LSU 2014 Preview

There are so many questions entering this season. 

The biggest one is who will start at the most important position on the team, quarterback.  LSU has two options, true sophomore Anthony Jennings and true freshman Brandon Harris.  Both are 4 star recruits with plenty of athletic ability and potential.  There has been a great deal of talk that Harris may indeed take over as the starter as the season moves along.

However, the SEC generally punishes young quarterbacks.  Since 2007, only 6 freshmen have been the primary starters for their team at QB.  I’ve defined “primary starter” as playing in more than 75% of their school’s games and throwing at least 15 passes per game. 

Four of those were redshirt freshmen and two were true freshmen.  The 4 redshirts were a mixed bag.  Obviously Aaron Murray (UGA ‘10) and Johnny Manziel (A&M ‘12) were fantastic their first years combining for 50 TD’s and only 17 INT’s.  The other two, Jarrett Lee (LSU ‘08) and Corbin Berkstresser (Mizz ‘12) struggled throwing on 19 TD’s and 23 INT’s.

The picture with the two true freshmen, Wesley Carroll (MSU ’07) and Jalen Whitlow (UK ’12) is ugly.  Both finished dead last in the SEC in QB rating in their respective seasons.  They combined for 12 TD’s and 9 INT’s.

On the plus side, the offensive linemen are very experienced.  This will be one of Miles best units in his time at LSU.  Running back is no issue with Magee and Hilliard returning and the #1 player in the country, Leonard Fournette, being added to the mix.  The receivers are young but talented.  There will be drop off of course, but it’s not nearly the same concern as QB.

The defense will be better this season, much better.  LSU had so many new starters and it really showed on the road.  In four SEC home games, LSU averaged giving up 334 yards and 16 points per game.  In the four road games, the Tigers gave up 465 yards and 33.8 points per game.  That is a huge swing which I attribute to the comfort and confidence of playing in Tiger Stadium versus the hostile atmospheres around the SEC.

With road trips to Florida, Auburn, Arkansas and Texas A&M not to mention a home tussle with Alabama, expect growing pains and a few costly mistakes. LSU will be good this season, but nothing special.  An invitation to one of the big 6 bowls would be a great accomplishment.  I think it’s most likely that LSU goes 9-3.  Quarterback play will dictate if the number of wins moves up...or down.

From a big picture standpoint, LSU is doing very well coming off four straight 10 win+ seasons and the #2 recruiting class in the nation this past spring.  But I feel there is still a pall hanging over the program since the National Title Game debacle against Alabama. 

From 2001 to 2007, LSU made four trips to Atlanta for the SEC Title game.  But over the last six seasons, the only divisional title was in 2011.  It was inevitable that LSU would eventually regress from the staggering heights of two National Titles in five years.  But this is a glory game, defined by championships, be they divisional, conference or national.   

This is not to diminish what Miles has done.  This is the Golden Age of LSU Football.  LSU has become one of the premier programs in the country. But the bar has been set high, and fans expect to see hardware at the end of the season…or a win over Alabama.