8 Things To Know About The LSU Defense Ahead Of Title Game
By: Tony Thomas December 30, 2019
Much has been written about the high-powered offense of the 2019 LSU Tigers. But LSU has stepped up their game defensively since the Ole Miss game. Here are 8 things to know about the LSU defense.
D.B.U. has 17 interceptions on the season.
LSU has racked up 17 and counting, including two (both by Derek Stingley) in the SEC title game against Georgia and one against Oklahoma in the national semifinal game. As a team, LSU ranks 7th in the country in this category.
LSU has allowed opponents to convert on 3rd down just 30% of the time.
The Tigers held the Sooners to just 38% conversion on 3rd down; Georgia 23%; Texas A&M 15%; Arkansas 29%; and Ole Miss 18%. As a team, LSU ranks #10 in the nation in this category.
The Tigers have held opponents to less than 100 yards rushing in their last three games.
LSU held Oklahoma to 97 yards rushing. Against Georgia in the SEC title game, the Bulldogs were held to just 61 yards. Against Texas A&M, the Aggies were held to just 72 yards rushing.
LSU has forced six turnovers in their last three games.
The Tiger defense has six interceptions over their last three games: Stingley with two vs. Georgia, Kary Vincent Jr. with one each against Texas A&M and Oklahoma, Jacoby Stevens recorded one against Texas A&M, and Grant Delpit recorded one against the Aggies.
D.B.U. has allowed only 3 touchdown passes in their last five games.
In the national semifinal, Oklahoma did not find the endzone through the air against LSU. Ole Miss, Arkansas, and Georgia each threw one TD pass in those games, and Texas A&M had zero touchdown passes against the Tigers.
LSU has allowed less than 50% completion percentage in seven games this year.
Against three Top 10 teams: #9 Auburn, #5 Georgia, and #4 Oklahoma, LSU allowed 41%, 46%, and 47% completion percentage, respectively. Against Georgia Southern: 36%, Vanderbilt: 48%, Arkansas: 46%, and Texas A&M: 32%.
The Tigers have 36 tackles for loss in their last five games.
As they played their way into the national championship game, LSU had four tackles for loss against Oklahoma in the semifinal game and four against Georgia in the SEC title game. They recorded five TFL’s against Ole Miss, 11 against Arkansas, and 8 against Texas A&M.
LSU has recorded 14 sacks in their last four games.
As a unit, the Tigers have racked up 14 sacks in their last four games. LSU sacked QB Jalen Hurts twice in the semifinal game. In the SEC title game, Georgia QB Jake Fromm was sacked three times. Against Texas A&M, LSU sacked QB Kellen Mond six times, and they recorded 3 sacks against Arkansas.
This unit is ranked in the Top 30 in the nation. They are ranked #29 in total defense (339 yards/game), #22 in rushing defense (118 yards/game), and #27 in scoring defense, allowing 21 points per game.
Clemson-The Defending Champs
LSU will go against one of the best offenses in college football in the defending national champion Clemson Tigers. As a unit, Clemson is ranked #3 in total offense at 538 yards/game, #4 in scoring offense at 45 points per game.
So there you have it. 8 things to know about the LSU defense. The Tiger D is peaking at the right time. The two teams will play for the national title on January 13th in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, a venue in which LSU is 2-1 in national title games.
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