FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Three things we learned about the LSU Tigers from Saturday night’s 34-10 victory at Arkansas:
1. RAZOR-SHARP WHIT
Teams, and players, don’t stay static. They get hurt, get worse or rise to another level. Whit Weeks has done the latter for LSU. A week after 18 tackles against Ole Miss, the Tigers linebacker extinguished the momentum edging Arkansas’ way in the third quarter with a tip and interception at the Razorbacks 2 that led to an LSU touchdown. Next possession, he had a big open-field tackle and a sack. A Harold Perkins-like game-changer.
2. DEFENSE TRENDING UP
LSU’s 16-7 lead marked the first time this season the Tigers have held a Power Four conference opponent under 10 points at halftime. It wasn’t dominance from a unit that is not going to make anyone forget the smothering defenses LSU had in years such as 2003 and 2011. And certainly Arkansas doesn’t have the Tigers offense from last year. But what did everyone say before this season was Blake Baker’s mission? Make LSU respectable. Target acquired.
3. GIVETH AND TAKETH
The book on the LSU offensive line has been great at pass blocking but weak at opening running lanes. Saturday the Tigers reversed that negative image, getting a strong push for the backs who averaged 4.3 yards per carry. The problem this time was penalties — eight in the first three quarters that short-circuited drives and made LSU settle for four Damian Ramos field goals. You really can’t have everything, but it's a workable situation for the Tigers.
