What's Changed?

We're at the halfway point of the season, and I've been racking my brain trying to figure out how the week 7 version of LSU football is any different than the week 1 version. It seems like we're talking about the same things and asking the same questions over and over again. There's the lack of sacks, the playcalling on offense, the offensive line, no power run game, Jordan Jefferson's development, and on and on and on. There's only two questions I think I have answers to.

Question number one, asked after the Washington game: Will the defense tackle better than it did against the Huskies?

Answer: Absolutely. There's still a blown assignment in the secondary now and then, and the line looks very blockable at times, but I think the defense has been tackling and hitting better and better as the season has progressed. The linebackers in particular have really been smacking some people around. It's been nice to see. I was filled with doubts about the linebackers before the season, but they've played far beyond my expectations.

Question number 2, asked after--oh, every single game: Will the offensive line play better?

Answer: Define "better." If you mean better than they did in the first three or four games, then yes. Against Georgia and Florida they blocked okay on running plays. If you mean will they actually turn into a good SEC offensive line, then no. They're still a long way away from that.

I hope the second half of the season sees very positive responses to the rest of our unanswered questions.

A Wild One to Remember

LSU came from behind with 1:09 left in the game when Charles Scott answered A.J. Green's touchdown reception with a 33-yard touchdown scamper. This was a hard fought game, and kudos to Georgia for hanging with us. This win was the first in Athens since 1987 for the Tigers, and it was another memorable game; one that no Tiger fan will forget anytime soon.

Scott scored his first and second rushing touchdowns of the season in this game, and on the last one, he bounced off a pair of tacklers and sliced through the secondary en route to the end zone. An amazing grab by LaFell for the two-point conversion put the Tigers on top 20-13 with just over :40 left to go.

Perry Riley sealed the deal on the ensuing UGA possession by intercepting a Joe Cox pass near the LSU sideline. The play was reviewed, as it was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but Riley clearly had his feet inbounds when he secured the ball.

I'm elated with the win, but one disappointing thing comes to mind for me. The three-man rush and soft zone coverage on the Georgia drive that put them on top 13-12. In my opinion, you've got to continue applying pressure and playing man coverage. Chris Hawkins had no business covering A.J. Green, and it showed on that drive as Green caught one just above Hawkins' head, bringing it down securely for the go-ahead touchdown.

It was nice to see the spread offense working to near perfection. I said it earlier in the week that we may need to try it out, and it worked wonders on the drive that put us up 12-7. After giving the lead away on the next UGA possession, a pair of penalties against the Dawgs set us up with great field position after another great return by Trindon Holliday. It took Scott two carries to find the end zone and put the Dawgs away. I'm at a loss for words right now, but nonetheless, the Tigers showed me they do in fact have an identity. They find a way to win. They left it all out there like I asked for. The intensity was there at times, and from what I saw today, this team has the makings of something special. The defense played very well today, minus a few big plays here and there, and they stuffed the run all day long, allowing only 45 yards on the ground. Let's hope we can feed off the momentum from this win and bring it with us next week as we host the defending national champion, unbeaten, and top-ranked Florida Gators.

Geaux Tigers!

Halftime in Athens...

Currently, LSU is clinging to a 6-0 lead, but it should be much worse than that. An interception in the end zone on our first offensive possession, followed by a pair of field goals (one from inside the red zone), and a failed fourth down conversion inside the red zone have prevented us from letting this one get out of control--in our favor, that is. We're keeping them in check on defense--UGA has 49 total yards of offense--and on offense, we're moving the ball fairly well by attacking the edges and through the air. Toliver is playing terrific right now, and the passing game is definitely in sync. Georgia's defense has started to snuff out the option attack, and they've done a good job in the latter part of the first half defending it.

Hopefully we start finishing drives and putting more points up. We've got an excellent opportunity to make a statement to start the second half. Let's hope the Tigers drive it right down their throat and punch it in the end zone this time. I know Miles wants the fourth down inside the red zone back, because it could be at least 9-0 right now, but oh well; let's make up for it right here.

Geaux Tigers!

4-0, but far from perfect...

So it's the beginning of October, and this can mean only one thing: Football season is in full swing. We're 1/3 of the way through the regular season, and right now, LSU controls its own destiny. That's in conference play and on the national scale. Many of us are capable of objective reasoning, and although the Tigers are unbeaten, many of us have noticed some lingering issues that have yet to be resolved. One of my LSU brethren posed an interesting topic for thought the other day. Identity. Does this team have one? Like many others, I feel the answer is no. I think the only positive things I've seen are a huge turnaround in turnover differential and Toliver emerging as that all-important third target in the passing game. R.J. Jackson had flashes of greatness against Vanderbilt, and he hauled in a 40-yard reception against Mississippi State, but aside from those two games, he hasn't been involved.

So here's a list of the negatives the casual observer should be able to point out:

1-- Running game is stagnant.

2-- Offensive line is atrocious in run blocking.

3-- Defense is playing bend but don't break the majority of the game, and missed tackles, breakdowns in coverage, and some other issues are allowing for the big play, and the big play is allowing teams to hang with us.

4-- Offense isn't keeping the defense off the field for long, which is really hurting us late in the game.

5-- Special teams had more than enough blunders last week against Mississippi State. Hopefully things will turn in the right direction for this unit. Aside from Chad Jones returning a punt for a touchdown, there really wasn't much to brag about. In fact, special teams play was as poor as the offensive line's run-blocking abilities.

Now, as an optimist, I would like to think things can drastically improve, and this team will finally put all the pieces together. The truth is, I haven't seen enough desire in this team to be sure they can accomplish this. Jefferson is improving, albeit slowly, with each game, but after the ULL game, he began to worry me because of some of the throws he made--trying to force it in there when his target had a blanket wrapped around him. We can sit here and harp on what needs to improve all day if we wanted to do so, but I'd rather talk about what I'd like to see against UGA tomorrow afternoon. I'm reluctant to make any predictions at this point because admittedly, I'm a homer; and homers tend to favor their team(s) no matter what. I know some people will say, "Realistically, LSU has no shot." The truth is, "realistically," both teams have a shot. Anything can happen on any given Saturday. Isn't that why we love college football?

Anyway, onto what I'd like to see tomorrow:

1-- Pressure on Joe Cox. I would really love to see us line up and play man coverage, mix up some blitzes, and really turn up the heat on this young QB. He's already shown he's well capable of racking up huge numbers, hence the reason I feel it is critical to knock him out of rhythm before he even gets into one.

2-- The clash between A.J. Green and Patrick Peterson. Peterson's name hasn't been called much this season aside from the Washington game in which he racked up a number of tackles and recovered a fumble; and also, this past week when he returned an interception for a touchdown. Green is obviously the go-to guy for the Dawgs, and Peterson, who is arguably the best lockdown cornerback in the nation, is the only player I trust to cover this standout wide receiver. It should be a lot of fun to watch these two tussle.

3-- Please, for the love of God. Run. The. Damn. Ball. And do it well. If ever a time were more ripe for the line to jell, it's now. We need to have the threat of a ground game in the upcoming stretch of games; otherwise, Jordan Jefferson is going to have to lead us to victory with his arm, and I really don't like our chances if that's the case. Unless the Wizard has some tricks up his sleeve he has yet to reveal, without a running game, doom appears imminent.

Aside from those few things, I just want the Tigers to go out there and play with some intensity. Keep it respectable, and leave it all on the field. A win would definitely do wonders for this team's morale, and most importantly, their identity. On top of that, it would restore the faith within the fan base, which is all but gone at the moment.

That's all I've got for now. Geaux Tigers!

