Defense has been downright offensive at LSU

Oct 27, 2008 - 9:09 PM By Jim Ralabate PA SportsTicker College Football Editor

Les Miles entered this season fully aware that reigning national champion LSU needed to fill some major holes.

Two months into what has been a disappointing campaign, its has become painfully clear that the biggest void in Baton Rouge was left by Bo Pelini, the Tigers' former defensive coordinator who currently is roaming the sidelines as the head coach at Nebraska.

The effects of Pelini's departure were evident this past Saturday when the Tigers were drubbed, 52-38, in Death Valley by rival Georgia.

The embarrassing loss all but ended LSU's fading hope of defending its national title.

But more importantly, the blowout indicated that this year's Tigers are not capable of competing with SEC heavyweights like Georgia or Florida, which raced to a 51-21 rout of LSU two weeks earlier.

"Defensively, I think we're giving great effort," Miles said. "I think our defense is prone to, at times, trying to make the exceptional play. I watched every snap of this defensive film (from the Georgia game), and I can tell you by call that it's exactly what you would want."

Miles seemed to have all the answers last season, when he guided an opportunistic offense and Pelini's star-studded defense to LSU's second national championship in five years.

Despite being ranked sixth this preseason, the Tigers had no experience at quarterback due to the graduation of Matt Flynn and the dismissal of Ryan Perrilloux. LSU also needed to account for the loss of star defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey and dependable wideout Early Doucet, who both were selected in this year's NFL draft.

However, the Tigers still boast a bevy of NFL-quality talent on defense, which makes their shortcomings even more puzzling.

"They're pressing if you will, maybe trying too hard," Miles said. "Frankly, we have to let them know that the call is plenty. The exceptional play is after you have done your assignment and ripped through your gap, held your area responsibly."

Led by running back Knowshon Moreno, Georgia completely gashed LSU on Saturday. The Bulldogs piled up 443 yards from scrimmage - Moreno accounted for 172 alone - and sent an early message to the befuddled Tigers by scoring on their first two offensive possessions.

"Obviously, we are not proud of the way we lost," defensive end Rahim Allen said. "So from here on out, we cannot afford any mistakes."

"It was a very difficult loss for us, and we are frustrated," linebacker Darry Beckwith added. "We have great character. We just have to keep on trying and finish strong this season."

If they want to finish strong, the Tigers will need to figure out how to improve a defense that ranks near the bottom of the SEC in total defense (ninth) and scoring defense (11th).

Saturday's loss marked the first time in the program's 114-year history that the Tigers yielded 50 points more than once in a single season. Even more alarming is the fact that LSU has struggled to stop offensively challenged teams.

LSU yielded 21 points to an Auburn team that eventually fired its offensive coordinator on September 20. The following week, the Tigers surrendered 24 points to Mississippi State, which has scored a total of 22 points combined in its other three SEC games.

Heck, the Tigers even needed one of the referees to help them slow down South Carolina last week.

"We're going to play tough," Miles said. "We just have to play a little smarter in this instance. I see a lot of good football being played in front of this team. I see a lot of fun on the schedule and the opportunity for some real achievement.

"What would be other people's objectives, I don't know. I can only tell you that there's not anybody on this schedule that I don't think we can defeat."

Coincidentally, Pelini has not fared much better with the Cornhuskers, who have yielded just over 30 points per game over their last five contests.

But despite his slow start in Lincoln, Pelini likely would receive a hero's welcome if he returned to LSU, a program that has seen its defense - the foundation of its mini dynasty - crumble in stunning fashion.