Three up
HOLY JARVIS LANDRY: The No. 1 rule of the press box is “no cheering in the press box,” but like my colleague Lawrence Barreca pointed out, that doesn’t apply when the entire place jumps. That’s what happened when sophomore receiver Jarvis Landry made his 22-yard, one-handed jaw-dropper of a snag in the back of the end zone to put the Tigers up by 10 in the second quarter. For a player that seemed unable to catch a ball with two hands earlier this season, he’s come a long way. I, like many in the press box and on Twitter, couldn’t recall a better play by any collegiate player all season.
When it counts: Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson came out of the gate gunning with his arm and his feet, single-handedly moving the ball 62 yards to the LSU 9 on the first drive of the game. Then, junior linebacker Lamin Barrow introduced himself. Barrow’s hit stopped the momentum of both Dennis Johnson and the Razorbacks, who wouldn’t be able to regain any until the second half.
OBJ, Act 2: A week after his 89-yard punt return tied it up and turned the tide late against Ole Miss, sophomore receiver Odell Beckham Jr., did it again with a 47-yard catch-and-run to put the Tigers in position for the game-clinching field goal. With Beckham and Landry coming through late in the season, this passing attack should be fun to watch with another entire offseason to mesh.
Three down
“Here, you can have it”: That’s what the Tigers’ secondary was basically saying to the Razorback passing game all afternoon Friday, when it gave up 359 yards to Wilson. That’s the third week in a row LSU has given up more than 300 yards through the air after not having done it all season. Sure, those performances have been against the No. 2, 5 and 6 passing teams in the conference, but coming after such an efficient performance against Alabama, LSU fans are, and should be, scratching their heads.
¡Olé!: After coming together over the course of what was once a tumultuous season for the unit, the offensive line regressed for the first time in a long time on Friday. Junior quarterback Zach Mettenberger was sacked three times, tying only the Alabama game for the most since Florida, and at least a couple of his passes were affected when he was brushed by a Razorback lineman. Mettenberger’s stats, and the score differential, is much more inflated if the line played like they had lately.
See ya later, John (but probably not): If anything would go his way, Arkansas coach John L. Smith would be the next closest thing to Les Miles, except Miles would’ve went for it on that fourth down inside the 1-yard line. The eccentric, stop-gap hire has definitely seen his last game at the helm of the Razorbacks and maybe his last game at the helm of anyone. That’s unfortunate, since he wasn’t given a very fair shake to begin with.
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LSU junior cornerback Tharold Simon (24) sprints down the sideline after picking off Arkansas’ Tyler Wilson during the Tiger’s 20-13 win over the Razorbacks in Fayetteville.
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LSU sophomore tight end Travis Dickson (41) celebrates with sophomore wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) after Landry’s leaping touchdown grab in the first half of the Tiger’s 20-13 win over Arkansas in Fayetteville on November 23, 2012.
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LSU junior running back Spencer Ware (11) puts his arm around sophomore wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) after Landry’s leaping touchdown reception in the first half of LSU’s 20-13 win over Arkansas on November 23, 2012 in Fayetteville.
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LSU sophomore wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) points to the crowd after his leaping touchdown reception in the first half of LSU’s 20-13 win over Akransas in Fayetteville on November 23, 2012.
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LSU freshman running back Jeremy Hill (33) stretches toward the goal line during the Tiger’s 20-13 win over Arkansas on November 23, 2012 in Fayetteville.
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LSU head coach Les Miles (left) hugs Arkansas head coach John L. Smith (right) after the Tiger’s 20-13 win over the Razorbacks on November 23, 2012 in Fayetteville.
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The LSU football team hoist “The Boot,” a trophy given to the victor of the annual LSU-Arkansas game, following the Tiger’s 20-13 win over the Razorbacks on Novmber 23, 2012 in Fayetteville.
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The LSU football team hoist “The Boot,” a trophy given to the victor of the annual LSU-Arkansas game, following the Tiger’s 20-13 win over the Razorbacks on Novmber 23, 2012 in Fayetteville.
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The LSU football team sing the Alma Mater after the Tiger’s 20-13 victory over Arkansas in Fayetteville on November 23, 2012.
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Members of the LSU football team pose around “The Boot” trophy after the Tigers 20-13 win over the Razorbacks on November 23, 2012 in Fayetteville.
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LSU junior quarterback Zach Mettenberger (8) scrambles for yards during the Tiger’s 20-13 win over Arkansas on November 23, 2012.
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LSU junior linebacker Lamin Barrow (57) tackles Arkansas senior running back Dennis Johnson (33) during the Tiger’s 20-13 win over the Hogs in Fayetteville on November 23, 2012.
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LSU freshman cornerbacks Jalen Collins (32) and Jalen Mills (28) tackle Arkansas junior wide receiver Demetrius Wilson (81) during the Tiger’s 20-13 win over the Razorbacks on November 23, 2012.
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LSU sophomore wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (3) eludes Arkansas tacklers during the Tiger’s 20-13 win over the Razorbacks on Novembre 23, 2012.
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LSU sophomore wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) avoids an Arkansas defender during the Tiger’s 20-13 win over Arkansas on November 23, 2012.
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LSU junior running back Spencer Ware (11) dodges a would-be Arkansas tackler during the Tiger’s 20-13 win over the Razorbacks on November 23, 2012.
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LSU sophomore wide receiver Jarvis Landry tries to break through Arkansas defenders during the Tiger’s 20-13 win over the Razorbacks on November 23, 2012.
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LSU head coach Les Miles speaks with freshman offensive tackle Vadal Alexander (78) during a timeout in the Tiger’s 20-13 win over Arkansas on November 23, 2012.
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LSU junior defensive end Barkevious Mingo (49) tackles Arkansas senior quarterback Tyler Wilson (8) as he throws during the Tiger’s 20-13 win over the Razorbacks on November 23, 2012.
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LSU junior linebacker Kevin Minter (46) slams into Arkansas junior wide receiver Javontee Herndon (19) during the Tiger’s 20-13 win over the Razorbacks on November 23, 2012.
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LSU junior running back Michael Ford (42) sprints past Arkansas defenders following a Razorback kickoff during the Tiger’s 20-13 win over the Hogs on November 23, 2012.
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LSU junior running back Spencer Ware (11) tries to shake an Arkansas defender during the TIger’s 20-13 win over the Razorbacks on Novebmer 23, 2012 in Fayetteville.
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LSU head coach Les Miles argues with an official during the Tiger’s 20-13 win over Arkansas on November 23, 2012.
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LSU junior running back Spencer Ware (11) tries to avoid a flying Arkansas tackle during the TIger’s 20-13 win over the Hogs on November 23, 2012.
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LSU sophomore wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (3) hurdles an Arkansas defender during the Tiger’s 20-13 win over the Razorbacks on November 23, 2012.
