LSU (8-5/4-4 SEC)
15 returning starters (9 Offense/6 Defense and 48 lettermen)/4 NFL Draftees
Last Year: Offense 27.6 ppg ranked #76/Defense 17.5 ppg ranked #4
LSU have seen their SEC records regressed over the past 4 years. It has been the same
old familiar problem, a poor passing attack with incompetent QB's plays. Meanwhile
SEC West teams have gotten better. There is no more automatic wins vs Ole Miss or
Miss St or Auburn. Same problem happened last year. LSU had a great Defense, rk #4,
a powerful rushing attack, 224 ypg #25, led by freshman sensation Leonard Fournette,
but the passing attack was horrid at 163 ypg and ranked toward the bottom in the nation.
It took LSU staff more than a year and a half and they still have not figured out if they
want to go with a bad QB or settled with the worse QB.
OFFENSE
The big question mark entering 2015 remains at the quarterback position, as well as
concerns at OL as four of the seven experienced linemen are gone. LSU will again
lean on the rushing attack featuring star Leonard Fournette, who might be the best
all-around back in the nation. For the first time in a long time LSU seem to have
inadequate depth at RB position with only So. Darrel Williams having any meaningful
game experience return. The front five OL starters should be solid with Vadal Alexander,
Jerald Hawkins, and Ethan Pocic have combined a healthy 73 starts. Jr. Josh Boutte is
likely at RG and RFr. W. Clapp at Center. The rest of OL depth is GREEN. LSU
own one of the most explosive receiving corps in the country led by Jr. Travin Dural,
37 receptions for 758 yards. The other three key contributors are sophomores Malachi
Dupre, Trey Quinn, and John Diarse. These four combined to average 18.6 yards per
catch, an excellent stat. Problem is these receptions are few and far from between,
and not dependable when needed most: moving the chain. LSU converted less than
40% of their 3rd down conversions while Alabama and Auburn enjoyed north of 51%
conversion rate. These weapons are meaningless unless LSU can find a competent QB.
Both QBs, Brandon Harris and Anthony Jennings, are not SEC caliber and are fighting
an uphill battle to revitalize LSU anemic passing attack, one that failed to reach 150
passing yards in seven of eight SEC games. Any how, Bradon Harris seems to secure
the QB job. Hope here is OC Cameron can do some coaching and teaching, more like
miracle, to turn him into an average QB. If B. Harris can step forward and increase the
production at the position, LSU offense could be lethal.
DEFENSE
Kevin Steele, a former Alabama LB coach, is taking over the Defense from John Chavis
who has built LSU defenses into defensive juggernaut the last 6 years. The last thing
people remember about Kevin is the slaughter of Clemson in the hands of West
Virginia in Orange Bowl for 70 points and 589 yards. It would be a stretch to believe
he is the same caliber as Chavis. Luckily, Kevin inherits a lot talented players this year.
LSU had one of the nation’s top defenses in 2014 but lost four of their top five tacklers
from last year #4 Scoring Defense squad. The Line depth is great but lack of star power.
DL lost top 2 DE but next seven Linemen return plus four more with game experience.
DC Steele loves to use 3-4 formation and he can rely on a solid LB corp. to provide more
Pass Rush. With LBs Deion Jones and Kendell Beckwith anchoring the second level defense
and a top flight Secondary led by Sr. Jalen Mills and So. Jamal Adams, the back seven
should be great again.
(Note: Top DB J. Mills is injured recently and could miss up to six games)
PREDICTION
When was the last time LSU won games with Offense? This year won't be too much
different with an iffy OL and incompetent QB's play will likely doom the Tigers again on the
offensive side of the ball. The Defense will be great again (? with K. Steele) but won't be
dominant enough for the Tigers to be on top of SEC.
Schedule is very favorable with SEC cross division games at South Carolina and home versus
Florida, one is on the way down and one is 100% rebuilding. The non-conference tilts are
quite easy with Syracuse as the toughest opponent. Tigers are likely getting a 4-0 outside
SEC plays. But LSU will struggle in SEC and will continue their recent decline. The Tigers
are likely looking at the first SEC-losing record in seven years if they can't find a decent QB
decent QB. I would predict a 7-5 or at best 8-4 record this year with some luck.