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.

"Interceptions: True or False" & a Defensive Comparison

Statement: Jarrett Lee's interceptions were the result of being behind in so many games and having to throw a lot to get back in the game.

Response: Mostly false.

Here's the breakdown of the game situation for Jarrett Lee's interceptions last season:

Four were thrown with LSU ahead. Three of these were with double-digit leads. The fourth resulted in a game-tying TD return by Alabama.

Four were thrown with the score tied. One of these was on the very first play of the game against Georgia and was returned for a touchdown.

Eight were thrown with LSU behind. Three of these deficits were seven points or less, so there was no pass-wackiness trying to catch up. One deficit was 14 points in the first quarter, so it was still too early to go pass-wacky (indeed, the run-pass ratio after going down 21 points to Troy was only slightly tilted in favor of the pass).

That leaves four out of sixteen where LSU was in semi-catchup or definite catchup mode: down 17-0 in the first quarter and 34-14 in the fourth quarter to Florida; down 45-31 with three and a half minutes left against Georgia (without Lee's previous two INTs leading to ten UGA points, the deficit may have been only 35-31); down 21-3 in the second quarter against Ole Miss.

I don't point this out to let the defense off the hook for its poor performance last season, but to provide a little context for what was going on in the game at the time Lee was picked off. Brad has already gone through defensive personnel and what expectations might be with the new coaches on that side of the ball, so I'll just offer up this comparison:

LSU's defense and John Chavis's squad faced six common opponents last season: Florida, Auburn, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi State, and South Carolina. In four cases, Tennessee's defense allowed fewer points than LSU's.

UF: 23 vs. 44 (-21)
AUB: 7 vs. 14 (-7)
UGA: 26 vs. 38 (-12)
MSU: 3 vs. 24 (-21)
ALA: 29 vs. 21 (+8)
USC: 20 vs. 17 (+3)

The combination of the impressive numbers and rankings Tennessee's defense achieved last season and some of the promising players currently on LSU's defense leaves plenty of room for optimism on that side of the ball for 2009.

Having said that, I don't want to hear anything about how the 2009 defense is going to be night-and-day better than 2008. A lot of the players who were missing tackles and blowing assignments last season are back for more. They've been given the benefit of the doubt so far because of the red-faced rage over the co-DC experiment. Seeing as how most of the players on that side of the ball haven't proven they can get it done, I'm going to tactfully ignore any statements about how much better they are now until I see it on the field. Nobody from last year's defense gets to say they had a good year last year. Even the excitement over how well Rahim Alem got after the QB is tempered by the image of him kicking the ball after the play was over and putting Arkansas in much better position to kick a field goal.

I'm encouraged by the reports out there about a new attitude and more intensity on defense. But last year all the post-spring buzz was about how Richard Murphy was going to blow up in 2008 and who knows what else. Speculating passes the time, but let's see what happens when the Tigers roll into Athens for what should be their first test on October 3. If we're discussing problems with the defense or defensive struggles before then, it means they've had trouble with either Washington, Vandy, ULL, or Mississippi State. If that happens, the defense could end up as a redux of 2008.

55 Days and Counting

The 2008-2009 LSU athletic calendar has come to an end. Just weeks ago, the Tigers added another national championship banner to their resumé when the baseball team won its sixth national title. It was a sweet ending to a year that started off on the wrong foot. Sure, the gymnastics, golf, tennis, track & field, swimming & diving, and softball teams have all had their share of success in national competition; but when we discuss LSU athletics at www.collegefanatics.com, we mainly focus on what I call "The Big Three." Football, basketball, and baseball.

A year after winning the school's third national title in football--and second in five years--the football team fell short of expectations. Blame it on the co-defensive coordinators, Coach Miles' questionable decision making at times, or the fact that we lost some key players on both sides of the ball; either way you spin it, the outcome was not up-to-par. Rest assure, the players and coaches are well aware of it; not just the fans. And to alleviate the tension circulating throughout Tiger Nation, Les Miles went out and snagged John Chavis, arguably one of the better defensive coordinators in the country. "He's going to bring to LSU a style of coaching and an ability to relate to our players that will breed success." --Les Miles

