LSU Defense SEC Rankings

People have absolutely lost their minds on what a good defense looks like in this modern era. Our defense is fantastic this year and has gotten better every year under Baker. People had too much to drink in the Matt House era. They forgot what "bad" looks like.

I mean moral victories are for losers. Who cares about statistics? That doesn't change the fact they're responsible for 2 losses this year because anytime an offense slides into 2 minutes drill LSU's defense decides to go to sleep. And it's not recent either, Baker hasn't figured it out in 3 years at LSU and it's maddening at this point he doesn't realize offenses have him figured out to the point they know take what you give them in soft shells.

Baker is the master of great stats against bad offenses. I'm sorry but he's the highest paid DC in the country do better.

Kentucky was one of the worst 3rd down conversion teams in the SEC and Mincey folds under pressure which Baker himself even saw with his own scheme through the game. Then he goes to soft shell. You can tout good stats all day the fact is he lost us both these games. He did the exact same thing in Ole Miss game. Shut them down in second half then the one time he goes soft they score the game winning drive. What's going to take for this guy to realize his soft defense is figured out at this point?

His entire identity is aggressiveness and if LSU is not playing it, they're incredibly soft. It drives me nuts. How as a DC do you not see that when you play soft prevent you're preventing wins? Why would you give a QB confidence? It's stupid. If he throws a crossing route that burns you for 60 yards oh well, they were going to score anyway at that point.

It's fools gold to look at Miss State game and then think they're anything less than a terrible offense without Taylor. The QB was awful. You'd have an argument if this was a one off thing but it's a consistent theme with him in 3 years and we're about getting tired of it.

The numbers are always going to look good. He is a good defensive coordinator. His defenses can bully below average offenses. The problem comes when they face good offenses with mobile qbs. He needs to show some adjustments there and show he can throw a changeup to go with his 100mph fastball. Defensive lineman need to mush rush more against good scramblers. Blitzes have to also to smart, controlled, and keep integrity in their lanes. He can adjust, he just hasnt enough yet. And yes, not having his green dot has hurt a bit. But this issue has been there even when weeks has played against mobile qbs

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Deceptive stats especially after Miss State.

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The numbers are always going to look good. He is a good defensive coordinator. His defenses can bully below average offenses. The problem comes when they face good offenses with mobile qbs. He needs to show some adjustments there and show he can throw a changeup to go with his 100mph fastball. Defensive lineman need to mush rush more against good scramblers. Blitzes have to also to smart, controlled, and keep integrity in their lanes. He can adjust, he just hasnt enough yet. And yes, not having his green dot has hurt a bit. But this issue has been there even when weeks has played against mobile qbs

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To some degree he has. Reed ran wild in the first two games against LSU. This year it was a different story. I think vs. Ole Miss he was a bit too worried about Chambliss as a runner. Yes, Chambliss CAN run, but he's a better passer. However, he did make adjustments and Ole Miss was shut down in the 3rd quarter.

What's been the killer is an inability to get stops in critical moments. Vs. Ole Miss LSU gets a TD in the 2nd half to make it 17-7. If feels like at that moment LSU had at least fought their way back in. Then the defense allows a 75 yard TD to close the half and the score is 24-7.

The defense adjusts in the 3rd Q (more aggressive) and shuts down OM. LSU's offense come to life and ties the game at 24. Ole Miss then goes 75 yards for the would be winning TD

Same thing vs. Kentucky. No, the punt return was not his fault. But despite that, LSU gets a TD in the 2nd to go up 17-14, and it feels like they have taken a bit of the momentum. The, LSU allows a 75 yard TD drive to end the half.

3Q, same thing. LSU's defense really tightens up. In fact, they were put into a tough spot due to a Leavitt INT. They hold and blank UK. The mostly do the same in the 4Q...including on Leavitt's fumble. But needing only one stop to preserve a win, he couldn't get it...in 3 chances.

It appears in late game/half situations he goes away from the approach LSU plays when their backs are against the wall...and it has burned them. At this point change the approach! Yes, you probably do open yourself up for greater risk of a big play. But when the opponent is scoring anyway (albeit in a slower fashion) what do you have to lose?

Once again, overpaying a coach or coordinator doesn’t make them better in that position.