“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.” LSU Head Football Coach Les Miles (July 24, 2009)

The 2008 LSU Tigers looked nothing like the previous season’s National Championship team, and Les Miles expects the 2009 version to look nothing like last year’s edition.  Turnover on the defense and less turnovers from the offense could lead LSU back to the top of the SEC West in 2009.  Former Tennessee Volunteer assistant John Chavis takes over the defense, promising to bring an aggressive style of play to Baton Rouge.  Offensively the Tigers have Jordan Jefferson and Jarret Lee both coming back with one year’s experience under the belts.  More than anything, though, the Tigers are hungry.  According to Miles, “You never expect to finish second, not at LSU.  I think our team has prepared in earnest.  I think it will be seen this fall.”  For many programs and fans, a bit of regression after winning a National Championship – while not ideal – can be tolerated.  At LSU some fans were openly calling for Miles’ head after an 8-5 campaign. 

Jordan Jefferson gets the nod going into camp as the starter at quarterback.  Jarret Lee will push for playing time, but the sophomore Jefferson seemed to have earned the team’s trust after a Chick-fil-A Bowl win over Georgia Tech.  Coach Miles reports that Jefferson has had a “great summer” and will be much more confident going into his second year.

The big star on offense will be Charles Scott, the bruising running back that churned out 1,174 yards and an eye-popping 18 touchdowns last year.  At 5’ 11” and 233 lbs, Scott will leave linebackers battered and bruised each Saturday evening.  Senior Keiland Williams returns and will get first crack as Chuck the Truck’s primary backup.  Richard Murphy and Trindon Holliday can expect to see carries out of the backfield, too.

Senior Brandon LaFell returns to Baton Rouge after surprising most observers by turning down what many believed a spot in the NFL’s first or second rounds of the 2009 draft.  He reeled in almost 1,000 yards last season with 8 of his 63 catches going for touchdowns.  Chris Mitchell will try to balance the field, taking over for Demetrius Byrd.  And don’t be surprised to see freshman Russell Shephard, recruited as a quarterback, get time at wide receiver just to get him on the field.  Miles still believes “firmly that he can be a great quarterback,” but he is too athletic to leave on the sideline.  Senior tight end Richard Dickson returns as a solid if unspectacular workhorse. 

The offensive line at LSU, to no one’s surprise, should be great this season.  With tremendous depth and experience, Miles says this group should give LSU “a great chanced to be a dominant offensive line.”  Tackle Ciron Black is expected to impose his will on SEC defensive linemen this fall.  Black returned for his senior season to “go out a winner,” and his linemates can go a long way to making that dream a reality.  Josh Dworaczyk also projects to be a key factor in the offensive line’s success.

The LSU defense is the area of the team that looks to make the most improvement this year.  John Chavis has a long history of success at Tennessee, and he has brought his fiery attitude to an area that is known for embracing its fiery personalities.  Chavis hopes to bring the swagger back to the Tiger defense.  According to linebacker Jacob Cutrera, “He’s a fired up guy every practice…He’s brought a lot of intensity and the way he does things has helped out.”  Cutrera and his fellow linebackers will need to play soundly in the middle while LSU breaks in a new front line.  Gone is Tyson Jackson, and Charles Alexander returns as the only starter up front.  Drake Nevis and Rahim Alem should keep the tradition alive, though, of stellar Tiger front lines.

Chick-fil-A Bowl defensive MVP Perry Riley returns with Cutrera behind the line.  Kelvin Sheppard projects as the other starter at linebacker, hoping to replace the aggressive play of Danny Beckworth, who starts his NFL career trying to make the team in San Diego.

The LSU secondary will be led by Chad Jones, who could be one of the SEC’s best by the time the season is done.  Jai Eugene is also expected to contribute heavily along with senior Chris Hawkins.  Brandon Taylor should push for serious playing time, also.

Colt David is (finally) gone as the LSU kicker.  Josh Jasper is likely to take his place, although he has a long way to go if Jasper wants to replace David.  Derek Helton projects as the replacement for Brady Dalfrey as LSU’s punter.  The electrifying Trindon Holliday will once again return kicks, giving LSU a home run threat every time the ball is kicked deep.

OUTLOOK

The LSU schedule sets up well for a run at the SEC Western Division title.  September starts with what I think is a very dangerous trip to Washington.  The Tigers should survive the trip to Seattle, but Tiger Nation may not have fingernails left by the end of the game.  LSU returns to the comfort of Death Valley for a back-to-back home games against Vanderbilt (upset alert) and UL-Lafayette.  The month ends in Starkville and likely a 4-0 start.

October opens with a bang, traveling to Georgia then hosting Florida.  Navigating both of those weeks unbeaten seems unlikely, but a loss to either will not eliminate the Tigers form a trip to Atlanta.  A much-needed open week falls between Florida and Auburn.  Tulane visits Baton Rouge for the I-10 Battle on Halloween. 

November 7^th is circled on calendars across the Gulf Coast, as that is the weekend LSU travels to Alabama.  The winner of this game will have the inside track for the SEC West crown.  A late-season non-conference game against Louisiana Tech (upset alert #2) comes after Alabama and before a trip to Oxford and the annual game with Ole Miss.  The Tigers end the season at home with the “Battle for the Boot” against Arkansas. 

Most likely:  LSU is going to be very good this year.  Anything less than 10-2 should be considered a disappointment.  I expect LSU to drop one of the road games at Georgia, Ole Miss, or Alabama (most likely).  Beating Florida seems unlikely, but the home field advantage could push LSU over the top.

With a lucky break:  Eliminate one of the two losses from either Georgia, Florida, or Ole Miss, and LSU will be in the national title hunt.

Best Case Scenario:  It is unlikely, but LSU could run the table.  This may be a year too soon, but no one doubts the talent level at LSU.  If everyone lives up to expectations, there is not a game on the schedule LSU cannot win.

Bold Prediction:  LSU beats Ole Miss by 2 touchdowns

Final Thought:  LSU will almost certainly play in a BCS bowl or the Capitol One Bowl.  If things don’t come together this season, expect to make a national title run in 2010.