LSU 2-0

The title is really all I can definitively say about LSU right now. The team is 2-0. I haven't written anything since the Washington game because I don't have that much to say, and I don't write something just to write something. Having said that, there are a few issues I've been thinking about:

Offensive Line

The topic of a lot of discussion the last two weeks, people want to see improvement here. It doesn't just need improvement, though. It needs drastic improvement if LSU is going to avoid going 3-5 in the SEC again. I was thinking that it might just be an issue of gelling and teamwork, but I rewatched the Vandy game and think it goes beyond that. On one play Lyle Hitt gets shoved two yards into the backfield on a running play. It was a play where he's supposed to be the aggressor, not the passive interceptor. Instead, he got embarrassed by the left DT, who came dang close to tackling Keiland Williams for a loss. Ciron Black was getting beat straight up by someone named--hold on while I check the game thread--Broderick Stewart. On another play Stewart came inside and the tackle looped outside him. Black tried to pass Stewart on to Dworaczyk, who was still in the middle of engaging the moving tackle. Stewart slipped in between them to pressure Jefferson.

It seems like there's both individual and unit performance issues that need to be addressed. I think Vanderbilt has some legitimate SEC talent up front, but if LSU is having trouble moving Vanderbilt out of the way, I don't want to think about what's going to happen with the big boys they have to face.

Offensive Rhythm

The offense looks sloppy, like it's relying more on athleticism and getting guys into space than on execution and fundamentals. I don't want it to be a "grab bag" of plays that seems mish-mash just to keep the defense off balance. I want to see a play run because the players are good at running the play, and because it's part of a cohesive game plan to attack the defense. Is Miles holding Crowton back? I don't think so. I think Jordan Jefferson is holding him back. Jefferson has not impressed me as a passer, and I think that has affected Crowton's playcalling. The griping about throwing the ball downfield is partly a function of the line not being able to protect, and partly Jefferson just not being all that good at it. He overthrew two receivers a long passes against Vanderbilt. One was an easy touchdown, the other an easy interception that was called back.

I'm not sure what to think about Terrance Toliver, other than that he could be really, really good. I think he dropped about three balls against Vanderbilt, though. It's way too early to say that he's reached 2007 Lafell levels of dropsiness, so I'll hold off until another couple of games have gone by.

LSU/UW Thoughts

I've already given most of my thoughts on the game in the LSU/UW thread and the Replay thread, so I'm not going to rehash it all again. I will say that I didn't see a lot of breakdowns in the secondary that led to huge plays, at least in the area of blown assignments. If Jai Eugene gets beat 1 on 1 downfield, that's not Chavis's fault, and if Chad Jones gets two hands on a guy and can't make the tackle, that's not bad coaching, either. Like pretty much every game, the outcome would have been different if the players had just played better.

Let's go over what I was looking forward to and see how it played out:

1) Russell Shepard. I saw him standing around the huddle during timeouts with his head down, but he never set foot on the field. My #1 thing to look for against Vanderbilt will be...Russell Shepard.

2) A fast defense that can handle a mobile quarterback. Didn't happen. Little pressure from the front four, and Locker threw for a bunch of yards even before the meaningless last drive. The ends pinched down hard on a lot of play action, giving Locker a chance to make plays with his legs on the outside.

3) Execution. Meh. Tackling stunk, and the offensive line was really unimpressive. However, I absolutely loved LSU's last drive of the game. Jefferson was 3 for 3 passing, and the option plays were run very well, with Jefferson making good decisions each time. I think the defense looked like they knew what they were doing, even if they missed too many tackles.

4) Something not referred to as the "Wild Tiger." Wish granted. We didn't even see a package close to it.

5) Pressure from the front four. Nope. Alem was credited with a sack when Locker's knee hit the ground as he was diving forward, and Nevis blew through with a sack when Washington was playing catchup. Other than that, LSU had to blitz to get pressure, which exposed some open spaces the blitz created.

6) LSU fans putting up a good showing at Husky Stadium. Wish granted, and then some. LSU may have had as many as 20,000 people in the stadium. We saw them all over town before and after the game. The Washington crowd seemed a lot louder when I watched the replay on TV than they did in the stadium. Keep in mind that they don't even start school until the 30th. When LSU scored, the crowd got quiet. If the other team had scored in Tiger Stadium, the crowd would come roaring back to pump up the team. The people up there are really nice, but their crowd wasn't much of a challenge.

Game Day vs. Washington

Looking out the hotel window, it looks like half of Seattle is covered in sunshine, and half is covered in clouds. Weather.com says it'll be around sixty degrees and cloudy/rainy all day long and through the game. I expected nothing less. We'll hit a few spots and hopefully find a good place to watch UGA/OSU and some of VT/ALA. The Seattle chapter of LSU Alumni has apparently set up something big, so we may stop in on that as well.

There's all sorts of stories about the mass of LSU fans here, and I can attest that there were many of them on the flight here and at the airport. I've seen a few in the hotel. I don't know what the exact numbers will end up being, but I think LSU is putting up a good showing that's surprising--maybe even shocking--the local folks. I think the players and coaches will be pleased with what the LSU crowd brings to the stadium tonight.

Lee Corso picked Washington to upset LSU, which is fine. UW is a Pac-10 team with a good quarterback, and LSU is traveling across two time zones to play a night game. Stranger things have happened. One of the great lessons fans should learn is not to get ticked off at predictions, and it doesn't matter if it comes from Corso, Holtz, Herbstreit, Cowherd, Mandel, Maisel, or anybody else. Predictions do not matter. Besides, do you really want to beat up on and hate a guy who loves college football and is recovering from a stroke? In lots of areas of TV coverage there are people on camera who aren't there because they're the absolute expert on the subject, but because they're good on TV. The ability to provoke a response from the viewing audience without sounding like a complete crackpot is a valuable commodity.

I don't think I'll be able to write anything until we get back from the game, so take care till then.

What I'm Looking Foward to at Washington

I have reasonably low expectations for the teams I root for, probably as a result of being a lifelong fan of both the Cubs and the Saints. I really know how to pick a winner, don't I? I don't demand championships, though winning the SEC West now and then doesn't seem like an unreasonable request. I don't think that not dominating every possession of every game means the head coach should be fired. So instead of a list of expectations and demands, here's what I'm looking forward to seeing Saturday night in Seattle (in person, no less):

1) Russell Shepard. The season's success on offense this season rests on the shoulders of Jordan Jefferson, but the true joy (I hope) on that side of the ball is going to come from watching Shepard run the ball. Or catch the ball. Or take a handoff, or throw the ball, or hand it off, or stand on his head and gargle peanut butter. Ciron Black has been raving about him in practice, pretty much saying everybody needs to watch out and say their prayers. I hope to high heaven he's right.

2) A fast defense that can handle a mobile quarterback. Jake Locker is a legit dual threat, and if the linemen and linebackers aren't disciplined, he can do some serious damage with his legs. I think this will be a good test to see how far the front seven has come in terms of recognition and consistent tackling.

3) Execution. It's the first game of the season, so this part may be a little iffy, but the one thing I always, always, always want to see out of my team is that they look like they know what the heck they're doing. Sloppy play drives me up the wall, and can easily inject bad sentiment into your gut even if you win.

4) Something not referred to as the "Wild Tiger." Come on, people. Arkansas called it the Wildcat, then changed it to the Wild Hog, now Nutt runs the Wild Rebel, and tons of other schools are running the Wild [INSERT TEAM MASCOT HERE]. Can't LSU come up with something a little more original that's LSU-related but doesn't follow the exact same format as everybody else? If the collegefanatics rallying cry for the offense is "Unleash the Wantango!", could we call it the "Wild Wantango"?

5) Pressure from the front four. Fans love blitzing, and I'm sure players do too, but if you have to blitz to get pressure on the quarterback, a good team will find a way to exploit open spaces in coverage. I prefer to see my team blitz out of convenience, not out of desperation. Dropping seven into coverage does not hurt my feelings at all.

