USC plays LSU in Week 1, as you know. LSU Wire recently posed a concern about the Tigers’ young cornerbacks’ ability to hold up in man coverage in new defensive coordinator Blake Baker’s scheme. There’s a parallel with Alex Grinch involved. Here’s what LSU Wire had to say:
New defensive coordinator Blake Baker will play an aggressive style of defense. That could put stress on an inexperienced secondary, specifically LSU’s group of cornerbacks.
At Missouri, Baker had two of the best corners in the SEC with Kris Abrams-Draine and Ennis Rakestraw. Both playing at an elite level was a big reason why Missouri’s defense was among the best in the country.
Now at LSU, Baker has the talent, but it’s unproven. Ashton Stamps looks to be LSU’s top corner right now. As a true freshman last year, he played 51 snaps in man coverage, Stamps struggled, allowing a perfect NFL passer rating of 158.3, according to PFF.
LSU is boosted by the return of CB Zy Alexander, but his season was cut short by injury last year and the ramp up this summer has been slow. Ohio State transfer JK Johnson is set to see time too, but he’s also returning from injury after missing the entirety of 2023.
For LSU to take the needed step forward, at least one of these guys needs to emerge as an SEC-level player in man coverage.
This should make the hair on the back of Trojan fans’ necks stand up. One of the fatal flaws of Alex Grinch’s defense was the pressure it applied to the corners and safeties, often placing them on an island. If the pass rush doesn’t get home, it puts a lot of pressure on the secondary. In 2022 Mekhi Blackmon was a first-team All-Pac-12 cornerback, but without him in 2023, the USC defense was much more susceptible to chunk plays.
The Trojans’ strength on offense is at wide receiver, led by the talented second-year wide receivers Makai Lemon, Ja’Kobi Lane, Duce Robinson and Zachariah Branch. Lincoln Riley and his receivers might make the Tigers pay if they have unproven cornerbacks cover them in man defense on the outside. Look for Riley and Miller Moss to try to capitalize on one on one matchups outside that favor the Trojans.
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