For
the first time in years, I think LSU is the “wild card” in the SEC
West. The media, rightfully so I think, has ordained
Alabama the class of the SEC. Texas A&M and Manziel are the “Johnny
Come Lately” (pun intended) fresh face flavor of the month. But LSU is lurking around and considered by many as the
6th best team in the SEC behind Bama, Georgia, A&M,
South Carolina and Florida. I know pasts records shouldn’t affect our
view of this season, but since 2010, LSU is 8-3 versus those 5 teams,
6-1 not counting the 2-2 record versus
Alabama. I know those teams are very good, but Les Miles just wins
football games.
A few thoughts on the offense and defense:
Offense
*In a very talented SEC QB class, Zach Mettenberger has the opportunity to shine and make himself the highest NFL draft pick of the bunch. He’s been on campus for three years. He has a new and very successful offensive coordinator in Cam Cameron, a talented offensive line and three future NFL running backs to hand off to. No excuses.
*The receivers have to be better. They killed Mettenberger with all of the drops through the season. Landry and ODB must step up.
*I don’t think the offense needs an overhaul. It just needs to be tweaked. I’m VERY confident Cameron will bring new wrinkles and assist Mettenberger with his decision making. I look for LSU to involve the running backs more in the passing game and give Mettenberger easier throws. This is still a run first team, but I think Miles finally has an OC he fully trusts which will pay dividends for LSU.
Defense
*Since 2009, Chavis’ first season, LSU’s defense has finished 11th, 11th, 2nd and 12th nationally in scoring defense. Anyone that follows the SEC knows that championships are won with a nasty defense.
*Fans have a natural inclination to say, “oh no, we lost Patrick Peterson? What are we gonna do?” Well, Morris Claiborne came along and followed Peterson in winning the Thorpe Award. New guys will step up and become leaders. Miles has done a great job of stocking the pantry with talent.
*LSU is returning 8 of it’s top 13 leading tacklers.
*I look for Anthony “Freak” Johnson to have the kind of break out season Drake Nevis had in 2010.
*This is the deepest group of LB’s LSU has had in the Miles era. There are currently four former Tiger LB’s in the NFL, Cutrera, Riley, Minter and Sheppard. I believe there are four future NFL LB’s on this roster this season.
Odds & Ends
A few have mentioned the Georgia game as the pivotal game of the season. WRONG! WRONG! WRONG! As it has been since the return of Saban to the college game, the Alabama game will decide LSU’s fate. LSU has been to the SEC Title game 5 times. In each of those seasons, LSU beat Alabama in that November match up. Matter of fact, ALL 5 of those trips to Atlanta went through Tuscaloosa. Keep that in the back of your mind on November 9 when the Tigers and Tide meet up for the biggest game of the season.
I think LSU has the players to win a National Title. The defense lost a lot of guys, but there is an abundance of talent returning. If the offense can rise from it’s malaise, this could be a very special season in Tiger Town. Enjoy the anticipation as we are only a week away from LSU’s opening game of the 2013 season.
*In a very talented SEC QB class, Zach Mettenberger has the opportunity to shine and make himself the highest NFL draft pick of the bunch. He’s been on campus for three years. He has a new and very successful offensive coordinator in Cam Cameron, a talented offensive line and three future NFL running backs to hand off to. No excuses.
*The receivers have to be better. They killed Mettenberger with all of the drops through the season. Landry and ODB must step up.
*I don’t think the offense needs an overhaul. It just needs to be tweaked. I’m VERY confident Cameron will bring new wrinkles and assist Mettenberger with his decision making. I look for LSU to involve the running backs more in the passing game and give Mettenberger easier throws. This is still a run first team, but I think Miles finally has an OC he fully trusts which will pay dividends for LSU.
Defense
*Since 2009, Chavis’ first season, LSU’s defense has finished 11th, 11th, 2nd and 12th nationally in scoring defense. Anyone that follows the SEC knows that championships are won with a nasty defense.
*Fans have a natural inclination to say, “oh no, we lost Patrick Peterson? What are we gonna do?” Well, Morris Claiborne came along and followed Peterson in winning the Thorpe Award. New guys will step up and become leaders. Miles has done a great job of stocking the pantry with talent.
*LSU is returning 8 of it’s top 13 leading tacklers.
*I look for Anthony “Freak” Johnson to have the kind of break out season Drake Nevis had in 2010.
*This is the deepest group of LB’s LSU has had in the Miles era. There are currently four former Tiger LB’s in the NFL, Cutrera, Riley, Minter and Sheppard. I believe there are four future NFL LB’s on this roster this season.
Odds & Ends
A few have mentioned the Georgia game as the pivotal game of the season. WRONG! WRONG! WRONG! As it has been since the return of Saban to the college game, the Alabama game will decide LSU’s fate. LSU has been to the SEC Title game 5 times. In each of those seasons, LSU beat Alabama in that November match up. Matter of fact, ALL 5 of those trips to Atlanta went through Tuscaloosa. Keep that in the back of your mind on November 9 when the Tigers and Tide meet up for the biggest game of the season.
I think LSU has the players to win a National Title. The defense lost a lot of guys, but there is an abundance of talent returning. If the offense can rise from it’s malaise, this could be a very special season in Tiger Town. Enjoy the anticipation as we are only a week away from LSU’s opening game of the 2013 season.
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