Three observations from the Tigers 66-38 SEC opening win over Vanderbilt

Injuries, Ja'Marr Chase career day among takeaways from SEC opener

As the first half wore down Saturday afternoon, one thought kept popping into the minds of LSU fans, just get out of Nashville healthy. The Tigers had already taken a substantial 38-10 lead and the only obstacle that could ruin such a convincing win is if players started to go down.

Unfortunately, LSU suffered some setbacks in the pass rush and among the deeply talented receivers senior quarterback Joe Burrow has come to trust the most. Here were a few takeaways from the Tigers win and what certain injuries could mean in the immediate future.

Injuries will be area that could hold LSU back

A bye week couldn't come at a better time for the Tigers as multiple players were nicked up in the 66-38 win over Vanderbilt. Heading into the game, the LSU pass rush was severely battered with Rashard Lawrence, Glen Logan and K'Lavon Chaisson all out.

The front seven took another significant pounding Saturday as senior linebacker Michael Divinity went down in the first half with an ankle injury. Divinity was seen walking around in a boot in the second half.

"I can't say. We'll see tomorrow," Orgeron said after the game. "But it looked pretty significant. No breaks or stuff like that."

In addition to Divinity, receivers Terrace Marshall and Justin Jefferson left the game with ankle injuries. Marshall and Jefferson combined for six catches for 93 yards and a score. 

Orgeron said after the game that neither the injuries to Divinity and Marshall looked good but that Jefferson should be fine.

Ross Dellenger of Sports Illustrated reported that Marshall will be out 'a few weeks' with a foot fracture.

One of #LSU's top receivers will be out a few weeks with a foot fracture.

Something tells me it will not slow down the Tigers very much. https://t.co/QaXxtzmjw4

— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) September 21, 2019

Sophomore receiver Racey McMath was also charged with targeting in the second half, which means a first half suspension against Utah State in two weeks is in store for McMath. If Jefferson is unable to go in a few weeks, the receiving core will be razor thin against Utah State.

Ja'Marr Chase career day is stuff of legend

To be in a grouping along side Odell Beckham Jr., one of the great receivers to come out of the LSU program is a great story and accomplishment in and of itself. On Saturday afternoon, the sophomore receiver became the first LSU receiver to go for over 200 yards in a game since 2013, when the current star receiver for the Cleveland Browns did it against Furman.

Ten receptions for 229 yards and four touchdowns was Chase's final stat line of the game, one that LSU fans aren't likely to see ever again. It felt, at times like senior quarterback Joe Burrow and Chase were in a zone that could only be matched in the "NCAA Football" video games from years ago that are now extinct.

Not only did Chase's 229 yards receiving go for the fourth-highest in school history, the four touchdown receptions put him in a class all his own. No other LSU receiver had caught four touchdown passes in an SEC game before Chase Saturday afternoon, with six receivers, including Dwayne Bowe and Devery Henderson, catching three touchdowns in a SEC game.

With the receiving corps now in disarray due to the injuries to Jefferson and Marshall, a bigger workload might have to fall on Chase's shoulders.

LSU will hope Jefferson can get right before the team takes on Utah State but may have to rely on Trey Palmer, Racey McMath, Derrick Dillon and Stephen Sullivan for a little while until the group can get back to full strength.

Run game, freshmen running backs get back on track

On an afternoon highlighted by the passing game once again, the run game flew a bit under the radar as the Tigers ran for 181 yards on the ground and averaged five yards a carry in the win over Vanderbilt. 

LSU came into Saturday's matchup ranked 105th nationally, averaging a little over 115 yards per game. Well, junior running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire nearly picked up the average all by himself, carrying the ball 14 times for 106 yards and a touchdown. The one hiccup for Edwards-Helaire came at the end of the first half when he coughed up the football at the LSU goal line which led to a Commodore touchdown.

Coach Ed Orgeron said all week how he wanted to get the freshmen running backs John Emery and Tyrion Davis-Price as involved as possible in the early going of the game. 

Emery turned in his best outing yet, scampering for 51 yards on nine carries including his second career touchdown while Davis-Price ran for 19 yards on four carries.

It's hard to imagine Joe Brady and Steve Ensminger taking the ball out of Burrow's hands, but if the receiving depth is tarnished even for a week or two because of injury, LSU might have to feature the run game a little bit more. That could turn into a bigger workload for the freshmen runners moving forward.