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LSU defensive coordinator John ''Chief'' Chavis has spent the past two decades stifling some of the best offenses in the Southeastern Conference.
Chavis concedes that his SEC-leading defense hasn't faced anyone quite like quarterback Cam Newton this season. The veteran coach adds that his unit looks forward to proving it can stop him and No. 5 Auburn on Saturday.
''We're going to try to put more (defenders close to the line of scrimmage) than they can block,'' Chavis said. ''I don't know if it's going to be possible this week, but that's what we're going to try to do. Hopefully we'll dare them to throw it. Maybe we can get them to throw it about 50 times.''
The 6-foot-6, 250-pound Newton is the most efficient passer in the SEC right now, but he throws for fewer than 183 yards per game.
He averages 122.9 yards rushing, which leads the SEC by about 23 yards per game over LSU running back Stevan Ridley. Last weekend, Newton rushed for 188 yards and three touchdowns to lead Auburn (7-0, 4-0 SEC) to a 65-43 win over Arkansas.
Auburn's offense accounted for all the scoring except for one fumble return for a touchdown.
''We can't worry about what they did to another team,'' LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson said, just before sighing as he reflected on Auburn's point total. ''I mean, 65 points, that's crazy, but it's going to be a fun matchup. We just got to go out there and play sound football.''
LSU defenders say they've studied how Newton patiently waits for a weakness to develop along the line of scrimmage, then bolts right for it.
''He waits for holes to be open. Our job is just to sit there, control the line of scrimmage and just be patient,'' LSU defensive tackle Lazarius ''Pep'' Levingston said. ''He's a patient runner, so we just got to stay in our gaps at all times.''
No. 6 LSU (7-0, 4-0) is allowing the fewest yards per game (242.1) in the SEC and the second-fewest points (14.4).
''They've got a lot of speed. It's the most talented defense we've seen, no doubt about it,'' Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn said. ''We're going to do whatever it takes to win the game. Cam is a big, strong guy. But they are very physical.''
Chavis said he has always had tremendous respect for Malzahn and was not surprised at how quickly he got Newton, a junior college transfer, ready to play in an offense that is now putting up an SEC-leading 481 yards per game.
''Even though a lot of it's gun-run stuff, it's still physical. It's power football,'' Chavis said. ''The thing it forces you to do is play a little more man coverage than you normally would.''
Fortunately for Chavis, he has the talent in the secondary to play a lot of man-to-man coverage. Malzahn said Peterson might be the best cornerback in the country. Fellow cornerback Morris Claiborne has had an excellent season as well, with four interceptions.
''Looking at them on film, they're a talented bunch. There's no doubt about that,'' Newton said. ''They have a lot of guys that play with confidence and character. It's a defense filled with guys that are capable of making it to the next level.''
Peterson said he has looked at some video of Auburn's 17-14 victory over Mississippi State to see how the Bulldogs managed to hold Auburn under 20 points. He also likes the idea of forcing Newton to throw more.
''Hopefully we can get the ball out of his hands and I can get a couple interceptions,'' said Peterson, who often goes long stretches of games without a quarterback throwing to his side of the field.
While LSU defenders say they respect what Newton and Auburn have done, they don't sound at all intimidated. In fact, they seem to relish the idea of playing Auburn the week after its 65-point outing against Arkansas.
''It's a great opportunity,'' Levingston said. ''Everybody probably thinks they're going to put high numbers on us, but hey, the game is on at 2:30 (Central time Saturday). Just tune in and we'll try to put on a show for y'all.''
