Tag: Blake Baker

5 takeaways from LSU football’s loss at Texas A&M

Here are five takeaways from LSU’s loss in College Station on Thursday night.

Sometimes things fall apart.

That’s what happened to LSU in College Station on Saturday night. Mistakes haunted LSU as the Tigers watched the game unravel in the third quarter. Texas A&M seized the momentum and won 38-23.

Sole possession of first place in the SEC was on the line. A&M now sits atop the conference while LSU falls to 3-1 in conference play and 6-2 on the year. The loss halted a six-game win streak for LSU and put the Tigers’ playoff hopes on life support.

The night was full of frustrations for LSU. The Tigers moved the ball, but too many drives stalled out on A&M’s side of the field. LSU had to settle for field goal attempts, but the night was marred by special teams mistakes.

Every component of the field goal unit struggled. Ramos missed kicks, the holds were bad, and LSU long snapper Slade Roy fired one off too early.

LSU left something on the table. There’s no other way to put it. Here are five takeaways from the loss.

Nussmeier leads the unraveling with three picks

The first half was some of Garrett Nussmeier’s best football. The second half was the polar opposite.

Nussmeier’s accuracy began to falter and the situation was made worse by poor decisions with the football.

LSU went three and out on its opening drive of the second half. On the second drive, Nussmeier was trying to make a play and threw the ball up. It was picked off in LSU territory and A&M cut into the lead shortly after.

Later, another Nussmeier pick set A&M up to take the lead. Then in the fourth, an Aggie interception all but sealed it.

Nussmeier has nine picks on the year now. That puts his average at one per game. LSU will struggle to win games if it’s putting the ball in jeopardy like this.

LSU failed to put Aggies away when it had the chance

Things were looking bright in the first half. A long catch and run from Aaron Anderson put LSU up 17-7.

LSU was moving the ball and the LSU defense wasn’t giving up much. The Tigers looked like the better team — like a team taking yet another step forward after last week’s 34-10 win. But that wasn’t the case.

The stalled drives and missed field goals in the first half kept A&M in the game and allowed the Aggies to find life in the second half.

It was pointed out on the broadcast, but it was reminiscent of LSU’s week one loss. LSU was in a position to take a kill shot but missed.

LSU couldn’t run the ball

After a few weeks of progress, LSU couldn’t run the ball on Saturday night. [autotag]Caden Durham[/autotag] and [autotag]Josh Williams[/autotag] both got chances, but neither could gain steam.

A&M’s front presented a challenge to LSU. The Aggies have several future pros on the defensive line and LSU couldn’t get any push. Senior guard [autotag]Garrett Dellinger[/autotag] exiting the game with an injury didn’t help.

We can debate whether the blame lies with coaching, personnel or execution. The fact of the matter is we’re eight games into the season and LSU can’t run the ball.

It’s hard to go on the road and win in the SEC if you can’t run it. LSU doesn’t need the same production it got last year, but it needs more than it’s getting now.

A&M turns to Reed in the second half

LSU pressured Connor Weigman throughout the first half. A&M was getting some yards in the run game, but the passing attack was a nonfactor.

A&M’s answer: QB Marcel Reed.

Aggies’ OC Colin Klein went all in on the option attack and Reed’s rushing ability. Holes started to open up and A&M did what it wanted on the ground.

[autotag]Blake Baker[/autotag] and the LSU defense had nothing. Even if there was an answer, LSU was failing to execute. The Tigers were missing tackles and getting driven off the ball.

LSU wasn’t prepared for Texas A&M’s physicality in the second half.

Where does LSU go from here?

At 6-2, LSU is still in the playoff race,  even if help is needed. A 10-2 SEC team has a chance to find its way in but the margin for error is nonexistent.

LSU will have to win out. That includes beating Alabama, going on the road to Florida, and potentially tricky games with Vanderbilt and Oklahoma.

As far as the SEC race goes, going through all the potential tiebreak solutions is pointless at the moment. That’ll sort itself out in the coming weeks.

This loss is a disappointment, especially with the optimism surrounding LSU in recent weeks. LSU isn’t a title contender right now.

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5 stats that defined LSU’s Week 8 win over Arkansas

These five numbers defined LSU’s 34-10 win over Arkansas.

LSU fans are accustomed to anxiety filled battles with Arkansas. That wasn’t the case on Saturday night with LSU securing a 34-10 win in Fayetteville.