6) LSU fans putting up a good showing at Husky Stadium. A friend of mine was in Tucson in 2003 when LSU played Arizona, and she said she'd never seen so much purple in all her life. I'm hoping that Tiger fans will leave a similarly impressive mark on Seattle.

Scrimmage, Back Seven, and QBs

Scrimmage

Let's play a "what if" game. The headline after Saturday's scrimmage was LSU head coach Les Miles says offense "won" football's first scrimmage. The first sentence in the article notes that Miles "didn't put much stock in the victory", and neither do I. Scrimmages like that aren't about winning and losing, but about improving individual and team performance.

Let's put that aside for a moment and ask "What if the offense really did win the scrimmage?" Would that make you more or less concerned about the team's chances for success this season? If you asked the fans "Which unit would you rather see come out on top?", I bet a solid majority would go with the defense. The common phrase is "defense wins championships," but I prefer "you take your defense with you wherever you go." Offenses can get rattled by the crowd noise and atmosphere of a road game, but the crowd is usually quieter when the road team is on defense. Defensive performance shouldn't vary to the same degree that offensive performance can home vs. away.

So an offense that is:

a) breaking in a new quarterback with only two starts under his belt
b) looking for a dependable number two wide receiver
c) replacing two solid-to-very good offensive linemen

has the advantage over a defense that:

a) is replacing three defensive linemen
b) using a converted safety at linebacker
c) returns several players from a secondary that got toasted against quality teams last season

Who do you want to win? I'd like to think that John Chavis could organize a talented lineup into a defense that could handle what is essentially a first-year quarterback, so I'll say defense. So to answer the original question, it's bad if the offense really "won" the scrimmage.

Back Seven

On a related note, there's been all sorts of talk about how Chavis wants to play a "base" defense--three linebackers--against three receiver sets instead of going to a nickel package. I have a hunch that in obvious passing situations, that third LB is going to be Harry Coleman, while Riley/Sheppard/Cutrera will see more action on obvious running downs. This could change against spread teams, where the coaches may want a faster unit on the field.

I've been tempted to say something like "If the coaches thought that Harry Coleman was the best safety on the team, then he'd still be playing safety." After thinking about it some more, I think this is actually a way to let Coleman play strong safety under the guise of being called a linebacker.

Let's go back to the BCS title game against Ohio State, the game where most people first started to say good things about him. Craig Steltz goes out with an injury, so Harry Coleman subs in at strong safety. What did Pelini do with him? He kept him near the line of scrimmage and blitzed him. Ohio State was never able to find somebody to challenge him downfield. The corners handled Robiskie and Hartline, and Ali Highsmith took the tight end. Coleman was allowed to play without deep coverage responsibilities.

I know he played LB in high school, but I can't help thinking that his real position this season will be closer to a LB/SS hybrid than a true linebacker, and he'll be responsible for taking tight ends and backs within fifteen yards of scrimmage. When he's on the field, it'll be like a 4-2.5-4.5 defense instead of a 4-3-4 or 4-2-5.

QBs

Jordan Jefferson is the starting quarterback. Jordan Jefferson is the starting quarterback. Jordan Jefferson is the starting quarterback.

I just wanted to get that out of the way so nobody would freak out when I note that all reports from fall practice say that Jarrett Lee is still the best passer on the LSU roster. The order here seems to be Lee, Chris Garrett, Jefferson, Russell Shepard as far as passing ability goes. At the moment, Jefferson is still the best QB to run the full Wantango due to his mobility and magical "hasn't thrown seven interceptions returned for touchdowns" ability.

The hope is that Garrett will redshirt and that Shepard will evolve into a good enough passer that he can line up at QB all the time. But if LSU gets behind by 20 points in the second half, don't throw the remote at the TV or punch holes in the toxic Chinese drywall when you see Jarrett Lee take the field.

Ones to Watch: Part II

Brandon LaFell, Ciron Black, and Rahim Alem have all been added to watch lists for their respective positions' individual awards. LaFell is on the Biletnikoff Award watch list, which is awarded to the nation's top receiver; Black is on the Outland Trohpy watch list, which is given to the nation's top interior lineman; and Alem is on the Hendricks Award watch list, which is the award given to the nation's top defensive end.

We'll start with Rahim Alem. Alem led the team in sacks last season with eight and also in tackles for a loss with 11.5. He ranked among the best in those categories in the SEC, and he is expected to have a breakout year as a full-time starter this season. Alem was one of the few that played with a motor that would run nonstop last season, and that's exactly what we need from a defensive end. I'd say he's the best defensive lineman we have coming back. Charles Alexander has been bothered by injuries since he arrived on campus; Al Woods is a big space filler, but not much of a force inside like Dorsey was; and Levingston hasn't had an opportunity to show us what he's got. Of course, when you've got guys like Tyson Jackson, Tremaine Johnson, Kirston Pittman, and Rahim Alem to compete with as a sophomore, the cards are stacked against you.

Ciron Black is rated as the nation's top tackle by several preseason magazines, and he's the only preseason All-American the Tigers have to boast. Alongside Herman Johnson last season, the Tigers' left side of the offensive line was one of the most powerful in the country. Factor in Quinn Johnson at fullback, and you can see why Charles Scott enjoyed running to that side so much. Both Johnsons will be missed this season, but hopefully Dworaczyk and Dugas come along rather swiftly. Miles already has high praise for the offensive line, and word is that Dworaczyk is coming along rather nicely, and Charles Scott says he's never seen a big man run that fast when talking about Richard Dugas. It'll be interesting to see just how well the line performs this season. I know Black has the leadership abilities to pick guys up and boost their morale in tough situations, so Dworaczyk, playing next to one of the nation's elite tackles, couldn't be in a better position. He'll learn the ropes quickly, and I'm confident that Scott or Williams will be able to run behind these two and carve up opposing defenses week after week.

Finally, there's Brandon LaFell. The infamous "LaDrop" from 2007 has turned into one of the nations's top receivers. Who would've thought this scenario would play out. After declaring for the draft, then backing out at the last minute, LaFell enters his senior season with a lot to play for. Another SEC championship would be nice, and of course another national title would be as well, but he's also got some individual hardware that he can earn. Josh Reed was the last LSU wide receiver to win the Biletnikoff Award (2001), and LaFell would love to become the second winner in school history. This would be a tremendous honor for LaFell, as he has overcome immense adversity from both fans and the media. After his "assist" to the Auburn defender in the 2007 game, he didn't see the field much more that game. If he did, he was a non-factor, and nothing was thrown his way. After that game, however, we began to see a new LaFell. The Alabama game, he dropped only one pass, but made at least four catches I can recall that were huge at the time. He looked great down the stretch, including the BCS National Championship Game. Last season, he was the most reliable target, leading the team in receptions (63), yards (929), average (14.7), and touchdown receptions (8). Along with many other Tiger fans, I hope we can find reliable third and fourth targets this season to compliment the passing game and take some the pressure off Richard Dickson and Brandon LaFell. Hopefully Terrance Toliver and Chris Mitchell will finally evolve into sure-handed receivers and emerge as quality deep threats, and Rueben Randle and Russell Shepard may find themselves contributing a great deal as receivers.

Not much longer, Tiger fans. We're almost there.

Phil Steele's Thoughts on LSU

I've been waiting for a while now to get my hands on Phil's 2009 preseason magazine, mostly for entertainment. It's no lie; his magazine is jam-packed with information. He rarely lets an inch of any page remain white or untouched. I'll give him credit for that, but some of his observations are totally out there.

I'll start at the front, and as I go along, I'll continue to jot down any little thing I see pertaining to LSU.

Page 2: Bowl Projection

Phil has LSU slated to play Oklahoma State in the Cotton Bowl. Now, if this were to take place, this would be an extreme test for our defense. Kendall Hunter, Dez Bryant, and Zac Robinson are a fabulous threesome, and they have the propensity to baffle opposing defenses. I can see this is as a possibility, and if we do wind up in the Cotton Bowl, I would consider it a pretty good season. Ole Miss is picked to play in New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl, and Alabama is picked to play in the Cap One Bowl in Orlando. Florida, of course, is slated to meet Texas in the BCS National Championship Game.

