LSU football vs. Arkansas: 5 keys to victory as Tiger face Razorbacks

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LSU football returns home to face the Arkansas Razorbacks in a Week 12 SEC game.

It’s a battle of two interim head coaches with Frank Wilson leading LSU and Bobby Petrino leading Arkansas. Arkansas was the first to kick off the chaotic SEC coaching carousel, firing Sam Pittman in September.

But even with Pittman gone, struggles have continued for the Razorbacks. Petrino is 0-4 and Arkansas is the lone SEC program without a conference win.

Meanwhile, LSU is trying to salvage a season that began with College Football Playoff expectations. The standards at LSU are high and sitting at 5-4 in November isn’t anywhere near where LSU wants to be. LSU showed fight in the loss to Alabama last week, but it’ll be worth monitoring the energy level in this one. With all of LSU’s true goals off the table, can Wilson get the team ready to play?

Here are five keys to the game.

1. LSU football needs to contain Taylen Green

Arkansas QB Taylen Green is one of the most dynamic players in the country. He leads all SEC QBs with 808 rushing yards. He’s incredibly explosive and efficient, averaging 9.2 yards per carry. Green is the exact type of QB that LSU struggles to defend. Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia and Texas A&M’s Marcel Reed hurt LSU scrambling for first downs — Green can do the same.

LSU’s secondary is better than Arkansas’s wide receivers and the Tigers’ front seven should be able to handle Arkansas’s designed run game, but if Green continually bails the unit out with his legs, nothing else will matter.

LSU can’t force a third and long, only watch Green take off on a 15-yard scramble.

2. Continue to feature Harlem Berry in the run game

True freshman running back Harlem Berry has seen his workload increase in the back half of the season. At Alabama, he carried the ball 12 times, a career high. Berry has been LSU’s most consistent back this year when given the chance.

He averaged 5.0 yards per carry vs. Vanderbilt, 6.6 vs. Texas A&M, and 4.7 vs. Alabama.

Berry is LSU’s best shot at establishing a consistent run game. Arkansas’s defense is the worst LSU has faced since SE Louisiana. Berry will have a chance to break a few big ones.

3. LSU needs to get the ball to Trey’Dez Green

From Weeks 7-9, LSU tight end Trey’Dez Green was one of the top receiving threats in the SEC. He racked up 119 yards and a score vs. South Carolina, 74 yards and a touchdown vs. Vandy, and 54 yards and a score vs. Texas A&M.

But Green didn’t catch a single pass vs. Alabama. He was targeted three times and dropped two passes.

The drops are on Green, but LSU needs to make Green a focal point often and early. No LSU receiver has established himself as a threat on the outside — Green is LSU’s best offensive weapon.

When Green goes, so does this offense.

4. LSU needs to get the QB comfortable

Whether it’s Garrett Nussmeier or Michael Van Buren, LSU needs to make it a point to get its quarterback comfortable. That means creating quick throws to players in space early in the game. LSU’s offensive line has not held up in pass protection this year and we’ve seen it shake the confidence of Nussmeier.

LSU hasn’t established any sort of rhythm in the passing game.

This offense still has speed. If LSU can get the ball into the hands of Barion Brown and Aaron Anderson, the Tigers can pick up a few easy first downs while allowing the QB to settle in.

5. LSU needs back-to-back strong outings from Harold Perkins

LSU linebacker Harold Perkins played his best game of the year vs. Alabama, but we’ve seen consistency be an issue for the talented linebacker. The LSU defense needs another strong outing vs. Arkansas.

Arkansas’s offense is among the best in the nation. The Razorbacks will put up points, and LSU will likely need a turnover or two.

Perkins has the skillset to make that happen.

And if Whit Weeks remains out, LSU needs Perkins to be a key part of the run defense, too.

This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: LSU football vs. Arkansas: 5 keys to victory for Tigers in Week 12

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