LSU Tigers

LSU Tigers
Last year was time to rebuild in Baton Rouge. Gone were so many leaders and great players on both sides of the ball. Thorough out the season the Tigers battled with uncertainty at quarterback; playing both freshman Jarrett Lee and Andrew Hatch. The defense was a strong point but not strong enough to offset the offensive miscues. Now, a year after retooling, it is time for LSU to retake their place on top of the SEC West.
OFFENSE
It wasn’t until late (too late) in the season that Les Miles inserted another freshman Jordan Jefferson into the fire at quarterback. Jefferson played the last series versus Tulane at the end of October and started the last two games—losing both. However giving Les Miles a month to prepare for a bowl game was just what this team needed. In the Chic-Fil-A Bowl Jefferson hit his first 9 attempts and shocked the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the world with a dominating performance. This season the offense should be firing on all cylinders with Jefferson at the helm, senior Charles Scott (1208 yards, 18 TD Last year), and stand out senior receiver Brandon LaFell 63 catches 929 yards, 8 tds). Although the Tigers only return 2 linemen they are the ends, which should help give Jefferson time in and out of the pocket.
DEFENSE
Always a bench mark for LSU football is the defense and even with the constant need to retool due to players lost to the NFL, LSU has tons of depth and talent at every position. The line will be anchored by 1st team SEC selection defensive end Rahim Alem. Alem had 8 sacks last year and should be even more disruptive this year. The line backing core in the Bayou should be strong as well. The strength of the defense will be the defensive backfield. Everyone returns besides the strong safety. The ability to stop the pass, which the leading west teams in conference like to do(Ole Miss and Alabama) will be key for the ultimate success of the Tigers.
SEASONAL PREDICTIONS
LSU is sleighted to have the toughest SEC schedule of all. The Tigers have to play Georgia in Athens, Alabama in Tuscaloosa, and Mississippi in Oxford, and take on Florida. Last year this team would have faltered with such a tough sleight. This year, look for things to be different. The Tigers are loaded on offense, loaded on defense, and have the most talented coach in the SEC—Les Miles. He will motivate this team to do great things this year. No, they won’t go unbeaten. But they should do well enough to tie for the West title and head to Atlanta for the SEC title game.
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