Ah, Pages 4-7: Offensive All-Americans and Top Position Players

1st Team AA: OT-Ciron Black

2nd Team AA: WR-Brandon LaFell

Top position players that are draft eligible:

QBs: #58-Jarrett Lee

RBs: #5-Charles Scott, #15-Keiland Williams

WRs: #3-Brandon LaFell, #27-Terrance Tolliver

TEs: #9-Richard Dickson

OGs: #14-Lyle Hitt

OTs: #1-Ciron Black, #14-Joseph Barksdale

Offensively, we've got several guys that could go in the first round of next year's NFL Draft.

Pages 8-10: Defensive All-Americans and Top Position Players

No All-Americans. (Go figure.)

DEs: #43-Rahim Alem

DTs: #13-Al Woods

MLBs: #26-Jacob Cutrera

OLBs: #36-Perry Riley, #63-Kelvin Sheppard, #70-Harry Coleman

CBs: #22-Jai Eugene, #48-Chris Hawkins

FSs: #6-Chad Jones, #14-Danny McCray

Chad Jones obviously has the biggest decision to make. Pro football or pro baseball? In my honest opinion, I think Jones is going to hold out on the NFL Draft and play baseball next spring. He loves baseball, and he is one beastly left-handed pitcher. This means he'll be around for his senior year in football, unless he goes high enough in the amateur draft in baseball next June. Then, we could be saying goodbye to him altogether. If he isn't picked high enough, then he's got a tough decision. It's either the NFL Draft or the MLB Draft. One or the other. I'd imagine scouts on both sides are going to be giving him their prognoses of where he's likely to end up going in both drafts, and also what kind of money he could be looking at. Baseball is where it's at. Longer career, more money, not nearly as much wear and tear on the body, and it's his passion. He's one of those five-tool players. He can hit for power, average, run the bases well, field well, strong arm, and if you throw in the fact that he can pitch extremely well, he's got that all-important "X-factor" that would make him a six-tool player.

Rahim Alem could do himself a world of good with a great season. If he continues to play relentlessly with a motor like he had last season, his draft stock is almost certain to boost. Whoever takes Jacob Cutrera better be ready to work with him a lot. He's got the size, but he needs some coaching. Riley and Sheppard are already being compared to Bradie James and Trev Faulk. Hopefully one of them will emerge as James has in the NFL, and if both wind up going somewhere, hopefully neither of the two will wind up like Faulk--without a job. Coleman as an NFL LB? Nah. I've seen projections that have him listed as one of the top 20 strong safeties, which is more realistic. Coleman will have to beef up some and add a little more speed and strength if he is to go anywhere in the draft. Eugene and Hawkins are probably long shots to be drafted, but who knows? We've seen some interesting draft picks before, and we've also seen some quality guys go undrafted, which is probably even more interesting to some.

Pages 12-15: Top Individual Units

RBs: #7

WRs: #6

OL: #15

DL: #20

LBs: #21

DBs: #6

STs: #25

So, it looks like everything is in fine shape... except the QB position.

I agree with Phil's assessments to a degree. I think one could argue that our stable of RBs could be higher or lower, so #7 is a good position.

WRs, I think it's a bit of a stretch to put us that high. Kansas is extremely low, and the boast probably the best 1-2 punch in the country with Dezmon Briscoe and Kerry Meier. Throw in Jonathan Wilson and you've got a very potent passing attack. The Jayhawks are ranked #14. You would've thought that Oklahoma State would've been well up there, and that Dez Bryant would be enough to put them in fine position. They're ranked #24. Phil is a little off his rocker in rating WRs. Notre Dame at #1? He's high on ND in everything, so this doesn't surprise me.

Page 29: Preseason Top 40

LSU is ranked #17.

"Showing you the difference between my Power Poll and my Preseason Rankings, if my #17 LSU took on my #16 Rutgers, I would forecast LSU to win by a couple of TDs! Thanks to the schedules, I think Rutgers will be in the Orange Bowl and LSU, who has to face Georgia, Bama, and Ole Miss on the road and Florida, will not be in a BCS Bowl."

No comment.

Page 30: All-SEC and SEC Forecast

1st Team Offense:

RB-Charles Scott

WR-Brandon LaFell

OT-Ciron Black

2nd Team Offense:

OG-Lyle Hitt

OT-Joseph Barksdale

3rd Team Offense:

TE-Richard Dickson

4th Team Offense:

QB-Jordan Jefferson (Wow. This just goes to show how thin the conference is in QBs this season. Not a knock on Jefferson, but still. Ryan Mallet is in front of JJ on the 3rd team, and of course Tebow is on the first team; Snead on the second.)

No one was on 1st or 2nd Team Defense.

3rd Team Defense:

DE-Rahim Alem

DT-Charles Alexander

LB-Perry Riley

CB-Patrick Peterson

FS-Chad Jones

PR-Trindon Holliday

That's it for the defense.

Pages 48-49: LSU Forecast

QBs: "This unit can only improve upon last year's 52.7% comp and 18 int."

RBs: "This is a deep and talented group and they add 2 more (very highly touted) frosh."

WRs: "With 11 of the top 12 WRs back, plus some exciting frosh added, I look for improved play from the Tiger WRs."

OL: "Despite being slightly less experienced and losing their star (Herman Johnson), they could put up better numbers."

DL: "As usual, this unit is comprised mostly of (very highly touted players) and does return first team SEC DE Rahim Alem who had 8 sacks last year despite only one start."

LBs: "They pulled a LB on many passing plays, something new DC Chavis says they will not do this year, sticking more to 3 LBs... This is an improved unit."

DBs: "Miles did praise CB Chris Hawkins for a spectacular year. True frosh Patrick Peterson started the last 4. LSU dropped to #33 (in pass defense rankings). This year they only lose FS Taylor, Phelon Jones (transfer) and SS Harry Coleman (to LB) and have 11 (very highly touted players) in their top 12, so the Tigers will be at the top again."

STs: "As a team, LSU averaged just 19.5 on KRs and teams kicked away from Holliday (13.3 PR) but they still moved up to #12. They should drop some this year with the loss of K-David and P-Dalfrey."

Coaches: "Les Miles did a fine job at Oklahoma State with his resumé including 2 big upsets over rival OU and 3 bowls. Miles owns a National Title at LSU. In '07 he lost OC Jimbo Fisher and brought in Gary Crowton who was the OC at Oregon ('05-'06) and the BYU HC from '01-'04. While Fisher was lauded by many, under Crowton's guidance, the team averaged a school record 38.6 ppg in '07. Last year, they had to replace DC Bo Pelini. They went to co-DCs in Doug Mallory and Bradley Dale Peveto but both departed. This year, I feel they made an upgrade bringing in 14-year Tennessee DC John Chavis."

Phil's Forecast: "LSU will be a preseason Top 10 team this year, but they face the top 2 teams from the SEC East (Florida and Georgia) and also have to travel to 2 more Top 10 teams in Alabama and Ole Miss giving them the toughest schedule of any SEC school. This year's LSU squad is stronger than the '08 version and is one of the top teams in the country and will top last year's 8-win total."

According to Phil, we have the #21 toughest schedule this season; our pass defense will be the 8th most improved in the country; we have the 2nd best recruiting class for 2009; and we are ranked #6 in the plus/minus power rankings behind Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, Alabama, and USC. In his power poll, he's got us at #8. Scott and LaFell are the only LSU players he has listed for Heisman consideration.