Brian Kelly said it after the game — LSU played to its standard for four quarters.

LSU was inconsistent to begin the year. The Tigers dropped the opener to USC and struggled to pull away from FCS Nicholls State in Week 2. In Week 3, LSU had to scratch and claw to get a win vs. South Carolina. The following week, LSU let a bad UCLA team hang around in Tiger Stadium.

Then LSU figured some things out. It played a complete game against South Alabama before upsetting No. 9 Ole Miss. The win on Saturday was further proof of this team’s upward trend.

[autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] said this is a good time to be getting better and it looks like LSU is doing just that.

Here are five numbers that defined LSU’s win over Arkansas.

Whit Weeks: 5 pressures and a sack

[autotag]Whit Weeks[/autotag] is turning into a star at linebacker for LSU. He’s taken a huge leap under first-year defensive coordinator [autotag]Blake Baker[/autotag] and proven to be critical for LSU’s defensive turnaround.

Weeks balled out again in week seven, notching five pressures, a sack, and a pick. Weeks is becoming a guy who opposing offenses have to circle.

He made five stops in the run game too and his 37 stops on the year lead all SEC linebackers.

Arkansas: -0.40 EPA/rush

The game plan for LSU was simple: stop Arkansas’ run game.

The Razorbacks’ identity over the first half of the year relied on creating explosive plays on the ground, whether it was QB Taylen Green scrambling for first downs or RB Ja’Quinden Jackson breaking tackles.

LSU neutralized the rushing attack, holding Arkansas to -0.40 EPA/rush, a number that put the Razorbacks in the fourth percentile.

Green was one of the SEC’s most explosive rushers entering the week but ended with three carries for 14 yards.

Nussmeier: 22/33 through the air

Nussmeier wasn’t explosive in this one, but he protected the ball and took what the defense gave him. You can’t go broke making a profit and LSU made a profit through the air on Saturday night.

Nussmeier’s week eight completion rate of 66.7%, the second-best of any SEC QB.

It was needed after Nussmeier’s shaky performance against Ole Miss. He looked comfortable from start to finish against Arkansas, a positive sign for LSU moving forward.

Caden Durham: 101 yards and three touchdowns

[autotag]Caden Durham[/autotag] continued his emergence against Arkansas. Durham wasn’t a rotational piece — he was the feature back. His 21 carries were a career-high, well over his previous mark of 12.

Durham averaged 4.8 yards per carry and scored three times. With LSU behind the chains on its first drive, Durham ripped off a 22-yard touchdown run to put LSU on the board. That’s the element LSU was missing to start the year.

LSU’s run game remains a work in progress, but Durham has it pointing up.

LSU offense: 89% of available yards

LSU’s average starting field position was its own 42-yard line. That fact along with LSU picking up 89% of its available yards allowed the Tigers to control the game.

LSU remained on schedule and moved the ball all night long. LSU didn’t always cash in for a touchdown, but kicker [autotag]Damian Ramos[/autotag] did a good job of ensuring LSU got points.

The Arkansas defense didn’t have many answers as LSU averaged over 50 yards per drive.

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5 takeaways from LSU’s win over Arkansas in Week 8

Five takeaways from LSU’s blowout win of rival Arkansas.

With a trip to Arkansas sandwiched in between ranked contests against Ole Miss and Texas A&M, LSU’s meeting with the Razorbacks had “trap game” written all over it.

LSU avoided the trap on Saturday night. The last four meetings between these programs were decided by three points, but LSU got a comfortable win in this one. Despite being just 2.5-point favorites, LSU won 34-10.

If you’ve been paying attention to the SEC this year, then you’ll take a 24-point road win any day. For now, LSU is staying out of the chaos, and that’s good news for Tigers fans.

LSU led wire to wire in this one. [autotag]Caden Durham[/autotag] put LSU on the board on the opening drive and LSU outscored Arkansas 18-3 in the second half to put the game away.

Durham led the way with 101 yards and three scores on the ground. CJ Daniels, in his return from injury, led LSU in receiving with 86 yards.

Here are five takeaways from a big SEC win.

LSU wins the turnover battle

LSU protected the football and forced three turnovers of its own.

The biggest one came with five minutes left to go in the third. LSU put pressure on Arkansas QB Taylen Green, with a tipped pass leading to a Whit Weeks interception.