We sure hope so. Ron Cooper, first-year secondary coach, has some amazing talent to work with. Patrick Peterson was arguably the nation's top cornerback coming out of high school, and luckily for LSU, he decided to bring his game to Baton Rouge. It wasn't until the final four games of the regular season that Peterson made his presence known. At the other cornerback position is Chris Hawkins who will be entering his final season with the program. I remain optimistic that Hawkins will blossom this season and lay his critics to rest. He had his share of great plays, but he also had his share of blown coverage assignments as well. Hopefully he'll bring a more consistent game with him this season to boost the secondary's ability to shut down opponents' passing games. Chad Jones returns for his junior season and will assume the free safety position. It's still unclear who the starting strong safety will be at this time. There were high hopes for Loston until reports of a wrist injury began to circulate. Karnell Hatcher is another one whose name is on the list. Jai Eugene hasn't really done enough to live up to the hype he had coming out of high school, but hopefully, with this revamped defensive coaching staff, he'll come around and reach his potential. According to what I've read, he has already passed Chris Hawkins on the depth chart, but nothing is ever set in stone until we see it for ourselves. Ron Brooks will be in his second season with the team, and should he live up to the expectations of Chavis and Cooper, we should have pretty good depth in the secondary.

Hopefully Chavis lives up to his promise to turn Jacob Cutrera into an all star linebacker. If he is going to be the starter, I expect to see much better production from him. He showed that he has the ability to make plays in the bowl game, but his issue is inconsistency. Perry Riley taking over as MLB would come as no surprise to me. He's got the size--a little shorter than Cutrera--but he's way more athletic than Cutrera. He works sideline to sideline very well, good lateral movement, a solid tackler, and he brings an intensity that I just do not see in Cutrera. Kelvin Sheppard and Harry Coleman are the other two outside linebackers that will see the most playing time, mainly due to their athleticism and experience. Coleman led the team in tackles last season, and I think he'll be a good addition to the linebacking unit. Playing weak side is a position that needs an athletic player that can work sideline to sideline well, and also the ability to run down the ball carrier. It's going to be interesting to see how this transition plays out. Another player everyone has their eyes on is Ryan Baker. He's a head hunter on special teams, delivering some bone-crushing blows, but is he disciplined enough to be on the field at LB? Time will only tell.

Along with Chavis, Miles brought in Brick Haley, who spent the past two seasons with the Chicago Bears. "It was very important that we hire a defensive line coach with a great background... Brick has experience in both the SEC and the NFL, which speaks to his ability to coach at the highest levels of the game." --Les Miles

Haley has only one returning starter (Charles Alexander) on the defensive line, but he's got some nice talent to work with. Al Woods will join Alexander inside, with Drake Nevis sure to get his share of playing time. Rahim Alem and Pep Levingston are the projected starters. Alem is a given. Levingston will have to battle it out with incoming freshmen Sam Montgomery and Michael Brockers. Other possible contributors that will be in their first season with the team are defensive tackles Chris Davenport, Joshua Downs, and Akiem Hicks--all highly-touted recruits. The defensive line has a big question mark, mainly because of some of the guys we lost; however, we've got a good crop of recruits coming in, so in the ensuing years, LSU should be back near the top of everyone's list when it comes to the nation's best defensive fronts.

Besides Chad Jones and Rahim Alem, I don't know if there were any other defenders that played with the tenacity we grew accustomed to seeing in years prior to 2008. Alem's motor was always running, and that's why he led the team in sacks with 8. Of course, we didn't put much pressure on the opposing QBs due to the lack of blitzing. You can't get it done with only a four-man rush for four quarters. That's not to say we didn't blitz at all, because we did, but we didn't have a guy like Glenn Dorsey up front that could take on two blockers and still break through the line and wreak havoc. Jones, in my opinion, may be the smartest player we have. Two plays that stand out to me are: 1) When he forced a fumble just short of the goal line against Alabama, and; 2) When he broke up a sure TD pass against Georgia Tech in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. I love the tenacity the two of these bring with them, and with a new coaching staff on defense, and a more aggressive mentality being instilled in this unit, I'm hopeful that we won't see repeats of the Georgia and Florida games last season.

Offensively, the Tigers have some question marks. They have a talented backfield with Charles Scott and Keiland Williams coming back; a seasoned veteran at wideout in Brandon LaFell; a tight end with big play abilities in Richard Dickson; and a pair of all-conference-caliber tackles in Joseph Barksdale and Ciron Black. So where are these question marks?