I'll cap off this lengthy post with his Top 500 incoming freshmen:

QBs: #1-Russell Shepard, #29-Chris Garrett

RBs: #11-Michael Ford, #55-Dominique Allen

WRs: #1-Rueben Randle

OL: #7-Chris Faulk, #20-Stavion Lowe, #54-Carneal Ainsworth

DL: #11-Chris Davenport, #14-Sam Montgomery, #32-Mike Brockers, #55-Josh Downs

LBs: #13-Barkevious Mingo, #29-Kevin Minter, #43-Lamin Barrow

DBs: #1-Craig Loston, #33-Drayton Calhoun

Top 75 incoming JUCOs:

#13-Akiem Hicks

That's all I've got for now. I'll have a breakdown of the schedule in the coming week.

Expectations and "Well, maybe"

I was asked the other day about expectations for the upcoming season. I think there's a difference between expectations and predictions. Predictions are a lot more definite and concrete. Expectations are a bit more nebulous and fluffy. By "expectations", I don't mean the crazy stuff that fans sometimes get in their heads like "if LSU doesn't go undefeated and win every game by at least 21 points, Les Miles should be fired" or "if Player Y doesn't win the Heisman Trophy and rush for 2,000 yards, Gary Crowton should be fired." What I mean is "stuff I sort of think we'll see on the field during LSU games."

So here are some expectations:

--for the offense to look substantially different than 2008. With an established core of offensive skill position seniors in LaFell, Dickson, Scott, and Williams, you could make a case that LSU will continue to run the same offense that averaged over 30 points per game. I just think that Jordan Jefferson and Russell Shepard will prove too tempting for Gary Crowton to stay pat, and he'll call several plays per game that involve Jefferson or Shepard running the ball from the quarterback position. The season started with Andrew Hatch doing some running, and ended with Jefferson doing some running, but mostly in between was Jarrett Lee dropping back or handing off. I think we'll see a lot more zone read, QB draws, and option plays for the duration of the season.

--for Russell Shepard to line up at a minimum of four positions: quarterback, running back, slot receiver, and wideout. He can run it (zone read, draw) or throw it as a quarterback, or get handoffs, pitches, or flare passes as a running back. From the slot he can work the middle against a linebacker or catch bubble screens. Out wide he can run the receiver screen or act as a decoy. I think he'll be all over the place.

--for Patrick Peterson to emerge as one of the top defenders in the SEC at any position. I don't say this just because he was a big-time recruit who became a starter last season (okay, that's part of the reason). I was at the Alabama/LSU game, and I was very, very impressed when I saw him in person. I think he's going to be a rock that the coaches can depend on to shut down his man on a consistent basis. Peterson vs. Julio Jones is going to be a sight to see this year and the next.

--for Jarrett Lee to play in every game. In 2007, Matt Flynn could be 5-5 for 60 yards on a drive, facing 1st and goal at the 4. What happened? In came Ryan Perrilloux to run the option or hand off. This coaching staff loves to change things up on a defense, and I think it'll happen with Lee this season. Some people may want to see him buried as deep on the bench as possible, but I don't think it's going to work out that way. The same player who was nicknamed LaDrop was the #1 receiver last year and is the expected #1 receiver this year. We wanted anyone not named LaFell out there, if not actively catching passes, then at least not dropping them. But the coaches stuck with him, he caught a TD in the BCS title game, and he had a good year last year. Miles and Crowton do not quit on a player who struggles. Note that this does not mean you won't lose your starting position, however. I just hope the fans at Tiger Stadium don't start to boo every time he steps on the field.

--for the LSU/Auburn game to go down to the wire and be decided by less than a touchdown. I don't want it to work out that way, as I want LSU to blow the doors off of everybody. But the last five meetings have been decided by 19 points. I think that this has become a game where records and rankings go out the window and both teams try to knock the crap out of each other all game long.

This last one's a bit of a stretch:

--for Sam Montgomery to be to the defense what Russell Shepard is to the offense: an explosive freshman who can get things done on the perimeter. If you accept that the starters at DE are Rahim Alem and Pep Levingston, then the competition for Montgomery is Chase Clement, Chancey Aghayere, Bennie Logan and Michael Brockers. I can see him rising up the depth chart and being used as a pass rush specialist.

I think the common sentiment is that Craig Loston is the more logical choice here, but with his grade issues and thumb injury, I don't know if he'll be able to crack the lineup of Hatcher, McCray, Jones and Brooks at safety. The track record of players missing time early and playing a significant role is not that great.

Ones to Watch: Part I

With the 2009 football season approaching quickly, it's that time of year again. The time when the pundits begin projecting multiple things, including where teams will rank at year's end; which bowl they might be headed to; who will be on the all-conference and All-American teams; who to watch for in the Heisman race; etc... There are a few Tigers whom have been mentioned as "ones to watch" for some prestigious individual accolades. They are: Charles Scott, Jordan Jefferson, and Richard Dickson.

Charles Scott is on the watch list for the Doak Walker Award, which is given annually to the nation's top running back. On the Davey O'Brien Award watch list is quarterback Jordan Jefferson. Richard Dickson is on the Mackey Award watch list--the award presented to the nation's top tight end. All three of these Tigers will play integral roles in the offense this season, that's for sure, but winning these individual honors will be no easy task.

Charles Scott is coming off his best season since he's been at LSU; a season in which he carved up opposing defenses for a total of 1,174 yards and 18 touchdowns. Kevin Faulk was the last Tiger to rush for 1,000+ yards in consecutive seasons, doing so in 1996, 1997, and 1998. Justin Vincent in 2003, Jacob Hester in 2007, and Charles Scott in 2008 are the only other Tigers to run for 1,000 yards since Faulk. Toefield came close in 2001 with 992 net yards rushing, and Joseph Addai and Domanick Davis flirted with 1,000, but never broke the barrier.

Charles Scott will undoubtedly be the feature back this season, and provided he stays healthy, I expect him to have another banner season. Les Miles has praised the offensive line and says this line may be the best he's had at LSU. If this in fact is the best line he's seen while he's been here, we could be in for a treat. As long as they stick together, pick one another up, and play with a relentless mentality, our running game could be one of the best, if not THE best, in the country.

Richard Dickson may be one of the best kept secrets in all of college football. He is one of the most sure-handed tight ends in the game today, and he's a playmaker. He has the ability to make the big catches, he can make catches in traffic, and he's athletic enough to be more than just a threat underneath the coverage--meaning he can run a vertical or a post over the deep middle of the field. He's going to play a vital role in the passing game this season, and he'll be called upon often. He and LaFell may need to carry the bulk of the load for the first few games, but hopefully we'll find reliable third and fourth targets to compliment our passing game.

Lastly, Jordan Jefferson. Having Jefferson on this list as a sophomore has me a little perplexed. I don't expect him to win the Davey O'Brien Award by any means; mainly because we're very balanced and tend to the favor the run a little more than the pass. The biggest reason(s) I see this (having Jefferson on the list) as baffling is because Jefferson only started two games last season, and his numbers were not necessarily the greatest. He was efficient in the bowl game, sure; but he's not going to put up Sam Bradford's or Colt McCoy's numbers. Could it happen? Sure. Will it happen? Doubtful. Like I said, we favor the run too much for Jefferson to throw for 3,000 yards in a single season. It's nice the O'Brien Award organization has acknowledged Jefferson, and they consider him to be one of the top quarterbacks in the country, but anyone putting him atop the list or even in the top five, in my opinion, is a little beyond themselves.

It's going to be tough for Charles Scott to win the Doak Walker Award when he has to compete with the likes of Jonathan Dwyer, Jahvid Best, and Jacquizz Rodgers, but it's possible he could bring home the gold; or at least he could receive an invite to the award ceremony. The Mackey Award is a very winnable award for Dickson. I think, of the three Tigers named to watch lists for their respective position's award, Dickson has the best chance of winning. He's proven himself to be a valuable asset to this team since 2007, and I have always admired the way he plays the game. He's not afraid to throw a block, he can make big plays, and he's a complete football player. I wish all three the best of luck, but individual accolades mean very little to me. I'd much rather see another championship banner.