The turnover set LSU up on Arkansas’ two-yard line and LSU needed one play to punch it in for a score.

That put LSU up 24-10 and in control of the game. On a night where penalties killed LSU, the turnovers were key.

Tigers glad to have CJ Daniels back

Veteran receiver [autotag]CJ Daniels[/autotag] was out against Ole Miss, but his return was welcome on Saturday night.

LSU got Daniels involved early. Nussmeier took a shot for Daniels on the opening drive that led to a pass interference putting LSU in position to score.

Daniels was critical in the quick game too, with LSU taking what the Arkansas defensive was giving it.

With seven catches for 86 yards, it was Daniels’ most productive night of the year.

LSU was efficient, but not explosive

The explosiveness element of LSU’s offense continues to be inconsistent, but LSU was efficient on Saturday, finishing with a success rate in the 88th percentile.

LSU kept the ball moving and picked up first downs as needed. Despite a lack of chunk yardage plays, LSU didn’t have to stress for yards in this one.

The Tigers finished with a success rate of 58% through the air. That’ll do after Nussmeier struggled to get comfortable last week.

Caden Durham is the feature back

With [autotag]Caden Durham[/autotag] healthy again, LSU gave the true freshman the bulk of the work. He carried it 21 times while Kaleb Jackson and Josh Williams combined for just 10 carries.

On 22 touches, Durham totaled 108 yards.

It’s been a while since LSU’s had a true feature back, but Durham looks to be rounding into form. There will be some more growing pains, but LSU has a home threat with Durham in the backfield.

He’s given this run game the jolt it needed after struggling to start the year.

Win sets up showdown with Texas A&M

LSU has another big one next week with a road trip to College Station. Just like LSU, Texas A&M opened the year with a loss but has rolled since then.

The winner of next week’s game should control its own destiny on the way to a potential SEC title and playoff appearance.

If LSU wins, the Tigers will add another significant win to its resume, allowing LSU room for error in November.

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4 things we’ve learned about LSU in 2024

LSU is halfway through its regular season. Here’s four things we’ve learned about the Tigers.

We’re already halfway through the college football regular season. LSU has six games down with six more to go.

LSU’s first six games didn’t lack intrigue. LSU’s played four games against Power Four opponents and three came down to the wire. LSU came up short against USC in Week 1 but staged comebacks against South Carolina and Ole Miss to jump out to a 2-0 start in conference play.

After the Ole Miss upset, LSU is up to No. 8 in the AP Poll, five spots better than where it began the year at No. 13.

Given all that LSU lost after 2023, a 5-1 start is impressive. You can’t make the playoff in the first six games, but you can get knocked out of it. LSU did enough to stay alive and remain in the thick of the playoff race.

Here, we’ll look at five things we’ve learned about LSU in these last seven weeks. We had a lot of questions about this group entering the year and now with a good sample size to look at, many have been answered.

The receiver depth is even better than we thought

Receiver was somewhat of a question for LSU after losing [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag] That type of production is hard to replace in one offseason, but LSU is managing just fine with a plethora of talented options.

[autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag] leads the way with 30 catches for 463 yards. His five-catch, 111-yard performance vs. Ole Miss made it back-to-back 100-yard games for the fifth-year senior.

[autotag]Aaron Anderson[/autotag] is enjoying a breakout year with 30 catches for 452 yards. Both marks rank in the top 10 among SEC receivers.  Transfers [autotag]CJ Daniels[/autotag] and [autotag]Zavion Thomas[/autotag] are both making impacts too.

Along with the receivers, tight end [autotag]Mason Taylor[/autotag] leads all SEC tight ends with 33 receptions.

This group doesn’t have the same explosiveness element as last year’s, but it’s deep and dependable.

Defensive development is ahead of schedule

LSU brought in a new staff on the defensive side of the ball, hoping to accelerate the development and get the most out of its young talent. We’re seeing that so far.

Start at defensive tackle, where [autotag]Bo Davis[/autotag] continues to get competent production from its interior defensive line despite losing [autotag]Jacobian Guillory[/autotag]. True freshmen [autotag]Ahmad Breaux[/autotag] and [autotag]Dominick McKinley[/autotag] are both in the rotation while veteran transfer [autotag]Gio Paez[/autotag] is on track to set career highs in stops and pressures.

