This LSU Tigers football season has been defined by the defense. They invested heavily in the transfer portal, and it has paid off. What has been the team's weakness for years has turned into the only thing keeping them afloat.

It has been a fantastic job by second-year defensive coordinator Blake Baker, who feels like he is destined to get a head coaching offer after this season. 

With the offensive struggles, the defense has been on the field a lot this season, so they probably enjoyed this bye week as an opportunity to give them some rest.

So far, through the bye week, these Tigers defenders have been the highest-graded this season per Pro Football Focus:

S Dashawn Spears - 92.3

Spears has not been a regular member of the defense this season, playing just 62 snaps, but he has been fantastic every time he has stepped on the field. This is a great sign for next year, when the Tigers will need him to step into a starting role.

He's been targeted six times this season and has allowed four catches, with both incompletions being interceptions. He has also yet to miss a tackle and has had a few nice plays in run defense. He's been an all-around impressive safety.

CB Mansoor Delane - 88.5

Delane has played almost every single snap on defense this year and has also been elite every time he steps onto the field. He's been targeted a whopping 20 times already this year and has allowed just six receptions. He has one interception and four passes broken up.

He already had some serious NFL draft hype entering the year, but is now on the doorstep of being a first-round pick. He has a mix of every tool that teams are looking for these days.

S A.J. Haulcy - 82.5

Haulcy, like Delane, was one of the major additions out of the transfer portal. He has played for both the New Mexico Lobos and the Houston Cougars in the past, making All-Conference teams for each school. Right now, he is certainly on pace to be an All-SEC member.

He has 26 tackles to go along with an interception, pass break up and a forced fumble. He's been stout in the run game and holds his own in coverage. Plus, his emotion on the field lifts everyone around him up.

CB PJ Woodland - 75.9

Woodland had a rotational role last season, but got picked up often when he was on the field. He's been a lockdown corner in coverage this year, so people have started to target him less.

He has allowed eight catches on 17 targets and has one interception with one pass broken up. He doesn't do much against the run, but also doesn't get called upon to do so very often. He hasn't missed a tackle yet, so that's a plus.