Preseason Picks, Team and Individual

We're getting close to the part of the year when football services and sports entities start making their predictions for the 2009 season. The coaches have already released their preseason All-SEC team. Lindy's has LSU in at #6, Andy Staples's post-spring list has LSU at #13, Athlon says #17, and back in April Bruce Feldman put LSU 8th on his list of "Teams Most Likely to Win the BCS Title".

Some thoughts:

All-SEC

No LSU defender was picked for the first team defense. Good. After last season, nobody on that side of the ball gets to say, "I'm one of the best." I'm always suspicious of things that are supposed to be used as motivational tactics, but I wouldn't be surprised if no first-teamers was used in this way. Even Rahim Alem, who somehow ended up a first-team SEC selection by the AP last season, is relegated to the third team. Chad Jones made second team, presumably on the basis of athletic ability and being able to play one position this season instead of three or four.

There's a general assumption out there that this season's LSU defense will be much better than last season's. Even though they were the ones out of position and missing tackles, the players are getting the benefit of the doubt from most people due to the co-DC situation. They won't have that excuse this time.

Charles Alexander made second team as well. The first team apparently runs a 3-4, even though only one school in the conference has a reputation for running it. I wonder if Alexander would have made a 4-3 lineup. The second team runs the unbeatable 5-4-4 defense, which I would love to see LSU run. (yeah, yeah, there were some ties)

Preseason Predictions

There are a couple of trains of thought that guide people ranking LSU to start the 2009 season.

1) 2008 was an aberration brought on by a disastrous co-DC experiment and inexperience (and 7 pick sixes) at the QB position. There's too much talent on the roster to go 8-5.

2) Shouldn't there have been too much talent for five losses last season? Now LSU faces a similar schedule while breaking in another new starting QB, three new starting defensive linemen, and questions at wide receiver and on the offensive line.

Of course, I'm in the middle. I like the talent in the secondary, and LSU always has good players up front. The linebackers are experienced, but in my mind they're not experienced at making big plays. I've said this before, but the most notable thing Jacob Cutrera has done in three years is miss two tackles on the same play against Arkansas.

On offense, I'm more concerned about T-Bob Hebert replacing Brett Helms at center than I am with Josh Dworaczyk replacing Herman Johnson at left guard. There's no proven #2 receiver to take the pressure off of LaFell. We all hope He Who Determines the Fate of Others can step in right away and fill that role, but there's no guarantee of that. I think the last wide receiver who made a big impact as a freshman was Michael Clayton in 2001.

Most people are expecting Jordan Jefferson to be better than Jarrett Lee, or at least not to throw as many interceptions. I'm wondering if the expectation is for him to be a good playmaker in the offense, or more of a caretaker who won't give the ball away so often. I don't know.

I do know that what I don't want to hear is anything about his performance in the Peach Bowl (Chick Fil A can call it whatever they want--it's the Peach Bowl) meaning he'll have a great 2009. I believe that one of the biggest mistakes people make is using the bowl game to predict the entire next season. Bowl games are singular entities. Teams have a month or more to prepare. Sometimes they don't care about the game too much at all. The grind and the rhythm of the regular season is gone. This applies to both teams and individuals.

I call it "Matt Flynn Syndrome" when bowl games are used to project a player's future performance. Flynn had a solid Peach Bowl against Miami, going 13-22 for 196 yards and two touchdowns. When he got the starting job in 2007, people expected big things from him. He won the national title, but he was agonizingly inconsistent and threw into double and triple coverage two or three times a game. He was not at the level of the first or second round pick people were hoping for. I think people ignored the total demolition of Miami's offense by the LSU defense and the 272 rushing yards that made Flynn's job so much easier.

I know the numbers don't tell everything, and Jefferson had a beautiful TD pass to LaFell called back on a holding penalty. He managed things very well. But if a team puts up 38 points and the quarterback was 16-25 for 142 yards and a touchdown, that tells me that there are other factors at work. The score was 35-3 at halftime, the defense was playing lights out, Georgia Tech failed on a fake punt, turned it over a couple of times, and got away from their strength early. I want to see what happens in a tight game when Jefferson has to make plays instead of just managing the game or working with a big lead.

I'm getting the feeling that the offense is going to look much, much different this season. A more mobile QB plus Russell Shepard playing all over the place will be a big change from what we saw in 2008. I hope that Gary Crowton can find the right balance among flashy speed, power running, and good execution.

SEC Media Days: Insight from "The Hat"

Les Miles is one of the most charismatic figures in all of college football. How can you not love this guy? He has solidified his spot among the top coaches in the country, as well as one of the top recruiters in the game today; and he has a pretty good track record thus far:

2 SEC West Division Championships

1 SEC Championship

1 National Championship

4 Bowl Games (All wins)

Despite last season's 8-5 finish--only a year after winning a national title--there are still high hopes that Miles will continue to build upon the colossal college football power that is LSU. The Tigers hauled in one of the best, if not the best, recruiting classes in the nation this past offseason, and with a defensive overhaul in order, better play from the QB(s) this year, and a sense of urgency, this team will be tough to beat.

Miles talked about last season's finish today at the media convention in Hoover, Alabama:

"I can tell you that coming off last year, eight victories and a Bowl win was not enough. Our football team's a little more wanting, a little bit more ambitious. I think that's spilled into the preparation in the off season. We had a very good spring. I think our summer, a price has been paid as we go into fall camp. Very much look forward to getting that team together." --Les Miles

Of course, being politically correct and always smiling for the camera is what every coach is supposed to do, so it comes as no surprise that the optimism is there. Hell, I'm optimistic; always have been. Even during the years where we had to swallow some of the toughest defeats in LSU history. Now, onto the rest of the quotables from Miles, some of which I've already touched on in previous posts:

"Offensively, certainly we'll be better. A year ago we put three freshmen quarterbacks on the field, all of which at one point in time got hurt. One currently has eight games experience as a starter, one three. I can tell you that both Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee will take the field with a lot more experience and comfort with what we expect of our quarterback.

"If we had to start today, I would start Jordan Jefferson, but I believe our offense will function extremely well with the idea that our quarterbacks are a little bit more veteran. Charles Scott, that offensive line, should catch speed quickly. I think our receivers are going to be an advantage for us. JoJo LaFell, Brandon LaFell, is expected by his coaches and his team to have a great year. Terrance Toliver, I think we can put a number of receivers on the field that can do damage to an opponent's defense.

"Richard Dickson, our tight end, coming into his final campaign, is poised to have a great year. It's a diverse offense. It's one that's gonna be difficult to defend. We look forward to taking the field with them." --Les Miles

Very confident, I must say. I like the term "diverse offense." It really is, and that's why I like Jordan Jefferson taking the snaps. His athleticism enables the offense to really open up the playbook and do some things that Jarrett Lee cannot. Not to say Lee is incompetent, but he doesn't compliment the eclectic blend of plays Crowton brings to the table as well as Jefferson does.

"Defensively, we got a new staff. We put John Chavis in as defensive coordinator. His experience in this league, his comfort with a dominant defense, met very comfortably with those men on our campus where we have played dominant defense for our time. I think the introduction in the start, this spring, certainly as we go forward, went well.

"Ron Cooper, our secondary coach, and Brick Haley, the defensive line, I think there's a great deal of experience and ability in the coaching staff. Again, our players want to play great, and understand theres a work habit and a work ethic there that's established. Again, I think it will fall together nicely.

"The defensive line, we'll graduate some guys. But there will be some men there that have experience. We recruited well behind them. I think there will be some competition as we come to the line of scrimmage. A veteran at linebacker, the entire corporation, from Harry Coleman, Jacob Cutrera, Perry Riley, Kelvin Sheppard, all of which have a great deal of experience, and will give us a line backing core that will make the transition.

