We are 16 days away from college football season, and today we focus on one of the best defenses in the country in 2016.
LSU football is built on defense, and with Ed Orgeron taking over as interim and now full-time head coach, the defense appeared to get even better. The Tigers have one of the best defenses in the country nearly every season.
In the last eight seasons, 2013 and 2015 are the only years that LSU has allowed more than 20 points per game. The Tigers led the nation in 2011, allowing just 11.3 points per game. The Tigers return just five starters on this year’s defense, but they always seem to reload with talent. And that leads us to no. 16 on the Southbound and Down College Football Countdown.
LSU Tigers allowed 16 touchdowns in 2016, fewest in nation
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The 16 touchdowns the Tigers allowed last season were the fewest in the nation, although they did play one less game than most teams did last year. LSU was fifth in the nation in scoring defense, allowing 15.8 points per game. Alabama (13.0) was the only team in the SEC that allowed fewer points per game than the Bayou Bengals.
LSU allowed one touchdown or fewer in nine of their 12 games last season. Take a second to think about that. In three quarters of their games, they allowed one touchdown or fewer. And even more unbelievable than that, the Tigers only went 5-4 in those nine games! LSU also held the Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson and the Louisville Cardinals without a touchdown in their 29-9 win in the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl.
The Tigers’ defense was actually better statistically in losses than in wins. In LSU’s eight wins last season they allowed 16.1 points per game. In their four losses to Wisconsin, Auburn, Alabama, and Florida, they allowed 15 points per game while allowing three total touchdowns. The only problem is that offensively they scored 12.3 points per game. They even held Auburn without a touchdown and still lost. Daniel Carlson hit six field goals in Auburn’s 18-13 win.
Oddly enough, after defensive-minded Orgeron took over, the Tigers’ offense stepped their game up. They averaged 32 points per game under Coach O, after scoring 21 points per game under Les Miles.
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Coach O has rejuvenated the spirits of LSU football fans. We know how good the Tigers’ defense is. They essentially do the same thing every year, and considering that spike in offensive production, 2017 could be a special year down on the Bayou.