LSU Football: 5 Takeaways from breakthrough 2018 season
4. LSU still needs help on both lines-of-scrimmage
As much as they wanted it to be, this still wasn’t the LSU of yesteryear. Orgeron’s preference is to line up and dominate at the line-of-scrimmage, and while that worked fine against overmatched foes, the Tigers still found themselves unable to get much of a push on either side against teams with equal or greater talent.
Orgeron mentioned right away when he was given the full-time gig in Baton Rouge that bulking up in the trenches was a must. Years of recruiting negligence and typical roster attrition left the cupboards relatively bear on both lines-of-scrimmage. Even with football ever evolving, games are still mostly won and lost at the line-of-scrimmage.
LSU used numerous different combinations on the offensive line throughout the season, and failed to generate much of a pass rush on defense. No Tigers edge-rusher managed more than four sacks on the season.
Even as a run-first team with a 1000 yard rusher in Nick Brossette in tow, the Tigers still finished 59th in the country in rushing offense. Joe Burrow was constantly harassed as well, with LSU ranking 102nd in sacks-allowed.
LSU still managed a stout defense thanks to a loaded secondary, but the front-seven, despite boasting the nation’s top linebacker in Devin White, still had trouble stopping the run. The Tigers finished the year ranked 34th in the nation in run-defense, a far cry from the dominant units they fielded during Les Miles’ heyday.
Help is on the way in the form of the nation’s 5th ranked recruiting class per the 247 composite rankings. The biggest recruit who could help right away at a position of need is five-star offensive guard Kardell Thomas. They’ve got two other four-star offensive linemen in this class that will help the need for depth.
LSU has a pair of defensive tackles committed in this class, highlighted by four-star Siaki Ika from Salt Lake City. They’re in the mix for a few more big-time recruits that could provide immediate assistance next season as well.
Orgeron has made a concerted effort to improve the talent on both lines-of-scrimmage, and LSU should start to see the fruits of his labor in the near future.