"I think we're talented in the secondary. I think Chad Jones, being, you know, put in as our free safety, allowing him to get comfortable at a spot, will benefit his development. I think he's a very talented player. We look forward to that continuing.

"But I think our defense will be better, as well." --Les Miles

Here's an interesting quote regarding the whole "Who-didn't-vote-for-Tebow-?" debate:

"I know there's some issues out there that people want to talk to me about. I had everybody and his brother ask me did I vote for Tebow. I certainly did. He has always had great games against us. Personally, I'm for him. I like who he is. So, yeah, I voted for him.

"I can tell you this. I'm going to call Jefferson and my quarterbacks and hold them to that level of play. I think that anybody that didn't vote for him has that right certainly, but that's their call." --Les Miles

I like the idea of Miles holding whoever his quarterback is to that high of a level. Realistically, we'll probably never see another QB like Tebow who transcends the game the way he does. Jefferson has the potential to be one the best QBs LSU has seen in recent history. Of course, the "potential-to-be" applies to every player. The intelligence, intangibles, athletic ability, and competitiveness are all there for JJ. The question is, will he continue to progress? I know one game (the bowl game) doesn't etch anything in stone, but it's a great confidence booster for anyone. Jefferson should be proud of his performance. His numbers weren't necessarily the greatest. He didn't have as much yardage as I would have liked to have seen him pile up, but he was efficient. He protected the ball, didn't really make any mental errors, and he made plays with his legs at times. His underhand toss to Charles Scott was a good example of just how cognizant this kid is. He knows what to do with the ball.

For the rest of Miles' press conference, go here.

A Bid Farewell

After much speculation involving the status of DJ LeMahieu, it's official. LeMahieu has signed with the Chicago Cubs. The 2nd round pick (#79 pick overall) will begin his professional career after having spent two seasons with the Tigers. You can read about it here.

LeMahieu began his career at LSU in 2008, and as a freshman, he started 67 games at shortstop. He batted .337 (87-for-258) with eleven doubles, one triple, six home runs, 44 RBI, and ten steals.

In 2009, DJ was part of a bold move by Head Coach Paul Mainieri. Mainieri brought in freshman shortstop Austin Nola, moved LeMahieu to 2nd base and Ryan Schimpf to left field. Prior to the move, LSU was 28-12 and had not turned a 6-4-3 double play all season long. The end result: A 28-5 record down the stretch, en route to an SEC regular season title, a second consecutive SEC tournament title, regional and super regional titles, and a national championship. Nola may not have produced the most glaring numbers at the plate, but his defense was top notch, and as most baseball enthusiasts know, strong defense up the middle is an integral part of any team's success.

Now, back to LeMahieu. DJ started off the season red hot, and throughout the year, he was one of the most consistent hitters we had. His transition to 2nd base was taken in stride, and he, along with Derek Helenihi at 3rd base, provided some of the best defense in the postseason that Tiger fans have seen in a long time. Carl Dubois once commented on the defensive play of LeMahieu by saying, "he could play 2nd base on his knees." What Tiger fans will remember most about DJ LeMahieu is his top of the ninth heroics against Texas in game one of the championship series, when he doubled down the left field line with two outs to score Helenihi and Leon Landry to tie the game at six and send it into extra innings. Mikie Mahtook would deliver in the top of the eleventh with an RBI-single that scored LeMahieu from third. LeMahieu set the play up by stealing second and advancing to third on a throwing error.

DJ finished the CWS 12-for-27 for a .444 average with 9 runs scored, 4 walks, a home run, triple, double, and 4 RBI. He led all hitters in the CWS with hits and runs scored, was tied for the lead in stolen bases (2 steals in 3 attempts). Add his outstanding defensive play into the equation and you have perhaps the most outstanding player of the series. Although the honor went to Jared Mitchell, I still feel like LeMahieu was far more impressive. I feel this way because he made his presence known at the plate and in the field. Not to take anything away from Jared Mitchell, because he was clutch, no doubt.

DJ finished his sophomore season batting .350 to lead the team, 57 runs scored, 13 doubles, four triples, five home runs, 43 RBI, and twelve stolen bases.

Being a Chicago Cubs fan, this is bittersweet for me. I'm elated, but at the same time, I'm sad to see him leave. But for a guy that was once a 41st round draft pick by the Detroit Tigers, for him to surge to the top of many teams' draft boards in a matter of two years, and wind up as a 2nd rounder in this year's amateur draft, that speaks volumes. I wish him the best, and I know the rest of the Tiger faithful will wish him well. Should he join the big league club, there will be three former LSU Tigers on the roster whom have won national championships (Ryan Theriot and Mike Fontenot are the other two). The next step? Win one for the Cubs.

Looking Ahead: A Breakdown of the Washington Huskies

Okay, so it's roughly 50 days until the opening kickoff, but it's never too early to start speculating. LSU begins their 2009 campaign on the road in one of the most scenic stadiums in the country: Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington. The Washington Huskies are not necessarily the most intimidating opponent in college football, but aside from a string of mediocre seasons, they are a BCS affiliate. It's better than playing Eastern Washington or another FCS school in place of UW.

Washington's last .500 or better season came in 2003 when they finished 6-6. Since then (2004-2008), the Huskies have won only 11 games total. One win in 2004, followed by another one-win season in 2005, then five wins in 2006, and four wins in 2007. Tyrone Willingham's demise as head coach of Washington was capped off with an 0-12 finish in 2008. Stepping in is former USC offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian. One thing Willingham managed to do before his departure was bring in a solid recruiting class (ranked in the top 15). This means Sarkisian will have some good, young talent to work while he's at the helm of this program. Will he drastically turn things around? Probably not--at least not in year one of his tenure. Washington has a rich program and great tradition, but lackluster seasons have cast a dark cloud over Seattle, and the Huskies are in the cellar of the Pac-10. Not since 2002 have the Huskies made it to the postseason (a 34-24 loss to Purdue in the Sun Bowl). Back in 2000, the Huskies lost only one game (Oregon) and earned a trip to the Rose Bowl, defeating Purdue, 34-24. It's safe to say that since their last postseason game, this program has been on a rapid decline, and last season they hit rock bottom.

Part of the problem last season may have been due in part to the fact that starting QB Jake Locker was out for eight and a half games with a broken thumb on his passing hand. Redshirt-freshman Ronnie Fouch took over during Locker's absence and did not have the impact needed to get the wheels turning. Locker is fleet-footed and has the ability to run, but as an ex-QB at BYU--and perhaps one of the finest QB coaches in the country--Sarkisian is hellbent on molding Locker into a prolific passer.

“He’s a fantastic athlete,” Sarkisian says. “But he’s going to learn the position of quarterback, and there’s going to have to be some give and take.”

With virtually no running game to compliment the air attack last season, the Huskies' offense sputtered. They mustered only 1,192 yards rushing and 13 rushing touchdowns as a team--that's only 18 yards more than Charles Scott ran for by himself last season, not to mention he ran for 5 more touchdowns than the Huskies did as a team. The Huskies' passing game wasn't very productive either, only tallying 1,966 yards as a team. Despite the Tigers using three QBs at various times throughout the season, Jarrett Lee only had 93 fewer yards passing than the Huskies did as a team. Statistics can be a good measure of how efficient a team is, and the comparisons drawn here are by far heavily in favor of LSU. However, one cannot gauge how efficient the two teams will be this season based on last year's numbers.

