FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas coach Chad Morris and John Chavis both praised the Razorbacks' defensive effort in a 24-17 loss to No. 7 LSU on Saturday.
Morris was also complementary of safeties Kamren Curl and Santos Ramirez for their physicality in the run game. The duo combined for 15 tackles and Ramirez finished with at least 10 for the fourth time this season. Curl tallied a pass breakup of LSU quarterback Joe Burrow on third-and 6-in the first quarter as well.
The Razorbacks' first-year head coach even provided a rundown of the defense's statistical improvements from 2017 through 10 games in 2018, pointing out the unit's uptick in sacks, tackles for loss and third down efficiency, which sits at 34.65 percent (47.53 last season).
"I thought our guys did exactly what we challenged them to do all week long," Morris said. "That was to see how many red jerseys we could get to the football at the whistle. We had guys flying all over the field and that was good to see."
But, both pointed to a pair of miscues that allowed visiting LSU to score twice and ultimately salt away the game late. Curl was beaten on a double move by receiver Justin Jefferson for a 40-yard touchdown to put the Tigers up 7-0 midway through the first quarter.
And down 7-0 with six-plus minutes left in the first half, defensive lineman Michael Taylor's targeting penalty on Burrow and subsequent ejection slid LSU out of a would-be third-and-long scenario.
"We've been good about that in terms of costly penalties," Chavis said Monday. "That one cost us because it kept the drive alive. They could have scored anyway, but I think if we get a chance to play third-and-15 I like our odds a lot better than moving the chains and putting it at first down."
Two plays later, running back Nick Brossette scored from 12 yards out behind the help from a host of LSU offensive linemen and the Tigers led 14-0, which at the time appeared to be enough to down a stale Arkansas offense coming off its bye week.
"Defensively, we needed one more stop," Morris said. "That’s what we needed. Bottom line."
Despite those mistakes, Arkansas had another opportunity late in the fourth quarter to get the LSU offense off the field and potentially tie the game. Facing third-and-6 at the Tigers' 46, Burrow completed a simple slant across the middle of the field to Derrick Dillon - who beat cornerback Jarques McClellion with ease - for 14 yards and a first down.
While coaches have seen progressions in some areas, the game-changing plays in key moments have evaded the Razorbacks throughout a tumultuous 2-8 season. Arkansas has generated more than one traditional turnover in SEC play once this fall – Texas A&M quarterback Kellen Mond threw two interceptions in Arkansas' SEC opener. Chavis' unit also failed to create a takeaway in three games (Auburn, Alabama, Vanderbilt).
This week's opponent, No. 25 Mississippi State, is one of the nation's best at protecting the football. The Bulldogs lead all FBS teams in fewest fumbles lost (1). Mississippi State has not lost an offensive fumble all season over 374 attempts and its running backs have gone nearly 250 carries without one.
In 549 career carries, quarterback Nick Fitzgerald has lost three total fumbles - none since Sept. 24, 2016 against Massachusetts. Chavis said the Bulldogs' offense begins and ends with Fitzgerald, the SEC's all-time leader in rushing yards by a quarterback.
"From set-go, he may not be the quickest guy for the first three steps, but after that, shoot, he’s as fast as anybody," Chavis said. "I’ve seen him run away from a lot of good defenses and a lot of defensive backs that could not catch him.
"Obviously, he has excellent speed and he’s physical. He doesn’t mind the contact. He plays the game that way."