LSU football coach Les Miles just finished his time at the podium at SEC Media Days. Usually, he’s a lot more entertaining than he was today. He’s known for being press conference gold, but today he was rather vanilla. There weren’t any good jokes, and the only real unique topic of discussion was about the NFL Draft and how LSU football leads the nation in “three-and-dones.”
They lose more guys early than anyone. And although that’s definitely true, today’s session with Miles added nothing interesting to the narrative, and was essentially kind of pointless.
That said, let’s start the LSU football season preview
LSU football Good Stuff: they haven’t won a league title since 2011, and that’s considered a drought for the Bayou Bengals. So that says a whole lot about their program. They have weapons all over, on both sides of the ball. Recruiting class after recruiting class of five-star and four-star talent. The Tigers are always among the best in the nation in defensive linemen, and that’s a big reason why they’re always up there; in the both the SEC and the national discussion.
Linebackers Kwon Alexander and D.J. Welter lead a strong group that will bulwark a very intimidating defense. They return seven starters from a unit that ranked 15th in the nation last year.
The offensive line is stout, and the running back tandem of Connor Neighbors and Terrence Magee will bring home the bacon, early and often.
If they can take out the Wisconsin Badgers, in that high profile opening week contest at the home of the Houston Texans, then it’s “Tiger bait. Tiger bait” all the way to October 4th at Auburn, when things get really tough.
LSU football Bad News: they haven’t won a league title since 2011, and those who say “Geaux Tigers” are getting restless. Because that’s a long time! Baton Rouge is a drinking town, with a defensive back problem. The LSU DBs, with their tendency to give up the big play, will make the Tiger faithful want to get truly inebriated.
So pour out the Mint Julips, moonshine and Abita drafts. Since I brought up the word draft, six players left early for the NFL. And there’s major holes to be plugged all along the depth chart. Then again it shows you what kind of talent they have at Louisiana State. All that talent leaves, yet here they are a top ten team nationally.
Which ironically might make them only top five in the SEC. Because the SEC is playing a different sport than the rest of college football.
LSU football 2014 is a success if: the O figures out how to compensate for the loss of Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry. They’re also breaking in a new starting quarterback, so that’s always interesting. Whoever gets the starting nod Aug 30th versus Bucky, he’ll probably have less character issues and personal red flags than Zach Mettenberger, so that could be a step in the right direction.
I LOVE Les Miles. He’s brilliant and hilarious, and he needs to make his ’14 team a gestalt, as they have some good pieces, but there’s a ton of position switches and square pegs in round holes this year. Premature defections hit hard.
I have faith he’ll figure it out though.
LSU football 2014 is a failure if: the Tigers fail to reach the SEC Title game. The Mad Hatter is a great soundbite, and his press conferences are just as fun as his big cajones style play-calling. However, there will come a time when he’ll roll the dice just once too often in the wrong situation. Of course, I have no idea when exactly that will be, but I do know that it’s coming.
LSU football Key and Peele’s “East-West College Bowl”: OT La’el Collins, DT Christian LaCouture, CB Tre’Davious White, PK Colby Delahoussaye, WR Quantavius Leslie
LSU Football Power ranking: 11
Days until first college football Saturday: 76
Never too early preview series:
Texas State
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