Although most people around the country will simply see the final score, those who watched Louisiana Tech take on No. 8 LSU Saturday night saw much more.
I know I did.
Sure, the Bulldogs “covered” for those who bet on college football for entertainment purposes. I don’t.
But one thing I will bet on is this LA Tech defense.
Those Bulldogs are for real.
I saw what they did against Northwestern State in the season-opening victory, but I was much more impressed with what Luke Olsen’s bunch did in Death Valley.
Yes. LSU scored 45 points and amassed more than 500 yards of offense on the way to its second straight victory to open the season. As much as it pains me to say it, I think the Tigers are going to do that against most people this year.
They have weapons everywhere.
But it didn’t come easy.
The scoreboard at Tiger Stadium read 10-7 at the half. Neither Lil Wayne nor Boosie could help Lane Kiffin’s offense in the opening two quarters.
Talk about opening some eyes around the country when that went across the ol’ score ticker.
Maybe the most impressive thing about the Tech defense was how it held up in the trenches. I’ve seen a lot of LA Tech vs. Power 4 games in my time, and usually that’s the biggest difference.
Not Saturday night.
Tech’s defense thwarted the LSU running game for much of the night. And when the Tigers tried to line up and simply run up the middle in short-yardage situations, especially in the red zone, the Bulldogs said, “Not so fast, my friend.”
Sure. LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt, who threw three first-half interceptions, hurt Tech at times with his legs, running for three scores. And yes, Trey’Dez Green, all 6-foot-7, 245 pounds of him, was able to pick up some first downs in short-yardage situations out of the wildcat.
But all in all, the Bulldogs held up against the run.
Tech also sacked Leavitt five times and added another six tackles for loss on running plays. LSU struggled to figure out where the pressure was coming from much of the night. And if not for the fact Leavitt is a very elusive quarterback, the Bulldogs would have gotten him in the backfield even more.
Alonzo Jackson and Jordan McRae both had games you dream about, combining for 23 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, a forced fumble, an interception and a Tech-record 100-yard pick-six late in the first half that quieted the sold-out Tiger Stadium crowd.
Jackson led the talented linebacking corps that defensive coordinator Luke Olsen said was “the heartbeat of the defense.”
“They know they set the temperature.”
And McRae is headlining the back end of the unit.
Olsen said if he wanted an “identity clip” showing what his defense should look like, “You can pretty much point at any play of (Jordan McRae) in practice.”
As much as I hate watching the Bulldogs lose to the Tigers in anything, it was an enjoyable game to watch because of the Tech defensive unit flying around the field, making play after play.
And this Tech secondary, which was the biggest question mark entering the year, seems to be a unit that will not only hold up against opposing offenses but could complement the rest of its ball-hawking buddies.
If the Tech front can continue to pressure opposing quarterbacks and the secondary can continue to take advantage of the chaos that creates, watch out.
Sure. The Bulldogs are only two games into the season. But if the Tech offense can just fall somewhere between the season opener against NSU and Saturday night against LSU, this team has a chance to compete for a title.
Olsen told me leading up to the opener that the difference between last year’s defensive unit and this year’s is the experience they have in the system.
“Their confidence level is totally different,” Olsen said. “Their understanding is totally different. I want to give a lot of different looks, but I want it to be simple for our guys.
“I don’t want it to be overly complex for them. I want it to look overly complex (for the opponent).”
Through two games, this Bulldogs defense appears to lack for nothing, including talent, understanding and confidence.
These Bulldogs seem to be for real.
