BATON ROUGE — It’s taken until Year 2 under defensive coordinator Blake Baker, but LSU football has seemingly rebounded on the defensive side of the ball.
The Tigers (2-0), who are ranked No. 4 in the country thanks in large part of how they’ve performed defensively the first two weeks of the 2025 college football season, are just a couple of years removed from having arguably the worst statistical season in program history under former defensive coordinator Matt House.
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Brian Kelly hired Baker after the 2023 season, and there was marked improvement in his first year in 2024. But with a revamped defensive roster — in which more than half of the starters this season are transfers — and more experience of playing football as well as others in key roles with more familiarity with Baker’s scheme, the dividends are paying off.
Through two games, LSU ranks 13th in college football in scoring defense, 11th nationally in yards allowed per game (207.5) and just seventh in FBS in rushing yards allowed at 44.5 yards per game.
Where has the consistency started for LSU’s defensive performance through two contests?
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“It starts at the back end of the defense. Coverage, ability, tackling, we’ve been really good tacklers,” Kelly said Monday. “I think what stands out right away is the ability to cover down contested throws and tackling in the back end of the defense.”
Newcomers like Mansoor Delane, Tamarcus Cooley and A.J. Haulcy in the secondary have boosted the team’s tackling and coverage. Kelly said during preseason camp those three guys were exactly who LSU was looking for out of the portal because of those traits.
How the defensive line and linebackers have played off each other the first two times out has also stood out to Kelly. Defensive ends and linemen like Jack Pyburn are eating up blocks and freeing up backers like Harold Perkins Jr. for sacks.
“Those guys up front are the hardest-working dudes on the team,” LSU senior middle linebacker West Weeks said after the Tigers’ 23-7 win over Louisiana Tech on Saturday night. “Taking on those double teams to free us up, so I appreciate those guys for doing that hard work for us. It’s fun to play behind a group like that that can free us up like that.”
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Perkins and Weeks are in his second year in Baker’s scheme, along with Weeks’ younger brother Whit starting at the other linebacker spot. Cornerback P.J. Woodland, while a first-year starter as a sophomore after winning a position battle during preseason practice, has played instinctual since the start of camp.
That coupled with the roster upgrades has LSU in position to potentially say its vaunted defense is back.
“I think that just having a second year in the scheme and everybody feeling comfortable with Blake’s scheme up front,” Kelly said. “Then the coverage ability and tackling ability on the back end, would probably be the two things that I would highlight.”
Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: This is why LSU football’s defense has opened 2025 with a fast start