At linebacker, Blake Baker has sophomore Whit Weeks playing like a star. Greg Penn has shown progress too.

LSU hired Corey Raymond to rebuild the secondary, and we’re already seeing the impact for LSU’s corners. The Tigers look much more comfortable in man coverage and playing balls in the air. Zy Alexander leads all SEC CBs in PFF coverage grade after week seven.

The OC transition could have been smoother

LSU’s offense is good, but it’s still experiencing some hiccups as it figures out its identity. Mike Denbrock took the OC job at Notre Dame after leading the best offense in the country at LSU in 2023.

Brian Kelly didn’t have to look far for Denbrock’s replacement, promoting QB coach Joe Sloan and WR coach Cortez Hankton.

Sloan called plays before in his time at Louisiana Tech, but this is his first time doing it at this level.

LSU has struggled to recreate last year’s success on the ground. Regression was expected without Jayden Daniels’ legs, but the fall is significant. After leading the country in EPA/rush last year, LSU ranks 94th this year.

Nussmeier isn’t a threat with his legs and LSU is yet to find an adjustment that makes up for that.

The drop-back game is one of the best in the FBS, but consistency is an issue. Nussmeier was uncomfortable early against Ole Miss but eventually settled in. Expect Sloan to get his QB in rhythm early against Arkansas.

LSU shows poise under pressure

All offseason, Brian Kelly spoke about the maturity of this team. He said it was the most “player-led” group he’s had since arriving in Baton Rouge. That’s starting to show up on the field.

LSU hasn’t played many comfortable games this year. Outside of South Alabama, virtually every game was close at one point. That said, LSU found a way to be 5-1.

The Tigers came up short at the end vs. USC, but LSU hung in there to get big conference wins against South Carolina and Ole Miss. Both wins required big plays late in the game.

Ideally, you’d like to see LSU controlling more games than it is, but remaining cool under pressure isn’t a skill every team has. It’ll come in handy with more close games in the coming weeks.

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Ranking LSU’s 5 most impactful players at the midway point of the 2024 season

At the midway point, which five players have been most critical to LSU’s success?

With six games in the books, LSU is 5-1 at the midway point of its regular season. LSU is one win away from bowl eligibility, but the Tigers have much bigger goals than that.

LSU notched its biggest win of the year on Saturday, upsetting No. 9 Ole Miss in front of a packed Tiger Stadium crowd. The win jolted LSU back into the playoff discussion while delivering a blow to the Rebels’ title odds.

Here, we’ll take a look at LSU’s five most impactful players through the first six games. A few names on this list are playing as expected. We knew a guy like [autotag]Will Campbell[/autotag] would have a big year. But we’ll also look at the defensive side of the ball, where stars have emerged.

If LSU wants to make the playoff and compete for the SEC, it will need these five players to continue to play like stars.

1. QB Garrett Nussmeier

Nussmeier had big shoes to fill stepping in for Heisman winner [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag], but he’s delivered so far.

Nussmeier is nearing 2,000 yards on the year and surpassed 300 yards in five of six starts. Nussmeier’s thrown 18 touchdowns and ran for two more.

The play isn’t perfect and Nussmeier lacks the rushing ability Daniels had, but Nussmeier’s best moments are brilliant.

He makes NFL throws, showcasing arm strength, accuracy, and anticipation. Nussmeier struggled early against Ole Miss but was flawless late in the fourth quarter and in overtime. LSU has a QB that can the plays to will its team to a win.

2. EDGE Bradyn Swinson

LSU needed a star to emerge in its front seven and that’s exactly what Bradyn Swinson’s done in 2024.

Swinson is tied for the SEC lead with 25 pressures and leads the conference with seven sacks. He’s strong against the run too, notching 16 stops.

Swinson’s best moments come right when LSU needs them. He did it against South Carolina and he did it again vs. Ole Miss, shooting the gap to make a stop on fourth and one and force a turnover.

Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart was under pressure all night and Swinson’s efforts deserve most of the credit.

If LSU keeps getting this level of play from Swinson, the defense will continue its upward trend.

3. WR Kyren Lacy

Kyren Lacy isn’t putting up the numbers Malik Nabers did last year, but he’s giving LSU what it needs from a No. 1 receiver.

Lacy went over the 100-yard mark in each of his last two games. His biggest moment of the year came in overtime against Ole Miss, where Lacy won a one-on-one battle with an Ole Miss DB to secure the game-winning touchdown.

