Ed Orgeron, LSU unveil new defense, makes difference in win at Mississippi State

LSU’s defense played well in Saturday’s victory over Mississippi State. A big reason behind the win was a change in LSU’s defensive scheme ahead of the game. The Tigers only rushed three players for the majority of the game, playing in a 3-2-6 scheme and dropping eight in coverage.

LSU head coach Ed Orgeron said that last year’s game against Mississippi State was a big reason for the switch in schemes. Mississippi State threw for 623 yards and defeated LSU last season 44-34. Orgeron wasn’t going to sit back and let Mississippi State throw the ball down the field for a second consecutive matchup between the two teams.

“We’ve been thinking about that since the Sunday after our game (against Mississippi State) last year,” Orgeron said to reporters of switching to the 3-2-6 scheme after the game. “We really watched Arkansas and what Arkansas had done to them, we really studied Arkansas film a lot. They made a couple adjustments. Give the credit to our coaching staff. Everybody pitched in. Daronte (Jones) did a great job of implementing it, our guys had a great job of believing in it.

“It was a little different for us because when you’re leading the nation in sacks, it’s hard to go with a three-man rush. But we had to have a heart to do it. We gave up something, we told them as long as they don’t beat the ball deep, we want to build a fence and make him throw the ball in front of us. For the most part, it worked.”

Orgeron, LSU wanted Mississippi State to throw the ball short

Coming into the game, Orgeron was content with letting Mississippi State quarterback Will Rogers throwing the ball short. LSU’s main goal was to stop big plays by protecting well down the field. Rogers still completed 47 of 62 passes for 371 yards and three touchdowns, but he also threw an interception and the effort was enough to give LSU the 28-25 victory.

“We knew they were going to throw the ball short,” Orgeron said. “I was clapping every time they threw the ball short. I knew there wasn’t going to be enough points, enough yardage to beat us if they kept on throwing the ball short. We’re going to tackle the guys. It’ll make it tough sledding for them to score. Obviously, the explosive plays killed us last year, so that’s why we went to the eight man drop.

“But again, give our staff some credit. They worked very hard, but I give the players some credit. Especially our linebackers, our corners and our DBs. That’s a new scheme, we had never played that scheme before. We were practicing this week and our guys did a tremendous job of working.”

LSU was without top cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. in the game. The Tigers have a tough schedule ahead of them, but they now sit at 3-1 on the year. LSU’s next five games include home matchups against Auburn and Florida with road games at Kentucky, Ole Miss, and Alabama.