LSU’s defense has not simply played well through the first two games of the season. It has overwhelmed two opponents in almost every meaningful category.
Clemson and Louisiana Tech combined for only 285 yards on 103 plays against Blake Baker’s defense. That works out to just 2.8 yards per play. The two offenses totaled 16 first downs, converted only 4 of 27 third-down attempts and surrendered 22 tackles for loss.
LSU also produced 11 sacks and four takeaways while allowing only two offensive touchdowns.
The Tigers defeated Clemson 51-10 and Louisiana Tech 45-14, but even those lopsided scores do not fully explain how dominant the defense has been.
LSU Has Practically Eliminated the Running Game
Clemson and Louisiana Tech combined for only 37 net rushing yards on 57 attempts. That is approximately 0.65 yards per attempt.
Clemson finished with 40 rushing yards on 26 carries. Louisiana Tech was held to minus-3 net rushing yards on 31 attempts.
The Bulldogs actually gained 53 yards on their rushing attempts, but LSU’s defense created 56 yards in losses. That constant disruption prevented Louisiana Tech from establishing any rhythm or staying ahead of the chains.
The Tigers have been too strong at the point of attack and too fast once the ball reaches the perimeter. Running lanes disappear quickly, and offensive linemen rarely get a clean path to LSU’s linebackers.
When an offense cannot run the ball, the playbook begins to shrink. That has allowed Baker to attack quarterbacks with pressure packages instead of waiting for them to make mistakes.
Louisiana Tech Had Zero Yards at Halftime
The most incredible statistic of LSU’s young season came against Louisiana Tech.
The Bulldogs finished the first half with exactly zero yards of total offense.
This was not a case of an offense repeatedly driving into LSU territory and failing to score. Louisiana Tech could not move the ball at all. The Bulldogs were repeatedly knocked backward, forced into difficult third downs and denied the explosive plays needed to escape LSU’s pressure.
Louisiana Tech entered the game after scoring 80 points and producing 528 yards of offense in its season opener against Northwestern State. LSU responded by holding the Bulldogs to 140 total yards for the entire game.
That is a decrease of 388 yards from one game to the next.
Louisiana Tech managed eight first downs, converted 3 of 14 third-down opportunities and failed on both of its fourth-down attempts. The Bulldogs also failed to score on their only red-zone possession.
The Scoreboard Makes LSU’s Defense Look Worse Than It Was
LSU’s opponents have scored 24 combined points, but only 17 were surrendered by the defense.
Louisiana Tech scored one of its two touchdowns on a 100-yard interception return. That play counts against LSU’s team scoring total, but the defense was not on the field.
The Bulldogs’ only offensive touchdown came on a 67-yard pass in the fourth quarter. Clemson scored one field goal and one rushing touchdown against LSU.
Through two games, Baker’s unit has allowed just two offensive touchdowns—one in each contest.
That means LSU’s defense is allowing 8.5 points per game when only points scored against the defense are counted.
Princewill Umanmielen Is Wrecking Game Plans
Princewill Umanmielen has emerged as the most destructive player on LSU’s defense.
Through two games, Umanmielen has recorded 11 tackles, five sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss. He produced two sacks against Clemson before exploding for three sacks and four tackles for loss against Louisiana Tech.
He has accounted for five of LSU’s 11 sacks.
Umanmielen is not collecting empty statistics after plays have already been decided. His pressure is destroying drives. He is forcing quarterbacks to leave the pocket, making running backs change direction and creating opportunities for LSU’s other defenders.
The Tigers needed a dependable edge presence capable of winning individual matchups. Through two games, Umanmielen has been much more than dependable. He has been one of the most productive pass rushers in the country.
Jordan Ross Is Becoming a Complete Defensive Weapon
Jordan Ross has also created problems from the edge.
Ross has seven tackles, four tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks through two games. His biggest play came against Clemson, when he intercepted a pass and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown.
That play demonstrated what makes Ross so dangerous. He can pressure the quarterback, disrupt the running game and make plays in space.
Having Umanmielen and Ross attacking from different positions gives Baker flexibility. LSU can rush four, disguise pressure or move its best defenders around to create favorable matchups.
Opposing quarterbacks have not been able to settle into a comfortable pocket. Even when LSU does not record a sack, its pressure affects the timing and direction of the play.
TJ Dottery Is Setting the Tone
Linebacker TJ Dottery has been one of LSU’s most consistent defenders.
Dottery leads the team with 14 tackles through two games. He recorded five against Clemson and nine against Louisiana Tech. He also has two forced fumbles and one tackle for loss.
Against Louisiana Tech, Dottery stripped quarterback Eli Finley, and Tamarcus Cooley recovered the ball. That takeaway gave LSU possession deep in Bulldogs territory.
Later in the game, freshman defensive lineman Deuce Geralds forced another fumble. Jhase Thomas recovered it and returned the ball 22 yards.
Those were not accidental turnovers. They were created by aggressive tackling, pursuit and defenders attacking the football.
Whit Weeks has added 13 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss through two games, giving LSU another reliable presence in the middle of the defense.
LSU Is Winning the Most Important Down
Third down has become a dead end for opposing offenses.
Clemson converted only 1 of 13 third-down attempts. Louisiana Tech finished 3 of 14. Combined, LSU’s opponents are 4 of 27, a success rate of just 14.8 percent.
That statistic connects nearly everything LSU is doing well.
The defensive front is controlling early downs. The Tigers are stopping the run, producing negative plays and forcing quarterbacks into predictable passing situations. Baker can then use his pressure packages without worrying as much about defending the entire playbook.
LSU has also defended the red zone effectively. Clemson and Louisiana Tech combined for only two trips inside LSU’s 20-yard line, producing one touchdown.
The Tigers Are Playing Fast and Violent
Statistics reveal the production, but LSU’s style is equally encouraging.
The Tigers are reaching the football with multiple defenders. They are finishing tackles. They are attacking gaps instead of waiting for blocks to develop. When quarterbacks hesitate, LSU’s pass rush closes quickly.
Baker’s defense has recorded 22 tackles for loss in two games—11 against Clemson and 11 against Louisiana Tech. That means LSU is averaging 11 plays behind the line of scrimmage per game.
The Tigers are not merely surviving drives. They are actively destroying them.
LSU’s Defense Is Built for Bigger Tests
Two games do not decide an entire season, and stronger offenses will eventually challenge LSU in different ways. But the foundation is impossible to ignore.
LSU has size up front, speed at linebacker, disruptive edge rushers and defensive backs capable of creating turnovers. Most importantly, the Tigers are playing as a connected unit.
The numbers through two games are staggering:
- 285 total yards allowed
- 37 net rushing yards allowed
- 2.8 yards allowed per play
- 16 first downs allowed
- 11 sacks
- 22 tackles for loss
- Four takeaways
- Two offensive touchdowns allowed
- 14.8 percent third-down conversion rate allowed
Clemson could not sustain drives. Louisiana Tech had zero yards at halftime. Two different offenses entered with two different plans, and neither found a reliable answer.
LSU’s defense has gone from a preseason source of optimism to the most imposing part of the team.
Through two games, Blake Baker’s unit has not merely controlled the opposition. It has erased it.
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