On the year, Lacy ranks fifth in the SEC with 463 receiving yards. His six touchdowns are tied for the most in the conference.

4. LT Will Campbell

Campbell is LSU’s best player and should be one of the first players off the board in the 2025 NFL Draft. He’s in his third year as a starter after winning the left tackle job as a true freshman.

Campbell is in the midst of another all-conference campaign. Campbell is yet to allow a sack and his PFF pass-blocking grade of 84.9 is one of the best in the SEC.

Few QBs are kept as clean as Garrett Nussmeier and Campbell plays a large part in that.

5. LB Whit Weeks

LSU’s linebackers struggled last year. When DC [autotag]Blake Baker[/autotag] arrived at LSU this year, there wasn’t just excitement about what he’d do with the defense, but also the impact he’d make on the linebacker room.

Baker developed Damone Clark into one of the SEC’s best linebackers at LSU in 2021 and now Weeks is making a similar jump in 2024.

Weeks’ 32 stops lead all SEC linebackers and his 10 pressures are tied for second among the same group. LSU knew Weeks was talented, but a breakout campaign of this magnitude, this soon, is a pleasant surprise.

Few players were as critical to LSU’s success in the Ole Miss win than Weeks.

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3 defenders who stood out in LSU’s overtime win over Ole Miss

These three defenders stood out for LSU on Saturday night.

LSU got the best performance of the year from its defense as it upset No. 9 Ole Miss on Saturday night. The game was in stark opposition to last year’s meeting with Ole Miss, where LSU allowed over 700 yards of total offense.

The Tigers allowed 465 yards of total offense on Saturday night, but LSU held Ole Miss to 6.8 yards per pass and a success rate of just 37%.

At times, LSU’s defense kept LSU in the game as the offense sputtered. The Tigers struggled on third down, but LSU did a good job keeping Ole Miss off schedule and behind the chains.

[autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] said it after the game — Ole Miss didn’t see a ton of second and short.

Three performers in particular stood out on that side of the ball. LSU got an elite performance at every level of the defense. Let’s take a look at what LSU got from its stars on defense.

Bradyn Swinson

Swinson has wreaked havoc on offenses all year and Saturday night was no different. Swinson came up with six pressures and two sacks. He made five stops and didn’t miss a tackle.

A big moment for Swinson came early in the game when Ole Miss lined up to go for it on fourth and one inside the LSU 10. Swinson shot through the Rebel offensive line to make a play in the backfield and force a turnover on downs.

Swinson made a difference in all phases of the game. He applied constant pressure on Jaxson Dart, making it hard for the Ole Miss QB to settle in. In the run game, he made key tackles at the line of scrimmage to keep the Rebels behind the chains.

On the year, Swinson’s 25 pressures are tied for the SEC lead and his 21 stops lead all SEC edge defenders. He’s in the discussion for the SEC’s Defensive Player of the Year.

Zy Alexander

CB [autotag]Zy Alexander[/autotag] was in and out of the lineup the first five games of the season as he recovered from a torn ACL in 2023 and dealt with a concussion after Week 4.

Alexander was back in a big way for LSU on Saturday night. He’s a veteran corner in a young secondary and it’s clear LSU is much better when he’s on the field.

Ole Miss threw at Alexander 10 times, but just four were completed for a total of 27 yards. Alexander came up with a pick and made two stops.

After the game, Kelly said Alexander earned the game ball.

After week seven, Alexander leads the SEC in PFF coverage grade. He’s one of the best players in the conference right now.

Whit Weeks

Weeks was all over the place for LSU in this one. According to PFF, his 11 tackles led all SEC linebackers in week seven. He made nine stops and forced a fumble.

A true sophomore, Weeks is a known entity at this point, but in some ways, it felt like he arrived on Saturday night.

Weeks put it all together and played the best game of his career. With Harold Perkins out for the year, Weeks had to step up. He’s doing just that.

Earlier in the year, Kelly said Weeks had to be more than just a rotational piece on LSU’s defense. Weeks forced his way onto the field every play and it’s clear why.

He’s taken a huge step forward under new DC and LBs coach [autotag]Blake Baker[/autotag]. Weeks 32 stops lead all SEC linebackers and his 10 pressures rank second. We’re seeing an all-conference campaign from the young backer right now.

