Introduction: A New Season of Challenges and Opportunities
As the LSU Tigers continue their spring practices, the anticipation for the 2025 season grows with each session. For LSU, the defense has been a critical focal point of success, particularly given the program’s proud history of producing some of the most dominant defenses in college football. One of the key figures in leading the Tigers’ defensive unit into the new season is defensive coordinator Blake Baker.
Baker, who has been with LSU since 2022, has played an instrumental role in shaping a defense that has helped elevate the Tigers back into the national spotlight. With the spring season in full swing, Baker took the time to address the media following Thursday’s practice session, providing insight into how the defense is shaping up, key positional battles, and his overall vision for the upcoming season.
During the media session, Baker reflected on the progress the defense has made since last season, the areas of focus for his unit, and how the Tigers are adapting to a new era of college football. With LSU coming off a strong 2024 season, the expectations are high, and Baker is aware of the challenges ahead. But he’s also confident that the pieces are in place for another elite defensive unit.
In this article, we’ll delve into Baker’s remarks, highlighting his thoughts on the defense’s progress, specific player performances, and the overall strategy that will guide LSU’s defensive efforts as they approach the 2025 campaign.
Defensive Scheme and Philosophy: Building a Versatile Unit
One of the first questions Baker addressed during his media session was the overall defensive philosophy and how it’s evolving as the Tigers prepare for the 2025 season. Baker made it clear that his approach is centered around versatility, adaptability, and the ability to adjust on the fly.
“We want to be multiple in everything we do,” Baker said. “We want to be able to attack offenses in a variety of ways, whether it’s with our front seven, our secondary, or our blitz packages. It’s about keeping offenses off-balance and making them uncomfortable. I think the biggest thing for us this year is being able to adapt to whatever challenges the offense presents, whether that’s tempo, formations, or new wrinkles that they throw at us.”
Baker’s defensive scheme has always been built on flexibility, allowing players to move around and show a variety of looks. This approach has served LSU well in the past, but with college football evolving rapidly—especially with the influence of high-powered offenses—it’s clear that this versatility will be crucial in 2025.
“You can’t just line up and expect to dominate anymore,” Baker continued. “Offensive coordinators are too good, and the talent is too spread out. That’s why we spend a lot of time scheming and making sure that we’re putting our guys in the best position possible to succeed. We’ve got to be unpredictable, and we’ve got to be aggressive, but we also need to be smart and disciplined.”
Baker’s vision for the LSU defense is clear: he wants a unit that can adjust to any situation, be it a high-flying offense or a power-running team. The Tigers’ ability to adapt to varying styles of play will be key to their success in the hyper-competitive SEC and beyond.
Key Position Battles: Strengthening the Defense Line and Secondary
As spring practices continue, one of the most intriguing aspects of LSU’s defense is the number of position battles across multiple areas of the field. Baker spoke in depth about the critical competitions that are taking place and how they will ultimately shape the depth chart heading into the 2025 season.
“Competition breeds excellence,” Baker explained. “We’ve got a lot of young guys who are eager to prove themselves, and they’re going to push the veterans to get better. At the same time, the veterans know that they can’t just rest on their laurels. Every spot on this defense is earned, and it’s exciting to see these guys battle it out every day.”
Defensive Line: Securing the Trenches
One of the most important positional groups on LSU’s defense is the defensive line, a unit that has traditionally been a strength of the program. Baker acknowledged that there is a lot of talent on the defensive front but also noted that several key players will need to step up in 2025 to maintain LSU’s dominance in the trenches.
“We’ve got a great group of guys on the defensive line, and we’ve been very pleased with how they’ve progressed through the spring,” Baker said. “Guys like Aaron McPherson and Elijah Moore are really starting to show flashes of their potential. Aaron is a physical specimen, and Elijah’s ability to disrupt plays has been impressive. We’re excited about what they bring to the table.”
McPherson, a five-star recruit, has been touted as one of the most disruptive defensive tackles in recent years. His combination of size, quickness, and motor makes him a potential game-changer for LSU. Moore, a junior defensive end, has been a standout performer in spring practices, showing impressive speed and strength off the edge.
Baker also mentioned several veterans who are expected to play a pivotal role in stabilizing the defensive line, such as Jaquarrius Johnson and Chris Lacy. These experienced players provide leadership and reliability that will be critical in mentoring the younger players and maintaining a level of consistency up front.
“The defensive line has always been a big part of LSU’s identity,” Baker said. “We’ve got the horses to get after the quarterback and stop the run, and I think we’ll be able to apply pressure in different ways. We’re going to need those guys to be a huge part of our success.”
Secondary: Building the Backbone of the Defense
Another area that Baker highlighted was the secondary, which has often been a point of emphasis for LSU’s defense. With several key departures from last season’s defensive backfield, Baker emphasized the importance of developing young talent and building a solid foundation for the future.
“We’ve got a lot of young guys who are making a lot of progress back there,” Baker noted. “We’ve got to get better in coverage, and we’ve got to be more consistent with our communication. The secondary is always an area where you need depth, and we’ve been really impressed with how some of the younger corners like Keshawn Washington and Tyler Greene have stepped up.”
Washington, a sophomore cornerback, has shown flashes of brilliance during spring practices, particularly in his ability to read the quarterback and make key plays on the ball. Greene, another sophomore, has been excellent in one-on-one coverage situations and is quickly becoming one of the more promising players in the secondary.
Baker also stressed the importance of leadership in the defensive backfield, noting that Malik Smith, a senior safety, has been outstanding as a vocal leader and a mentor to the younger players.
“Malik is one of those guys who does everything the right way,” Baker said. “He’s got experience, he’s got the trust of the coaching staff, and he’s someone who is going to be huge for us this year. We’re going to need him to continue being a stabilizing force back there, especially with some of the younger guys playing significant roles.”
Linebackers: The Heart of the Defense
When it comes to leadership and execution, the linebacker position is often the heartbeat of a defense, and Baker acknowledged the importance of building that leadership within his unit. He praised Derrick Edwards, a five-star linebacker recruit, for his impressive spring showing, and he pointed to several veterans who are expected to be key contributors in 2025.
“Derrick has been great, but what’s been exciting for me is seeing some of the older guys take him under their wing,” Baker said. “We’ve got some leadership in the linebacker room with guys like Chris Blanchard and Raymond Johnson, who know what it takes to succeed in the SEC. They’re doing a great job of teaching Derrick and the rest of the young guys what it takes to be successful.”
The combination of youth and experience in the linebacker corps gives LSU a balanced unit capable of making plays in all facets of the game—whether it’s covering tight ends, rushing the passer, or stopping the run. Edwards’ ability to make an immediate impact in his freshman season will be key for LSU as they look to remain dominant in all areas of the game.
Looking Ahead: Final Thoughts on Spring Progress
As Baker wrapped up his media session, he reflected on the progress his defense had made throughout the spring, emphasizing that there is still work to be done before the season opener in the fall.
“We’ve had a good spring, but we’re not where we need to be yet,” Baker said. “We’ve made a lot of progress, but we still have a lot of areas to improve on. The goal is to continue to get better every single day, and I’m confident that we’re heading in the right direction.”
Baker’s focus on discipline, adaptability, and depth will be key as LSU’s defense prepares for what promises to be a challenging 2025 season. With a combination of talented young players and experienced veterans, the Tigers are poised to compete at the highest level and continue their tradition of defensive excellence.