LSU and Les Miles look to Regain their National Image
Brad Diamond Sports
Every periodical this summer has written off the Tigers as a BCS, SEC Championship or even West Division title threat. The national literature has HC Les Miles out in Baton Rouge by season ' s end. The other day the Dodgers signed LSU 4-Star QB recruit Zack Lee from McKinney, Texas. This left the Tigers with just two legitimate starting quarterbacks in the much maligned Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee. With the national focus being a little over zealous when it comes Miles and the Tigers, 2010 could be a surprise to the alumni from this heralded Louisiana school.
COACHING
What has Les Miles done at LSU? Win baby, Win baby Win! But, the hyper-competitive SEC brings huge stress to any coaching staff that matriculates between the lines. Miles fields this season with an overall career mark of 79-36, an SEC title and a BCS Championship in 2007. For a program in the same conference as Florida and Alabama, that ' s some serious winning. However, the LSU Alumni, SEC guru ' s and the national media have focused on the game day gaffes exhibited by Miles, has rigid approach to playing time for talented frosh and his inability to find a 5-Star quarterback down south. Still, Les Miles is an honorable family man who has been dealt some real tough circumstances, including the Katrina incident, the Ryan Perriolux fiasco and the comparison to Little Nicky over at Alabama. His current coaching staff has improved with Billy Gonzales taking over the receivers, while contributing to the overall passing game design. But, it ' s difficult for any big time coach to lose valued assistants like Jimbo Fisher (Florida State) and Bo Pelini (Nebraska) in matter of two seasons and not have a fall off in communications and on the field effectiveness. LSU benefited from DC John Chavis coming over from Tennessee. His preference for speed should help a young LSU defense this season.
TEAM
With 10 returning starters and 42 letters the Tigers bring a younger set to the playing field when they line up against North Carolina September 4th down in Atlanta (ESPN). Major concern is the quarterback position where junior Jordan Jefferson takes the snaps with inconsistent Jarrett Lee as his backup. Although Jefferson has been so-so during the spring game and the early fall practices, most insiders feel he will develop with the off-season direction led by conditioning expert Wyatt Harris. His footwork and technique have improved along with that blazing 4.58 speed and 38” vertical leap. We look for more running out of the spread formation by Jefferson to cause havoc for SEC defenses. Added this season is a more mature WR Russell Shepard who is a game-breaker, most likely out of the slot position. With a deeper running game and an outstanding passing corpse the Tigers are primed to put up the points in 2010.
Defensively, LSU will show its youth, but their speed and pursuit should make up for their inexperience. All-American Patrick Peterson will be the leader of a solid secondary. The line backing group, though, just took a major hit in fall work outs with outside backer Ryan Baker going down with an injury. The defensive line will bring highly talented recruits to the playing field earlier than expected, but DC Chavis has shown great confidence in his unit. This tells me the LSU opponents will see a huge emphasis on the blitz, no matter the down and distance situations. Last season, the Tigers held opponents to 16.2 points per game and 3.5 yards per carry running the football. Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Auburn were held to an average under 13 points per game. Despite a challenging schedule, look for this unit to develop as the season progresses. The special teams could be their best in many years with Peterson and possibly Shepard running back punts and kick-offs.
SCHEDULING
The Tigers have one neutral site affair North Carolina in game #1 with a very difficult road schedule, including Vanderbilt, Florida, Auburn and Arkansas. Fortunately, LSU catches both Alabama and Ole Miss. An early encounter that could catch the Tigers distracted is the home game in September versus Mississippi State. The Bulldogs will be in major revenge for their horrible 30-26 loss last year to the Tigers.
POINT SPREAD ANGLES
The opening line in game #1 with North Carolina showed LSU -1, -1 , today at the Hilton, in Las Vegas the Tigers are a PICK. If you ' re looking at a side, shy away and try the UNDER. I have already mentioned Mississippi State, but the two other situations worth noting are Alabama and Ole Miss. LSU faces the Tide at home after a week of rest. UPSET ALERT? With an improving defense, a SU win by the Tigers would be no surprise. The 25-23 loss to the Rebels last season will be circled by LSU and, especially HC Miles. Overall, the sports-betting public should look to play on the Tigers in the second-half of their schedule.