I can attest to this. See the AU vs. USC game of 2003. Offense couldn't do squat. Defense did all they could, but kept getting put in the position of defending the short field. They got very, very tired. We lost.
So what is your point.That LSU is going to have a totally inept offense.Get real with what we have raturning on that side of the ball they have the potential to be as good as they were last year,same with the defense,actually the defense might be better by years end.The key is going to be in keeping Randall healthy long enough for him to come into his own.
i think there is a lot of validity in their statement. We are totally unproven at quarterback and I don't think we can be as good on defense because last year's may have been the best defense ever. Being weaker on both sides of the ball is almost a given for most if not all of the year. Sure, its great to think we will be as good or better but its not realistic. So many things fell into place and Mauck was a big time leader. Sure we have guys like Webster and Skyler who return but a lot of experience left. Not to mention a very tough schedule with a bullseye on our back. I expect about 3 losses or so with still a chance to compete for the SECCG. CL, MH, MM and MC were 4 big time leaders we lost. With inexperience comes lapses and you take your lumps. Can we go the entire season with 2 losses? Possibly, I just think some are being a tad myopic but hey, its fun to dream.
I agree. I have to chuckle when I read the expectations for a repeat. It would be tough with the exact same team as last year, let alone the changes you mentioned and the killer road schedule. But, I will be here to try and interject some reason despite the caterwauling of those who are not happy unless we win every single game.
I am with tirk and Saban fan it will be almost impossible to duplicate last year. But I think we will have a great year with 2-3 losses max.
You are friggin nuts if you think there is going to be much of a drop off on the defensive side of the ball,if any.The addition of Claude Wroten and Mario Stevenson are going to immediately fill some big shoes,throw E.J.Kuale into the mix with youngsters LaRon Landry and Jesse Daniels and don't be surprised if Frosh.Craig Steltz sees considerable playing time 2004's D is going to be bigger and faster than 2003's.Travis Daniels is back and Kirston Pittman was improving weekly,as was Kyle Williams who came out of nowhere to win a starting position last year.As for as the O side of the ball I didn't say they were going to win 14 games or a SECCG,or a national title,I said they could be as good as 2003's O was.Expect the running game to put up as good or better numbers,if thay get any help from Randall at all.As for turning the ball over 3/4 times a half,you really aren't serious about that,are you? ldskule:
Even with the loss of Mauck, Clayton, Lavalais and Hill and looking at the schedule it is optimistically possible to envison an undefeated or a one loss regular season if: Offense 1- Randall steps up and dosen't give away a game before either Russell or Flynn is ready to step up or even if Randall eliminates the inconsistencies of his past performances. He has played great football at times and if he is capable of sustaining that over a season and showing half the leadership of Mauck we should be OK at QB. If not we can only hope that JR or MF will become the rare freshman who can take over a team. 2 - Skyler Green will be the go to guy at wide receiver. We know that Bowe is good but we need for Amp to recover from his injuries or for either Early Doucet or Xavier Carter or both to be all they can be. 3 - The O Line should be just about as good as last year even without Peterman. 4 - At least in the early part of the season and maybe all season the running game will set up the passing game. With Vincent as one of at least the top 5 running backs in college football backed up by Addai, Carey, Broussard and Edwards the run should be unstoppable if the O Line holds up their end. The offense won't be tested until game 3 against Auburn on the road. The defense should be able to keep Auburn from scoring more points than LSU so the real test for the O will come at Athens, GA on October 2nd. Defense 1 - Lavalais and Hill are tough to replace but the D Line will still be one of the best in the NCAA with Spears and Oliver. 2 - The linebacker crew won' set the football world on fire but could be at least as good as last year. 3 - LSU should have the best secondary in college football with Webster, Daniels and LaRon Landry. The Defense will get their first big test against Georgia followed a week later at Florida against Chris Leak with a year of experience. Barring letdowns and lackluster performances the only games I see as being in jeopardy are Georgia and Arkansas followed by Florida. The home team has won more often than not in the series against the Hogs but LSU should break the mold on that trend this year. Except for the 2002 collapse after Mauck got injured LSU under Saban has seemed to gell in the mid to late season and put it all together and get better with each game. The Tigers may be most vulnerable in the Georgia game but win or lose they will be so much better than the Dawgs by the time the SECCG rolls around that they will crush the Dawgs 47 - 10 for the SEC title followed by a 38 -13 win over Miami in the Orange Bowl.
