Tigers Skewer Hogs Late

Tigers bring home "The Boot" for the fifth year in a row.

Coach O is now 12-0 coming off a loss as LSU's head coach.  He is also 5-0 versus Arkansas since taking over in 2016.  LSU really needed this win.  While this season will be remembered for COVID-19 more than anything else, LSU needed to steady the ship with a win at Arkansas and show this next recruiting class that LSU is only in rebuild mode, not meltdown mode (See: Penn State, FSU, Michigan and Tennessee) LSU can still secure another top 5 recruiting class in the early signing period next month.  The Tigers may end the season with a losing record, but better days, and better players wearing the purple and gold are ahead.

Offense

*TJ Finley led his first 4th quarter comeback throwing a game winning TD to Jaray Jenkins with 3:59 left.

* Finley played very well for only his third start.  He finished with 271 yards, two TD's and most importantly ZERO turnovers.

*Davis-Price needs to be the #1 back.  He's powerful and always falling forward.  He just gets better as the game goes along.

* Arik Gilbert has really stepped up as the season has gone along.  He has 27 receptions (3 more than UF's excellent Kyle Pitts) for 314 yards.

*LSU is 4th in the SEC and 28th nationally in total offense.  Given all the new faces and ineffective offensive line, the coaching staff and skill guys have done a good job.

Defense

I sat down today thinking I was going to have nice things to say about the defense.  But then I looked at the stats and realized the problems plaguing this team are just as frustrating as ever.  I never downplay winning, but this team is still a mess defensively.

* LSU ranks 124 out of 127 in the country in yards given up per play (7.35).  Against Arkansas, the Tigers gave up 8.36 yards per play.

* On Arkansas' first seven drives, the Hogs had five punts, one INT and one TD. Very good...except for the 65 yard TD pass by Franks.  On the next six drives, Arkansas had two TD's, two FGA's and two punts.

* Arkansas had three TD drives for the game.  On those three drives they ran 13 plays for 262 yards (20 yards a play).  On Arkansas' other 40 offensive plays, they averaged only 4.52 yards per play.

* Safety play has been poor all year and one of the big reasons for giving up so many big plays.  LSU has the #1 and #2 nationally ranked safeties in the 2021 class committed to play for the Tigers.  Let's hope we can hang on to them.

*On a positive note, the defense did force Arkansas into two FG attempts the last two drives of the 4th quarter.  They made enough plays to win the game.  Barely.

Special Teams

*You could argue Zach Von Rosenberg was the man of the match.  He consistently pinned the Hogs deep.  Von Rosenberg ranks fifth nationally at 47.48 yards per punt.

*Cade York is just plain excellent.

*Jay Ward blocked the final FG attempt to seal the victory of the Tigers.

Odds & Ends

*As I referenced earlier, a number of big name programs are in complete meltdown mode.  Penn State, FSU, Michigan and Tennessee are a combined 5-19 this season.  2020 LSU football is not a good team, but the program is still on a solid foundation.  Fans just need to keep the faith and stay patient. (I know, it's hard to do!)

*The TV announcers for the LSU game were awful.  I had to mute them by the 4th quarter.

*The playoffs should be a lot of fun.  None of the top teams have anything near an elite defense so we should see some shootouts.

*LSU looks to be in line for a bowl game.  I have seen predictions for the Texas Bowl (vs. Texas) or Outback Bowl.  Doesn't matter which one, these young LSU players need ALL the practice they can get.

* All stats provided via: http://www.cfbstats.com/