NASHVILLE, Tenn.  — A couple defensive additions may have made a 21-point difference between the LSU football team’s first two games.  
 
Junior linebacker Ryan Baker recovered from a broken jaw and junior safety Karnell Hatcher recovered from a knee injury to debut Saturday night against Vanderbilt.
 
The new-look defense surrendered only three points after giving up 24 points to North Carolina a week ago.
 
“It was nice to have Ryan Baker back,” said LSU coach Les Miles. “It makes a difference on that defense.”
 
Baker received high praise from his coaches and teammates after registering a sack and six tackles against the Commodores, including a punishing hit on Vanderbilt junior quarterback Larry Smith in the first quarter for a 6-yard loss.  
 
“It gives you a guy we felt like would be a good starter for us, and certainly a guy with a tremendous amount of speed,” said defensive coordinator John Chavis.
 
Senior linebacker Kelvin Sheppard said having Baker next to him may help his game as well. Sheppard led the team with nine total tackles.
 
“He’s a guy I love playing beside,” Sheppard said. “He’s very enthused, and he’s very exciting. I love him as a person and as a player.”
 
Sheppard said he is not on the same level with Baker as he was with former linebackers Perry Riley and Jacob Cutrera, but he said their chemistry will continue to get better as the season unfolds.  
 
He said the experience Baker gained from the previous two seasons allowed him to be ready when he returned from injury this season.
 
“Although it’s his first year starting, Ryan’s kind of a veteran,” Sheppard said. “He’s played in a couple games.”
 
Junior cornerback Patrick Peterson said he has listened to Baker talk about the Vanderbilt game since he first broke his jaw.  
 
“He was at home watching the [North Carolina] game, wishing he was out there helping us make plays,” Peterson said. “But he finally got his chance to shine tonight, and he definitely made a tremendous effort in helping this defense put on the strong performance we did.”
 
Baker is once again loudly voicing his opinions after returning from the jaw injury, Sheppard said.
 
“If you know Ryan, Ryan doesn’t have any trouble talking and saying what’s on his mind,” Sheppard said.
 
Hatcher also returned with two tackles, rotating at safety with freshman Craig Loston, senior Jai Eugene and junior Brandon Taylor.
 
“We’ve got some people that can move in and out,” Chavis said. “We’ll see how they play and how they practice and what fits best next week.”
 
Redshirt freshman guard Josh Williford made his first career start for injured junior guard Will Blackwell, who broke his ankle against North Carolina and will likely be out for the season.  
 
Miles said Williford had success in his “first considerable playing time on the road.”
 
“He’s a 6-foot-6, 330-pounder,” Miles said. “It’s his first opportunity in college football. There’s some excitement about that.”
 
Junior running back Stevan Ridley complimented his offensive line after rushing for 159 yards, and Miles said the linemen may have been just as excited as Ridley was.
 
“It was fun to watch them come off the field, big old stomachs, big old happy guys, moving the defensive line into the end zone,” Miles said.
 
 
 
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Contact Rowan Kavner at [email protected].