By JAMES MORAN
Tiger Rag Associate Editor
STOCK UP: Inside linebackers
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Kendell Beckwith and Duke Riley played perhaps the best individual games of their respective LSU careers — and certainly the best as the inside backer tandem in Dave Aranda’s defense. Beckwith and Riley combined for 23 tackles — five solos apiece — and held their own in pass coverage. Riley picked off Chad Kelly on a ball thrown behind a receiver and Beckwith was credited with a pass breakup when Kelly tried to isolate him in one-on-one coverage. “Outstanding,” Ed Orgeron said of his linebacker play. “I thought they tackled well in space. Again, those guys are playing phenomenal.”
STOCK UP: Defensive adjustments
As defensive line coach Pete Jenkins so eloquently put it on Wednesday, it’s not often LSU’s defense gets “snookered” with Dave Aranda calling the shots. Aranda’s unit again made the halftime adjustments it needed to pitch a second-half shutout for a second consecutive week. The defense forced three consecutive three-and-outs to begin the third quarter as Fournette’s 78-yard touchdown scamper put the Tigers ahead for good. LSU sacked Kelly twice in the second half and pressured him into throwing a second interception. Ole Miss picked up just six first downs in the second half.
STOCK UP (bonus): Special teams
It can be easy to forget about the third phase of the game, but don’t, because it played a definite factor in LSU’s win on Saturday night. Kicker Colby Delahoussaye connected on a season-long 44-yard field goal. Punter Josh Growden, who struggled earlier this season, punted five times for an average of 44.8 yards-per-kick with a long of 57 yards and two punts downed inside the 20. Devin White blew up two Rebel return men on kick coverage and Jamal Adams wiped out two guys in one fell swoop blocking for Tre White on a punt return.
STOCK DOWN: Ball Security
Considering Leonard Fournette single-handedly outgained the Ole Miss offense through three quarters, it’s fair to say this game wouldn’t have been competitive in the second half were it not for three LSU turnovers. The first came on a D.J. Chark fumble on an end around, though considering he got popped before he even had the ball, it’s tough to fault him. The other two were on Danny Etling. Marquis Hayes strip-sacked Etling before the half to set up the game-tying touchdown and two-point conversion. Etling later threw an interception on an underthrown corner route to squander a chance presented by a Kelly pick.
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