LSU-South Carolina Review: Grades For Defense and Coaching

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South Carolina is in the rearview mirror and Gator up next on the menu for the LSU Tigers Football team but there is more to remember from playing the Gamecocks than finally seeing the last of Steve Spurrier.

Spurrier was a long time thorn in the side of the Tigers, but that was mostly while he was coaching at Florida in the 90’s.

Of more interest at this point is the continued growth and progress of this years LSU team, a factor we are grading out for the defense and coaching staff today.

Defensive Line B-

Oct 10, 2015; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback Perry Orth (10) is pressured to throw by LSU Tigers defensive end Lewis Neal (92) during the first quarter of a game at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

It was a bit of a mixed bag for the defensive line. Run stopping was excellent, the Tigers held South Carolina to 74 yards rushing, and they held South Carolina’s running backs to only 51 yards on the ground.

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The pass rush was a little less than stellar, in spite of the coaches standing Arden Key and moving him around a bit to take advantage of the disruption Davon Godchaux regularly creates on the inside.

LSU opened the season showing a ferocious and highly productive pass rush, logging three sacks against Mississippi State and five against Auburn. They have hit the wall since, with only four sacks in the last three games while playing lesser opponents.

With Florida losing their starting quarterback for the season this week to a failed PED test and returning to a more spread and running quarterback type system the pass rush will be more focused on containment.

This may also net the line some of the kind of opportunities it had against the Mississippi State and Auburn spread attacks.

Linebackers A

Oct 10, 2015; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback Perry Orth (10) throws as LSU Tigers defensive tackle Davon Godchaux (57) pressures during the first quarter of a game at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

The Linebacker Corps had a fairly quiet day. If you were expecting to see some creative attempts to pressure South Carolina’s inexperienced QB you left disappointed.

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  • The Tigers stayed in their nickel package most of the day which means leaving only two linebackers on the field and didn’t do much of anything in the pass rush.

    They helped contain South Carolina’s rushers to a paltry 74 yards on the day though. They were also excellent in coverage. In spite of a decent showing by South Carolina in the passing game the backs and Tight Ends were held to 4 passes between 4 players.

    Kendell Beckwith continues to make the calls and keep the defense steady and Deion Jones continues to flash his big play potential in ways NFL scouts are surely noticing. All in all a very good day for the LB’s.

    Defensive Backs B-

    Oct 10, 2015; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers defensive back Dwayne Thomas (13) and safety Jamal Adams (33) tackle South Carolina Gamecocks wide receiver Pharoh Cooper (11) during the first quarter of a game at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

    It was an up and down night in some ways for the DB’s of DBU. The game started poorly.

    Somehow Spurrier’s Gamecocks managed to get preseason All SEC Team WR Pharoh Cooper lined up on LSU’s #3 Cornerback Dwayne Thomas for a couple of key plays on their opening drive.

    Cooper finished with 7 catches for 105 yards and a touchdown on the day, a very good showing. The Gamecocks kept much of their focus on Thomas early on, targeting him repeatedly, but he settled in as the game progressed.

    Outside of Cooper’s very good day the Gamecocks were able to move the ball in the air, but not enough to keep up with LSU’s offensive attack. A solid if unspectacular showing.

    Coaching Staff B+

    Oct 10, 2015; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers head coach Les Miles against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the second half of a game at Tiger Stadium. LSU defeated South Carolina 45-24. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

    A 45 to 24 win is a positive grade for the coaches any time. Particularly noteworthy in this one was the arrival of the LSU passing game after four poor showings in a row.

    Les Miles has been claiming his offense was more diverse than just handing the rock to Leonard Fournette and Cam Cameron and Brandon Harris finally showed it.

    For the first time this year LSU looked both talented and capable of winning down the stretch. This was a much needed boon to Tigers fans sweating a repeat of the enormously talented but ultimately one dimensional 2011 team that lost in the National Championship Game.

    Defense and Special Teams weren’t quite up to par. The Special Teams unit in particular gave up some big plays.

    Most of that can be attributed to the lack of leg power on the kickoff team, which is more a recruiting issue than in game coaching issue.

    The Touchdown given up on a return was, in spite of a missed call on an illegal block opened up by poor positioning by the coverage unit. That is definitely a coaching issue.

    The defense at times was out schemed by South Carolina’s passing game. Pharoh Cooper should never have been in single coverage against LSU’s #3 CB, much less twice in one drive.

    The failure to install blitz packages is puzzling as well. New Coordinator Kevin Steele seems committed to making pressure with his front four down linemen in spite of that unit’s inconsistencies.

    This is also in spite of the tremendous athleticism he has at his disposal in the Linebacker and Safety positions. Rickey Jefferson and Deion Jones have shown ability on pass rush packages, and they may be needed against teams with better lines and quarterbacks than South Carolina was able to muster.

    LSU-South Carolina was a win, not just that, it was a good win against an SEC opponent which always matters. Still, the Tigers have some things to work on if they expect to continue their winning ways against the like of Florida, Bama and Ole Miss…..

    Next: LSU-South Carolina Review: Grades For Offense and Special Teams