By GLENN GUILBEAU, Tiger Rag Editor
No risk, no reward is a popular mantra for life.
It is also popular among defensive coordinators in football, particularly those who love to blitz. It can be dangerous in football as the more players rush, or blitz, a quarterback, the fewer players are left to cover receivers.
LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker blitzed often in his first two seasons, and frequently the Tigers gave up big plays, particularly in the middle of the field.
Baker has been saying since the spring, that in his third season he would have the type of talent at speed throughout his defense to do what he really wants to do on defense. And so far, Baker is not gambling much with blitzes as he is keeping his players at home in their spots.
No. 7 LSU (2-0) has only played two games against questionable offenses so far this season, but Baker’s defense looks extremely dominant. LSU is No. 1 in the nation in total defense with 142.5 yards allowed a game and No. 2 in rush defense with a mere 18.5 yards allowed a game. LSU leads the nation in sacks with six with five by edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen, and he doesn’t blitz.
The Tigers’ defense faces its first true test of the season at No. 8 Ole Miss (2-0) on Saturday (6:30 p.m., ABC) against two of the best offensive players in the country – quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and running back Kewan Lacy.
But it looks like Baker will be using a less risk-more reward philosophy this season.
“He’s not taking risks,” former LSU linebacker Darry Beckwith said on Tiger Rag Radio on Tuesday night. “I think last year, he took more risks because he had to. This year, he’s getting back to the basics when it comes to blitzes.”
Baker is not just lining his defense up and saying, “Come beat me.” He is still being creative.
For example, when he had edge rusher Jordan Rush fake like he was going to rush the passer against Clemson. Ross just took a couple steps toward the pocket, then dropped back into coverage. When Clemson quarterback Christopher Vizzina first looked Ross’ way, Ross was coming. But by the time he turned, Ross was in coverage. Vizzina never saw him and threw right to him. Ross intercepted and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown.
“He’s keeping it simple, but adding a wrinkle,” Beckwith said.
And when a DC has speed and talent at his disposal, he can play this way.
“The main thing is that they can run,” Beckwith said. “Their linebackers – TJ Dottery and Whit Weeks – can run. Their defensive backs can flat run. And in today’s game, if you don’t have speed on defense, you’re going to be in trouble because of the RPO game (run-pass option from quarterbacks), and how they spread you out. These guys can run. And the second thing is, nobody is trying to make a play, if they’re not supposed to make a play. They’re staying where they are supposed to be. They’re setting the edge. They’re doing their job. And they feed off each other. I’m sold after two games.”
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