The LSU Tigers have one of the weirdest coaches in all of football and somehow they win ballgames. This year they are even being discussed as National Title contenders.
If they are going to do well Jordan Jefferson becomes the second coming of Willie Beamon (Any Given Sunday) and finally takes firm control of the offense. If the Tigers can forget all-world CB Patrick Patterson and not miss a beat in the secondary, they will be a handful on both sides of the ball. As good as their secondary is, that will not be too tough.
They will falter if Les Miles begins to play QB du jour and cannot improve on their offensive rankings (12th in passing/11th overall in the SEC). The defense will not be able to bail them out every week.
The schedule could be the biggest hurdle for this team. It won’t be an easy one, especially because the Tigers play in the best division, not only in their own conference, but in all of college football. However, I tip my hat they are not scheduling a cupcake for the opener as they meet Oregon in Arlington. We’ll get an idea of what the Tigers have under the hood after seeing that one. They won’t have to worry too much until November when they go to Tuscaloosa for a winner take all battle for the Western Division with Alabama. In between, LSU should be favored in each game, as Mississippi State and Tennessee host the Tigers, and Florida comes calling. A date with Arkansas to end the year could be sticky.
They are a team that is off a season that had11 wins highlighted by a victory over Alabama, and a season ending demolition of Texas A&M gave the Tigers a huge burst of momentum heading into 2011. It could not have come at a better time as the opener against Oregon could be the catalyst for a dream season if the Tigers can get a win.
This team is loaded with potential and has every chance in the world to play for a national championship, but a tough schedule and an unpredictable coach, may make that a difficult task.