Three things we learned from the LSU-Vandy game Saturday | LSU

Sports columnist Scott Rabalais weighs in with three things he learned Saturday night from LSU’s 24-17 win over Vanderbilt at Tiger Stadium:

1. Tigers show fight

The Vanderbilt game couldn’t have started worse for LSU as it entered on a three-game losing streak. Zavion Thomas nearly fumbled the kickoff away, the Tigers couldn’t get a first down and Vandy scored on its first offensive play. But LSU battled back and drove 90 yards on its next possession to tie the game on a 20-yard touchdown run by Josh Williams. It showed that despite all adversity, the Tigers still have a reserve of determination at their disposal.

2. Cleaning up in its action

The LSU offense has often been its own worst enemy during the losing streak, with 39% of its plays going for a loss or no gain. We’re talking brick-and-mortar runs, sacks, and pre-snap penalties galore. Against Vandy, the Tigers cut down on the big mistakes (just one offensive penalty in the first half and three overall), gave Garrett Nussmeier a better pocket to throw from and got the run game going behind Williams.

3. V for ‘Vise’

LSU only managed to sack Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia once, but the Tigers were also credited with seven quarterback hurries. That pressure spoke volumes. Pavia, a dangerous dual-threat quarterback in the mold of Texas A&M’s Marcel Reed and Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, hit a big 63-yard touchdown pass early and had a 36-yard keeper. But for most of the night, an aggressive LSU defense dictated terms to Diego, the giant killer.