Louisiana Tech Football: Preview, prediction for 2019 season

(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Previewing the defense

Despite the departure of Jaylon Ferguson to the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens, the Bulldogs return plenty of talent on the defensive side of the ball. Defensive lineman Willie Baker, a backup who still had 11.5 tackles for loss last year, looks to take his place as the team’s top pass rusher.

As a unit, the defense gave up only 341.3 yards per game last season, good enough for No. 27 nationally out of 130 FBS teams. In addition, the Bulldogs forced teams on average on third down to 7.7 yards to go, the 21st-best mark in the nation.

Bob Diaco is the Bulldogs’ new defensive coordinator, and he will arguably have more talent at his disposal than his previous stop (UConn).

The strength of the defense lies in its secondary. Junior cornerback Amik Robertson and senior cornerback L’Jarius Sneed are preseason all-conference selections after the duo combined for seven interceptions and 120 tackles in 2018. Some outlets have even selected the 5-foot-9 Robertson, who has nine career interceptions already, as the Preseason C-USA Defensive Player of the Year.

The Bulldogs gave up more than 30 points only twice last year — to SEC opponents LSU and Mississippi State. There are no SEC teams on this year’s schedule.