest it's been since at least 2003. 2003 was the second highest at 2.1.

The defense should be plenty to keep us in any game that the offense isn't completely shut down in. Otherwise a 2003/2011 defense wouldn't even really help.