Three Defensive Keys for the LSU football team against the South Carolina Gamecocks

Stopping the Run

If LSU is going to win this game on Saturday it'll be because the Tigers stopped the Gamecocks' rushing attack. The Gamecocks have ran 129 plays on offense this year, 91 of which have been running plays. This past weekend we saw a Nicholls State team with less talent on paper rush for 150 yards and 3.9 yards per carry on this defense.

At quarterback, LaNorris Sellers is the dual threat quarterback you have to account for even when he drops back to pass as he'll make you pay with his legs. Depending on how healthy Sellers' hip is, the Tigers will face designed runs, RPOs, and option play which make it extremely important that the Tigers account for his rushing threat.

When looking at the Gamecocks roster the name Raheim Sanders may not ring a bell but, Rocket Sanders will. The former Arkansas Razorback missed most of the 2023 season but, he showed the Country what he's capable of in 2022 rushing for 1,426 yards and ten touchdowns averaging a whopping 6.5 YPC. This season, Sanders leads Arkansas with 142 yards and a pair of touchdowns averaging 3.8 yards per carry.

We've seen LSU defenses as of late struggle with tackling, and this may be the game you need sound tackling more than anything else. If you have Sanders or Sellers dead to rights, you have to finish the play off to get this team into second or third and long situations where the defense can pin its ears back and rush the passer.