LSU Football: Tigers Secondary Key to Run at SEC Title
The LSU secondary's filthy performance against Wisconsin was Patrick Peterson approved.
"It's 'DBU.' It's what we do," Peterson said.
Peterson, a former LSU cornerback, was was an All-American during his time in Baton Rouge and is now an All-Pro with the Arizona Cardinals. He was in attendance on Saturday and served as an honorary captain for The Tigers in 28-24 victory over the Badgers.
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LSU defensive back Jalen Mills said Peterson's presence provided extra motivation for the Tigers to perform at a high level, especially in the secondary. And the next wave of Tiger ball hawks did not disappoint.
LSU's suffocation of the Badgers passing attack was astonishing. Quarterback Tanner McEvoy was 8-of-24 for 50 yards and two interceptions.
To put those numbers into perspective, the Tigers allowed at least 100 passing yards to every opponent they faced last year. The 33 percent completion percentage was the best since LSU's dismantling of Kentucky in 2011, where the Wildcats only completed 28 percent of their passes.
LSU's defense, as a whole, did not perform at a high level. Wisconsin had its way on the ground, rushing for 268 yards on 39 carries. The most LSU allowed in a game last year was 216.
The Comeback
The Badgers were in control of the football game in the third quarter with a 17-point lead. But when the Tigers cut the deficit to three, Wisconsin began throwing the football with more frequency. And that is where the game turned in LSU's favor.
Both of the Tigers' fourth-quarter interceptions came on consecutive drives, with the first resulting in the game-winning touchdown.
Mills snatched the first with a mixture of athleticism and guile. McEvoy thought he had an open tight end running down the sideline, but Mills shrunk the gap and caught the ball at its highest point. The junior said after the game he "baited" McEvoy into the throw, which was also a regular move of Peterson's.
LSU's next interception stopped what started to be a promising drive for the Wisconsin.
After two first downs, the Badgers found themselves near midfield. Offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig decided to pass on first down.
Ludwig's call was not a bad one. He chose to attack Dwayne Thomas, who was playing a traditional cornerback role for the injured Jalen Collins. But Thomas out-muscled receiver Reggie Love to knock the football away. True freshman defensive tackle Davon Godchaux did a nice job using a "rip move" to create some pressure up the middle.
For the next two plays, things would only get worse for Wisconsin.
The incomplete pass forced 2nd-and-10, which allowed defensive coordinator John Chavis to bring in his 3-2-6 "Mustang" package. The package includes six defensive backs on the field at once.
The biggest benefit of the Mustang package are the variations that can come from it. Chavis' creativity for the next two plays is defensive genius.
Film Study
The Tigers crowd the line of scrimmage with seven players, which is what they normally do in this defense. Chavis loves to blitz at least the Nickel, which is Mills (JM), or the dime, which is true freshman Jamal Adams (JA).
Wisconsin understands it is unlikely all seven blitz, but protection calls must account for each of the players. Mills said after the game it is tough for offenses to call correct protections because they do not know which edge player is blitzing. This creates unblocked defensive backs attacking the quarterback at high speed.
On this play, Mills looks locked in man coverage on the slot receiver. Because of that, McEvoy's personal protector, which in this case is Gordon, believes Adams is the likely blitzer.
Here is another look of the play pre-snap from behind the play. Notice Gordon eying down Adams, who looks as if he is going to come on a blitz.
The key to blocking the Mustang is to have strong one-on-one blockers across the offensive line. The left tackle, center and right tackle's responsibility is to block the defensive lineman lined up in front of them. The guards must hold off blitzing backers if they choose to come. If not, they must help the others protect.
Adams, as expected, blitzes. He is stopped as Gordon does a superb job of crossing the face of McEvoy and making the tough block. But fortunately enough for the Tigers, linebacker Kwon Alexander blitzed as well and, despite being held, whipped the guard in front of him with his speed and power.
McEvoy, like he had done all night long, ran backwards and threw a prayer off his back leg. None of his receivers were open and the ball fell harmlessly out of bounds.
Wisconsin made all the right decisions in protection on this play, but did not fully execute. Alexander blew by his one-on-one matchup against the right guard and created immense pressure. LSU's coverage was picturesque, which helped set up an ominous 3rd-and-10 for the Badgers.
On the next play, Wisconsin predictably lines up in shotgun again and LSU in the Mustang. This time, though, Gordon is on the right of McEvoy instead of the left. Wisconsin knows the Tigers love blitzing either Adams or Mills, but not both, in this defense. Adams, again, is the more likely blitzer.