The interior of the offensive line lost BIG Herman Johnson and center Brett Helms. Lyle Hitt is back at his right guard position, but who's going to fill Johnson's shoes? The left side of the line was perhaps one of the most dominant in the conference last year (Johnson and Black). Josh Dworaczyk will be the one called upon early on in the season to fill the void of the former All-American--and I must note, the largest baby ever born in the state of Louisiana. T-Bob Hebert receives high acclaim, mainly because of his name, but after season-ending knee surgery last season, it's going to be interesting to see how he holds up. Now, going back to Lyle Hitt; I understand he's a three-year starter, and he did record 45 pancake blocks last season, but he's nowhere near the mauler I wish he would be. Hopefully in his final season, we'll see a Lyle Hitt that doesn't disappoint. Offensive line health is a big concern, mainly because the guys behind the starters have little to no experience. Incoming freshmen Carneal Ainsworth, Chris Faulk, and Stavion Lowe will hopefully live up to their four-star ratings by the time they see the field. For an offensive line to gel, it's going to take great communication--which should not be a problem, being that we have three returning starters--combined with discipline, and a mentality that no matter who lines up in front of them, they're going to be punished just for standing in the way. I have high hopes for this offensive line, even with the departure of Johnson and Helms. We'll need them to gel early, because it's nice seeing a running back rack up over 1,000 yards rushing every season. Charles Scott is hungry, and I'm sure by now, he's foaming at the mouth.

Some of the "X-factor" players I need to mention are Trindon Holliday (the fastest player in college football), Rueben Randle, and Russell Shepard. It's uncertain what role Shepard will play in this season, but the possibilities are endless. Crowton is good at getting the ball in the hands of his playmakers and getting them involved as much as possible. It's going to be very interesting to see just how big of an impact Randle and Shepard have on the offense this season. We need to find another target besides Dickson and LaFell that we can rely on to make plays. Chris Mitchell is best remembered for the touchdown catch against Auburn, but aside from that, he hasn't done anything all that impressive. The potential is there, so hopefully he'll emerge. The same can be said for Terrance Toliver. Toliver didn't catch a pass until the Mississippi State game, and his only TD was against Ole Miss. You can never have too many sure-handed targets to throw to. If Toliver and Mitchell can follow the lead of LaFell, and improve their game as drastically as he has, we could be in for a treat.

Finally, the QB debate. Jarrett Lee or Jordan Jefferson? I think the obvious answer is Jordan Jefferson. He showed tremendous poise and leadership in the bowl game, and should he build off the performance against Georgia Tech and remain consistent throughout the year, the offense should be very productive. Jefferson is a natural pocket passer, but his mobility is what I like about him. Having a mobile QB enables an offense to do so many things. It facilitates the offense's ability to stretch the field, and it opens up the playbook even more--and we all know Crowton has an eclectic blend of plays hidden in that book of his. IF we see Jarrett Lee take the field, I hope he can overcome a turbulent season filled with pick-6's and other blunders, and turn it around in the best possible way. He's got the raw talent and a stronger arm than Jefferson, but I think he relies too much on his abilities at times. Too many times I've seen him never take his eye off his primary target and force a throw into coverage. Both QBs have the intangibles to be effective, but as far as football instincts and I.Q., I give the edge to Jefferson.

Josh Jasper will assume the role of place kicker this season, and Derek Helton, a JUCO transfer from Kansas, will assume the role of punter. Special teams are often overlooked, but having a reliable kicker and a punter that can pin a team deep are helpful tools for any team at any level. I'm just ready to see Ryan Baker rip someone's head off on kickoffs.

Overall, this team is in decent shape. Think of a car that needs a jump start. Chavis will provide that on defense, and with some fresh new faces on offense, we could be in for a hell of a ride. The games against Alabama and Ole Miss are obviously the most crucial games against Western Division foes, but Miles seems to have a problem with Arkansas, and Auburn always poses a tough challenge. We've got four games before the trip to Athens to take on Georgia, and then a week later we get Florida at home. I know fans are anxious to avenge the embarrassing losses from last season, and hopefully the team will have their heads on straight for those showdowns. A week off before getting Auburn at home, then a tuneup game against Tulane before the epic clash with Alabama, followed by another in-state foe, Louisiana Tech, before finishing the season with a road trip to Oxford to face Ole Miss, and the home finale with Arkansas, which will be on a Saturday this year. Every game is winnable, but by the same token, every game can be easily lost. Parity is here to stay in college football, and this team needs to treat every game like it has national title implications. It's way too early to talk about that, so I'll lay off of it for now. The West should be the first priority of this team, and we are well capable of taking it. I don't buy into the Ole Miss hype, mainly because Houston Nutt is notorious for not following up with another good season after he had one the year before. Alabama will be the one to watch. They brought in a solid recruiting class, and if they find some consistency at QB, they should be set for a good run. There's no reason we can't compete with them, and after losing a heartbreaker in overtime last year, it's just another loss we need to avenge.