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5 takeaways from LSU’s overtime win over Ole Miss

Here are five takeaways from LSU’s thrilling win over Ole Miss.

LSU didn’t run a single play with the lead on Saturday night, but the Tigers led when it mattered the most — after the final play.

Down three, needing a touchdown to win, QB [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] found [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag] in the endzone to upset No. 9 Ole Miss in front of a packed Tiger Stadium crowd.

LSU needed this win. A season-opening loss to USC trimmed the margin for error, but with this victory, LSU adds a signature win to its resume.

As for Ole Miss, it was the Rebels’ second loss of the year. Lane Kiffin’s group will most likely have to be perfect from here on out to remain in the playoff discussion.

LSU is right back in the thick of the national picture as SEC play heats up. The Tigers will play back-to-back road games at Arkansas and Texas A&M. Both will be tests, but LSU proved it is ready to compete on the big stage with Saturday’s win.

Here are five takeaways from LSU’s 29-26 overtime victory.

Garrett Nussmeier makes the play when it matters

[autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] didn’t play his best football on Saturday night, but he made the plays when it mattered the most. With regulation winding down, Nussmeier delivered a strike to [autotag]Aaron Anderson[/autotag] to tie the game. On the first play of overtime, Nussmeier found Lacy for six.

Nussmeier was just 22/51 on the night, but when you look back at this performance, you’re going to remember the throws to Anderson and Lacy.

Equally important, was a throw to [autotag]Mason Taylor[/autotag] on fourth down to keep LSU alive on the final drive in the fourth.

LSU got resiliency from its senior quarterback on Saturday night.

Defense delivers

LSU opened its checkbook to land defensive coordinator [autotag]Blake Baker[/autotag]. The reasons why were evident on Saturday night.

Even as the offense got off to a slow start, the defense got the necessary stops. Ole Miss’ success rate on the night was just 37%, putting the Rebels in the 30th percentile.

LSU struggled on third down, but that’s about the only complaint. LSU was aggressive and made life hard on the ground and through the air. The unit made the necessary adjustments throughout the night to come up with stops in the fourth quarter.

The secondary played well and LSU’s young corners made plays in man coverage. That’s what LSU needs if it’s going to reach the playoff.

LSU’s run game is still an issue

LSU didn’t get much from its run game. The Tigers averaged -0.25 EPA/rush, far below an acceptable mark. 50% of LSU’s runs were stopped for two yards or less and that led to trouble on later downs.

[autotag]Caden Durham[/autotag] carried it 12 times for 37 yards and [autotag]Josh Williams[/autotag] ran it nine times for 34 yards. Both backs didn’t get much help from the offensive line as Ole Miss did a good job of plugging the holes.

We knew Ole Miss had a strong defensive front entering the night, but LSU looked outmatched when it tried to run the ball. That’s not a good sign with the defenses LSU has on deck.

LSU defense creates havoc

LSU got the big plays it needed from its defense. On the night, LSU generated 11 tackles for loss and six sacks.

[autotag]Bradyn Swinson[/autotag] and [autotag]Whit Weeks[/autotag] were active all night, getting pressure on Jaxson Dart and getting runs stops near or behind the line of scrimmage.

LSU knew it needed to keep Ole Miss off schedule to have a chance in this one. The big plays from the front seven prevented Kiffin’s offense from establishing a consistent rhythm.

LSU is back in the playoff race

LSU took a back seat in the playoff discussion these last few weeks, but a win over a top-10 opponent should move the needle.

It’s a long season, but this game had major playoff implications no matter the winner. LSU remains in control of its own destiny with the win while Ole Miss will need some help.

This win buys back some room for error for LSU. The Tigers can lose one down the stretch and still make the playoff at 10-2.

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Brian Kelly shares what’s different about LSU’s defense in 2024

Brian Kelly shared his thoughts on the state of LSU’s defense heading into 2024’s battle with Ole Miss.

Ole Miss hung 55 points on LSU in Oxford last year. It was one of the worst defensive performances in program history and the beginning of the end for former LSU defensive coordinator [autotag]Matt House[/autotag].

Following the season, head coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] made wholesale changes on the defensive side of the ball, hiring [autotag]Blake Baker[/autotag] away from Missouri to run the defense.

LSU faces Ole Miss again on Saturday. The Rebels’ offense is still dangerous and this provides a measuring stick for LSU’s defense.