As mentioned earlier, there is promise for this UW squad. They've got Locker back, and along with him, junior receiver D'Andre Goodwin returns after leading the team in receiving with 60 catches and 692 yards last season. Jermaine Kearse, a sophomore WR, is back after a nice freshman campaign (20 catches, 301 yards). Reports have indicated that Kearse, not Goodwin, was Locker's number one target during the spring. Should he build off a decent freshman season and solid spring, Kearse and Goodwin could be a potent 1-2 punch in the passing game. Sophomore tight ends Kavario Middleton and Chris Izbicki were regarded as the top recruits for Washington the past two seasons (Middleton was last year's top recruit, and Izbicki was the top recruit two seasons ago).

Sarkisian has a plethora of running backs to choose from, however none of them are necessarily all-conference caliber:

Sophomore Terrance Dailey topped the team in rushing with 338 yards. Chris Polk became the first true freshman to start an opener at tailback before he was lost to season-ending shoulder surgery in his second game. Sophomores Willie Griffin and David Freeman were given chances to run the ball. Highly regarded freshman Demitrius Bronson, ineligible last season and forced to delay his enrollment, finally joined the mix in the spring and was impressive. Add to that sophomore Curtis Shaw, a speedster who missed last season for personal reasons. The trick is finding one guy to stand out. Senior Paul Homer returns at fullback. Washington has to get better running the ball, after averaging a paltry 99.3 yards per game.

(Source: http://www.athlonsports.com/college-football/16970/2009-washington-huskies-preview)

The offensive line is perhaps the most vital part of any offense. For a team that averaged only 99.3 yards rushing per game last season, and allowed 31 sacks on top of that, the urgency for some much needed improvement is clearly evident. Ryan Tolar (6'5", 321, Jr.) moves to center after having spent the last two seasons as a starting guard. Ben Ossai (6'6", 332, Sr.) started 32 games at tackle, but he has been moved over to guard. Senio Kelemete (6'4", 260, So.) moves from defensive tackle to guard; and this was perhaps the biggest move on the line during spring drills. Sarkisian's purpose for these moves is to bring more athleticism to the guard positions. Cody Habben (6'6", 316, Jr.) is at one tackle, and redshirt-freshman Drew Schaefer (6'5", 275) will take over the other tackle position. There's no denying the need for some changes up front, and Sarkisian knows how to run an offense. I'm sure Husky fans are optimistic and hopeful these changes will bring new life to an otherwise lame duck. Other notables on the offensive line are senior guard Morgan Rosborough (6'6", 382), junior center Matt Sedillo (6'3", 320), and sophomore tackle Skyler Fancher (6'5", 294).

On the defensive side of the ball, Daniel Te'o-Nesheim (6'4", 263, Sr.) will rotate between end and tackle. He led the team in sacks last season with eight, and is said to be their most consistent player on the defensive line. Darrion Jones (6'2, 245, Sr.) will be the other end, and there are high hopes that he has improved his game. The interior of the line will include Alameda Ta'amu (6'2", 348, So.) and Cameron Elisara (6'3", 289, Jr.). Aside from these four, the Huskies are relatively inexperienced and lack depth. Everrette Thompson (6'6", 255, So.) has some experience, and he should receive a good bit of playing time at defensive end. De'Shon Matthews (6'4", 260, Sr.) will be a backup DT, as will Tyrone Duncan (6'2", 278, So.). Kalani Aldrich (6'7", 240, So.) is the other backup defensive end.

Last season, opponents ran for 2,887 yards against this Husky defense, so much like the offensive line's lackluster performance, the defensive line will have to step their game up as well. Anytime a defense surrenders almost six yards a carry, there's a problem. Even teams that do not place a heavy emphasis on the passing game can open things up when they have the ability to run the ball that well. Teams averaged 240.6 yards rushing a game last season, and if there is no improvement up front this season, teams like LSU who have the capacity to run the ball effectively will have a field day with this defense.

After walking away from the program, senior OLB E.J. Savannah was welcomed back by Sarkisian. Savannah left the team because of tension between he and Willingham. Sarkisian hopes this move pays off. The 6'1", 210 lb. linebacker will be joined by MLB Donald Butler (6'1", 242, Sr.), and on the other side, Mason Foster (6'1", 229, Jr.). These three will be relied on heavily to defend against the run, especially since the front four were so ineffective in disrupting things last season. I say this because if the trend continues (the defensive line's inefficiency), these three players may be the most important ones on the field.

The most vulnerable unit of the defense is the secondary:

The secondary has been a team weakness for several seasons, and the Huskies will rely mostly on guys who have been victimized time and time again in pass coverage. They include sophomore Quinton Richardson and junior Matt Mosley at cornerbacks, and junior Nate Williams and sophomore Johri Fogerson at safeties. They have two career interceptions among them. This group could be in a state of flux throughout the season. If that’s the case, Sarkisian might be forced to turn to any combination of junior Vonzell McDowell and sophomore Marquis Persley at cornerback, and senior Tripper Johnson and junior Victor Aiyewa at safety. Johnson, by default, started several games last season after he gave up an eight-year pro baseball career in the Baltimore organization. These guys need to create turnovers in the worst way.

(Source: http://www.athlonsports.com/college-football/16970/2009-washington-huskies-preview)

Basically, the defense is going to have to step it up--way up--if the Huskies want to be even remotely close to competitive this season. I've stressed it time and time again: Yards gained on first down are crucial. If teams run the ball on this team like they did last season, the Huskies are going to have to load the box and abandon pass coverage in order to stifle the running game. That means any team with a legitimate passing threat will be able to exploit the obvious vulnerability of this secondary. The Huskies allowed only 2,534 yards passing last season and 24 TDs. But when you face a team with a run defense that was as bad as Washington's, why throw it any more than you have to?

In sum, this defense as a whole was BAD. They surrendered 463 points for the season, and allowed an average of 451.8 yards per game (240.6 rushing, 211.2 passing).

This game is one of two things: A potential "trap game" or a "tuneup game" for LSU. Washington has virtually nothing to lose and everything to gain. Significant improvements are needed on both sides of the ball, and the Huskies get a quality BCS opponent to assess their situation and see if any there is any sign of life in this football team. LSU, on the other hand, gets a BCS school with a multitude of question marks at various positions, and a chance to gauge their own question marks heading into the season against someone other than a directional school in Louisiana or even worse, another FCS school. It's a great opportunity for the Tigers to: Get some experience on the road; to see just how well the offensive line is capable of performing; to find out if there are any other players ready to make contributions in the passing game; to see if there are any freshmen capable of making contributions in various areas (most notably the receivers and defensive line); and perhaps the most anticipated thing the coaches and fans want to see is just how far along has this defense come. I'm as giddy as any Tiger fan in wanting to see how Rueben Randle and Russell Shepard will perform this season, but I'm even more anxious to see if Davenport and Downs will contribute early on in their careers at the defensive tackle position, and also, if Ainsworth and Faulk are going to see the field at all this season. I also want to see who lines up at FB for us the majority of the time. Richard Dugas has the frame of a bruiser, but then we have the possibility of Stevan Ridley playing the position. He's smaller and more than likely much quicker and elusive than Dugas, which is fine with me, so long as he can block like Hester or Quinn Johnson. I miss Johnson like you wouldn't believe. The guy didn't care if he touched the ball or not--although it was nice seeing him get some touches near the goal line last season as a reward for his hard work--he just liked to run people over. And he did it well. Dugas seems to be the better fit for the type of fullback I like seeing on the field. Going back and watching the replay of the Chick-fil-A Bowl from time to time, I love going back to one play we scored on where Quinn Johnson demolished the highly-touted Georgia Tech safety, Morgan Burnett. Other areas of interest are certainly the play of Jacob Cutrera, the transition from safety to OLB for Harry Coleman, the play of our corners, and if Chad Jones is going to kill somebody (of course, not literally), and also who will fill in at SS this season. As a former offensive lineman, I love watching the battles in the trenches, and I absolutely love ruthless competitors. Charles Scott may not be on any preseason All-American teams, much less any Heisman lists, but he's a special player with a ruthless mentality, and character that is second-to-none.