But this time, Wisconsin is fooled by Mills. He is the blitzer and Adams sinks into coverage.
Mills did a phenomenal job pre-snap disguising his blitz. He looked as if he would be locking up in man coverage like he did the play before. Because of it, the left tackle, nor Gordon, account for him.
But because Mills blitzed, somebody must cover Love, the slot receiver. Alexander, a linebacker who dominated a guard on a blitz the previous play, takes over Mills' responsibility. Notice all the ground he must make up to catch Love, who is running a corner route away from him.
Mills takes a precise, sharp angle towards the unblocked run towards McEvoy, who read the play correctly. He would expect a receiver against a linebacker on a corner route to be open. Instead, Alexander's sublime pass coverage skills swallows Love's route.
Across the board, LSU is playing precise coverage. The smartest throw would have been to the underneath crossing patters, but that would have been well short of the first down if completed. Instead, he fires up a hopeful prayer to Love.
Mills hits McEvoy as he is releasing the football. The ball is floated up in the air for an easy interception for free safety Ronald Martin, who was shading over the top of Alexander in case he needed help defending Love. Even if the ball was thrown accurately, it still would have been a tough reception for Love after failing to create space from a linebacker.
Wisconsin blocked the play admirably with the omission of Mills. Chavis' creativity forced a turnover that helped lead to victory.
Causes of Concern
McEvoy and Wisconsin's receivers are below average, so it is important to not get carried away with LSU's dominance. The Tigers will run into some issues when facing the elite SEC receiving corps of the SEC West.
LSU's pass rush form its defensive line could have been better. The Tigers had plenty of one-on-one opportunities, but rarely created havoc. There will be times LSU will need to get pressure with four traditional rushers. If that does not improve, the secondary could be exposed.
LSU must do a better job of stopping the run. Gordon is just one of many future NFL running backs the Tigers will face this season. An effective running game usually opens up the pass, but that was not the case this time around. Next time, they may not be so lucky.
Before the season began, the projected defensive backs in the Mustang package were White and Rashard Robinson as the traditional corners, Martin and Rickey Jefferson as the safeties, and Mills and Thomas as the nickel and dimebacks.
Robinson did not make the flight, per The Advocate. His replacement, Jalen Collins, who split first team reps with Robinson this offseason, had suffered an injury previous to the illustrated plays above. Even without those two key pieces, the LSU defense still dominated.
Chavis has tough personnel decisions to make with the embarrassment of riches he possesses at defensive back.
Collins is healthy and will continue to start over Robinson according to James Moran of Tiger Rag. This also means Thomas will move back inside on the nickel and dime Mustang packages. But for that to happen, Chavis must bench Adams, whose presence on the field was noticeable.
Conclusion
Allowing only 50 yards passing is an astonishing feat. That might not be matched again this season by the Tigers, if not ever.
What Chavis can do schematically relies solely on the athletic ability of his players. If LSU's defenders can play man-to-man, bump-and-run coverage all season long, the Tigers will be tough to beat through the air.
Cornerback Tre'Davious White's performance was similar to that of Morris Claiborne, who was LSU's best cover corner on the famed 2011 SEC Championship team. White looks bound to be an All-SEC performer.
Alexander also deserves credit for his versatility. Neither of the illustrated plays Alexander made above will show up on the stat sheet, but were of the highest difficulty. Outside of a few mental errors early, he led LSU in tackles and played special teams effectively. The junior emphasized after the game he is willing to play any role in order for the defense to succeed.
The interchangeable parts in the secondary over the years are what has made LSU "Defensive Back University." Coaches across the country would do anything to have the Tigers backups. This is what makes Peterson being at the game somewhat ironic.
Mills, who has played every position possible in the LSU secondary, said he looks up to Tyrann Mathieu and Ron Brooks. Mathieu and Brooks played the nickel and dime on the 2011 SEC Championship team, which featured the best LSU defensive backfield ever. That defense did not include Peterson, who left early for the NFL.
LSU's secondary might not have the potential this season of that 2011 group, which included two first-team All-Americans. But they can lead LSU to being the best defense in the country if the front seven improves during the season.
Just ask Peterson.
"I believe if the defense stops the run, they can be special," said Peterson. "As of right now, the passing defense looks pretty good. I know it's a long season, but if they go in there with a stout front, I believe they have a really good chance to winning it all."
Stats, rankings and additional information provided by cfbstats.com and LSU Sports Information. Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow me on Twitter @CarterthePower.
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