Earlier this week, Kelly was asked about last year’s performance vs. Ole Miss.

“Obviously, you’re going to turn on the film from last year, and you’re going to look at it and go, okay, that’s not what we want to be defensively,” Kelly said.

“Players would say from a coaching standpoint and a playing standpoint, we’re much further along. That’s not the same defense,” Kelly said.

Ole Miss racked up 706 yards of total offense against LSU last year. 389 through the air and 317 on the ground.

Kelly said when you’re playing an up-tempo team like Ole Miss, the game comes down to getting lined up and tackling. LSU did neither of those things well last year.

Kelly said that the key on Saturday will be making Ole Miss one-dimensional. LSU can do that by putting pressure on Jaxson Dart and getting Lane Kiffin’s offense off schedule.

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Brian Kelly explains how LSU is adjusting its secondary rotation

LSU is shuffling its secondary again in the bye week.

LSU experimented with its secondary throughout the first five weeks of the year. [autotag]Sage Ryan[/autotag] began the year at corner before moving to safety. [autotag]Major Burns[/autotag] played the STAR spot until LSU wanted three linebackers on the field, pushing Burns to safety.

During the bye week, LSU is continuing to shuffle some pieces. [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] said [autotag]Javien Toviano[/autotag] is going to play STAR the rest of the way. This should bring some stability after Toviano’s bounced around from corner to safety to nickel since arriving at LSU.

Kelly said LSU coaches think Toviano is better close to the line of scrimmage. Toviano at STAR puts him in a position to be athletic and make plays. With Toviano at STAR, LSU has the flexibility to play Burns at safety again.

Toviano was a blue-chip recruit in 2023 and played as a true freshman last year, but he’s yet to see much action in 2024. If Toviano settles in at STAR, more playing time could be in the fold.

Overall, LSU’s secondary is playing better than it did to start 2023, but the Tigers still rank 111th nationally, allowing 8.1 yards per pass. LSU’s next test is Ole Miss, which gave LSU plenty of trouble through the air last year.

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Is LSU defensive end Bradyn Swinson putting together an All-American campaign?

Is LSU’s Bradyn Swinson a contender for SEC Defensive Player of the Year?

LSU knew it needed a few breakouts on defense to see growth on that side of the ball. The unit is young and LSU didn’t do much in the transfer portal, putting pressure on the players in-house to turn a corner.

LSU may have found that star in [autotag]Bradyn Swinson[/autotag] at defensive end. Swinson transferred to LSU prior to 2023 after spending three years at Oregon. Swinson was a rotational piece for LSU last year but proved to be a valuable veteran down the stretch.

Four games into 2024, Swinson’s found another level. He’s taken over the last two games, forcing a fumble against South Carolina and UCLA. He has five sacks on the year, with a few of those coming when LSU needed them most.

Swinson’s 18 pressures rank third among Power Four edge defenders. His pass-rush win rate and PFF pass-rush grade sit in the top 10 too. He’s not just the most impactful player on LSU’s defense, but one of the most impactful defenders in the country.

Swinson took home SEC defensive lineman of the week after LSU’s week four win, making it the second consecutive game with conference superlative honors for Swinson.

Swinson is showcasing a blend of speed and power that was evident in flashes last year, but now he’s performing consistently. He’s a threat to make a play at any down and distance, at any point in the game. Offenses have to account for him in ways they didn’t before, potentially making it easier on the rest of the defensive front.

That’s big given LSU just lost [autotag]Harold Perkins Jr.[/autotag] for the year with a torn ACL. LSU will rely on Swinson’s pass rush even more, but he appears up for the task.

This is an All-American level campaign. It will get tougher when LSU starts seeing better offensive lines week in and week out, but expect Swinson to continue to rack up pressures.

Swinson’s progress wasn’t linear. He didn’t begin his college career as a highly-touted blue-chip, though he was a three-star and top 500 overall player. He didn’t produce much at Oregon, but there were positive indicators when he arrived at LSU, such as a good pass rush win rate in his limited action with the Ducks.

LSU defensive ends coach [autotag]Kevin Peoples[/autotag] deserves credit too. He has a knack for developing pass rushers and is proving to be a critical hire on Brian Kelly’s defensive staff.

There’s a long way to go, but if Swinson keeps this up, he’ll contend for the SEC’s Defensive Player of the Year.

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