Arkansas vs. LSU: 5 Half-Time Adjustments for the Tigers

After a slow start, LSU tied the game and got their swag back when the Honey Badger took a punt 92 yards to the house. 

That said, the Tigers are still locked in a close one with a very good Arkansas team, and with EVERYTHING on the line. 

Here are five adjustments Les Miles and company need to make if they want to take back the Golden Boot. 

Put Tyler Wilson on His Back: 

In the first half, Wilson proved he can limit the pounding he takes by moving around the pocket and making plays on the run, but no quarterback can complete passes from his back.  If the Tigers’ defensive ends and linebackers can set better edges, Wilson will be trapped in the pocket and forced to take more licks from the big boys up front.

Jordan Jefferson:

Jefferson has not had to deal with too much adversity in his short stint as the Tigers’ starter, so how he responds emotionally and physically to a pressure-packed second half is going to be key to the Tigers’ success.

Play LSU Football:

The Tigers made too many unforced errors in the first half.  Simple as that.  An ill-timed Michael Ford turnover and too many mental mistakes put LSU behind the eight ball early, and they needed everything they had in the tank to recover. 

If the Bayou Bengals are going win this one, they are going to have to start doing the things that led them to a 10-0 record and the No. 1 ranking—create chaos on defense and limit mistakes on offense.

Get a Little Crazy:

Against Alabama, Miles proved he can win by calling a boring conventional game.  That’s all well and good, but if LSU is going to take back the Golden Boot, the Mad Hatter will be best served to return to his old bag of tricks.  The semi-onside kick was a good start.

Field Position:

The Tigers took too many snaps from inside their twenty yard line in the first half.  In order to gain some momentum in this game, the Tigers offense is going to have to do a better job moving the ball and swinging field position in their favor.