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LSU Tigers (Last Year: 8-5)
2009 College Football Season Preview:
Star Players:
RB Charles Scott, RB Keiland Williams, WR Brandon LaFell, TE Richard Dickson, T Ciron Black, T Joseph Barksdale, G Lyle Hitt, DE Rahim Alem, DT Charles Alexander, OLB Perry Riley, OLB Kelvin Sheppard, CB Chris Hawkins, SS Harry Coleman, FS Chad Jones, PR Trindon Holliday.
Draft/Graduation/Transfer Losses:
WR Demetrius Byrd, G Herman Johnson, C Brett Helms, DE Tyson Jackson, DE Tremaine Johnson, DE Kirston Pittman, DT Ricky Jean-Francois, DT Marlon Favorite, ILB Darry Beckwith, FS Curtis Taylor, K Colt David, P Brady Dalfrey.
2009 LSU Tigers Offense:
Before the 2008 season, everybody saw the writing on the wall for the LSU quarterback situation. Neither Andrew Hatch nor Jarrett Lee looked like capable starters. Lee ended up as the entrenched starter completing 53 percent of his passes for a 7.0 YPA, and 14 touchdowns to 16 interceptions.
Toward the end of the season, true freshman quarterback Jordan Jefferson took over. Statistically, he wasn’t that much more impressive than Lee, but as least the LSU offense has some upside with Jefferson. Jefferson should improve upon the 2008 season after gaining a year in the LSU system, but he is still likely not going to be a highly productive quarterback.
Good for Jefferson and LSU fans, the Tigers have a ton of talented surrounding the quarterback, and it all starts with one of the most underrated runners in the country in senior Charles Scott. Scott is a powerful back with a nice burst. He produced 5.4 yards per carry and 18 touchdowns last season. Behind Scott is senior Keiland Williams who is a versatile threat in the backfield.
The top senior receiver in the country is definitely Brandon LaFell, and rightly so. LaFell is a big 6-3 possession receiver who had 929 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. Opposite LaFell is junior Terrance Toliver. If Toliver can finally live up to his hype as a blue-chip high school recruit, this team will have something special on their hands at receiver. At tight end is one of the best in the SEC in Richard Dickson. Dickson is a decent blocker, but he can also stretch a defense and is dangerous in the red zone.
This offensive line is one of the best in the country as LSU boasts the best offensive tackle duo in Ciron Black at left tackle and Joseph Barksdale at right tackle. There is a lot of debate as to who the better NFL prospect is, but don’t be shocked if it is Barksdale when all is said and done. Both players are outstanding in pass protection, and Barksdale is especially a dominant run blocker on the right side. Lyle Hitt provides good experience and leadership on the interior at guard. There are some questions at center and left guard with T-Bob Herbert and Josh Dworaczyk. These players should be good enough for Charles Scott to have a breakout season on the national scene.
2009 LSU Tigers Defense:
The LSU defense simply did not live up to expectations last season. The Bayou Bengals ranked 37th in defensive yards per play and 56th scoring defense. With Tyson Jackson, Kirston Pittman, Tremaine Johnson and Ricky-Jean Francois all graduated, this defensive line has a lot of shoes to fill.
The star of the line is senior Rahim Alem, who led all LSU players in sacks last season with eight. Alem has a good burst off the edge and adequate strength to disengage tackles. He will need to step up his game for LSU to generate more of a pass rush in 2009. Charles Alexander was granted a sixth year medical redshirt and returns at defensive tackle. Many “draft experts,” including Todd McShay pegged Al Woods as a first-round pick before he ever made a collegiate start, but he will likely win a starting job next season. I’m not sold on somebody with his perceived talent level who can barely get on the field. I was dead on about Georgia Tech defensive end Michael Johnson, but I hope I am wrong about Woods.
Lazarius Levington mans the opposite defensive end spot from Alem, and we should expect a breakout season for him in his junior year. He had two sacks last season and should really mature into a great player for Les Miles’ defense next season.
The linebacking corps has speed and range on the outside with the upside to be great. It all starts on the strongside with senior Perry Riley. He is the leader of the group and might mature into an All-SEC conference selection. Opposite him is weakside backer Kelvin Sheppard who has good range in zone coverage. In the middle is senior Jacob Cutrera replacing Darry Beckwith.
The defensive backfield ranks as one of the top five in the country, in my opinion. Chris Hawkins is a shut-down corner with good size and enough speed to stay with receivers in press man coverage. Jai Eugene is a solid No. 2 corner, but opponents tend to pick on him. Safeties Harry Coleman and Chad Jones are complete playmakers who eliminate space with their athleticism.
2009 LSU Tigers Schedule and Intangibles:
Trindon Holliday is one of the top punt returners in the country with a 13.3 yard average and one touchdown. He is deadly in the open field and special teams coaches always have to gameplan for him. I expect Holliday to improve on both of these statistics this season.
It looks as though junior Josh Jasper will handle both the place-kicking and punting duties next season with the graduation of Colt David and Brady Dalfrey. I think LSU fans are mildly concerned about this, but they should be fine on both kicking units.
The schedule for LSU is widely considered to be one of the toughest in the conference. They travel to Washington in their first week, which should be a blowout win. Vanderbilt, Louisiana-Lafayette, and Mississippi State should all be wins leading up to the Oct. 3rd matchup against Georgia in Athens. This will be a tough game because Georgia has a strong defense and offensive line, and I am going to give the win to the Bulldogs. I think Mark Richt will play ball control offense at home and force Jordan Jefferson to make tough decisions.
Their next game is against Florida in Death Valley, which will be nationally televised on all accounts. LSU will certainly bring it, and they are an extremely tough team at home, but I have to give the edge to Florida. Florida can exploit LSU’s weaknesses on the defensive line and passing game.
The next brutal game LSU has will be facing the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa. I am going to play it safe and give Alabama the win, but I just hate to pick against LSU in these tough games as it would not shock me one bit if they pulled off an upset.
The taxing games do not stop there. They then face Mississippi in Oxford. When you think about it, LSU might not win the SEC West, but they could very well determine it based on how they play against Alabama and Ole Miss. I am going to give the Tigers the win here against Mississippi. I think they match up very well and LSU is going to be really ticked off after two big SEC losses.
Rounding out the schedule at the end is Arkansas, which should be an easy victory.
2009 LSU Tigers Positional Rankings (1-5 stars):
Quarterbacks |
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Offensive Line |
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Secondary |
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Running Backs |
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Defensive Line |
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Special Teams |
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Receivers |
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Linebackers |
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Coaching |
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2009 LSU Tigers Analysis:
I am ranking LSU in my top 10 and I feel like they deserve being ranked ahead of teams like Boise State and Notre Dame because of their superior talent level in the trenches, especially on the offensive line. The Tigers have one of the most difficult schedules in the country, but ultimately it wouldn’t shock me if they pulled an upset or two depending on the development of quarterback Jordan Jefferson. Louisiana State won’t challenge for the national championship, but they could seriously shake up things in the SEC and end the title hopes of another SEC team. If this team can find a few sleepers on their team to produce like Jefferson or Al Woods, then watch out.
Projection: 9-3
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