Defense must improve if LSU wants to take home National title

There is just no two ways about it, the LSU defense is not living up to pre-season expectations.
And, after this past week’s poor performance against the Ole Miss Rebels, LSU is not making any it easier to feel confident heading into the remaining part of the season.
What exactly is happening with a defensive unit that came into the year with three pre-season All-Americans and a top 25 ranking in overall defense last season? Well, it depends on who you talk to.
According to Tiger head coach Ed Orgeron, there are a few reasons why LSU allowed 614 total yard to Ole Miss, including 402 yards on the ground.
Orgeron said Monday “anything that goes wrong, put it on my shoulders.”
“We tried to be a little too aggressive,” Orgeron added. “All those things that happened on Saturday can be fixed with better plays and making plays in those positions. I believe in Dave Aranda, our coaching staff and our players. We’re going to have a great defense. I know that.”
However, defensive lineman Rashard Lawrence and defensive back Jacoby Stevens both acknowledged that the players had a lot of culpability in the performance of the unit.
Lawrence said Monday “it was a pretty embarrassing effort on our part,” that the defense “had a tough time adjusting” throughout the game, and the Tigers “will definitely rebound.”
Stevens added, “But at the end of the day, it’s us, too, because we’re the ones out there playing. It was stuff that we could have prevented ourselves, and as players, we’ve got to do that.”
Orgeron also alluded to injuries that hampered a few key players, including Grant Delpit and Kary Vincent.
Regardless of whoever or whatever was responsible for the defensive fiasco this past Saturday night is not relevant. What is relevant is that the Tigers must fix the problem and quickly if they hope to contend for the National Championship.
The erratic play of the defense did not just show up against Ole Miss. Defensively, LSU has not played up to the hype that was given them before the season started.
Currently, the Tiger defensive unit is ranked 44th in the country. To this point in the season, LSU is surrendering 23.8 points per game and 368.7 total yards per game. They rank 33rd and 78th respectively when it comes to rushing yards and passing yards allowed per game.
These are not the stats you want to have heading into the latter part of the season, no matter how many points your offense is putting up.
Now, no one is asking the Tigers to have the No. 1 defense in the nation. They have played a pretty tough schedule and have faced some really good offenses. Even Ole Miss had come into the game averaging over 200 yards per game on the ground.
However, LSU needs to find their defensive mojo, especially with the SEC Championship looming and the more than possible FBS semi-final on the horizon.
The Tigers should have no problem this Saturday, as they face an Arkansas team that only averages 22.3 points per game, thrown 15 interceptions, allowed 15 sacks and is 2-8 on the year with a loss to WESTERN KENTUCKY!!!
Hopefully this week’s game will allow the Tigers to fix what is ailing them, because a tough test lies ahead in a week when Texas A&M comes to town. (Remember last year).