LSU picked as team most likely to be a bust

SI'S STEWART MANDEL'S BUST PREDICTION.




Who is going to be this year's Tennessee, a highly ranked team that falls on its face?
--Aaron, Dacula, Ga.
I don't have the cojones to sit here and predict one of the likely preseason top-three teams (as Tennessee was last year) is going to wind up going 5-6, but there is at least one highly ranked squad that has all the makings of a big-time bust. That team, I'm sorry to report, is LSU.
It's not hard to see why so many people are falling for the Bayou Bengals. They did go 11-2 last season, after all, and knock the living bejesus out of Miami in the Peach Bowl. Seemingly their entire roster is made up of former Parade All-Americans (heck, their third-string quarterback was one of the biggest-name recruits in the country two years ago).
However, the Tigers are also beset by at least three potential downfalls most pundits seem to be conveniently overlooking:
1. A quarterback controversy
Matt Flynn's Peach Bowl performance may have been the worst thing that could have happened to the Tigers, because these things almost never end well. JaMarcus Russell is a proven, clutch performer (see last year's Arizona State and Alabama wins), yet the first time he screws up, people are going to be calling for Flynn. That's a huge distraction.
2. Depleted offensive and defensive lines
Besides having a proven quarterback, experience on the two lines is, to me, the most important criteria to consider when assessing a team's preseason prospects. Do people not realize that LSU lost three all-conference O-linemen (Andrew Whitworth, Rudy Niswanger and Nate Livings) and two All-America defensive tackles (Kyle Williams and Claude Wroten)?
3. Running back is a huge question mark
Joseph Addai never got much pub, but he was a first-round draft pick, leaving the Tigers dependant on two tailbacks, Alley Broussard and Justin Vincent, who are both coming off of ACL injuries. If Broussard can return to his 2004 form, fantastic, but that's hardly a sure thing.
Of course, I myself overlooked all these things back when I ranked LSU No. 5 in my post-spring Top 25. But having had more time to think about it, I can't possibly see the Tigers losing less than three times against a schedule that includes road games at Auburn, Florida, Tennessee and Arkansas. The only question is whether there will be an all-out implosion, a la last year's Vols.
Anyway, sorry to spoil your party, Tigers fans. Here, this will cheer you up. Two words: Invisible instruments.

 

Mandell is back on the pipe. If he's overlooking the bust potential of UF this year, it's because it conveniently supports his agenda. IMHO, the Gators will be the team that busts in the SEC this season w/ 3 conference losses, minimum.

 

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

 

Number 2 is an oversight. Our OL was a complete liability all year long until the Peach Bowl. The penalties and missed assignments made life incredibly difficult for the rest of the offense. Despite the lack of experience (which isn't neccesarily true), you'd think they'd have to be at least as good as last year since they were essentially abysmal. And Pelini did a tremendous job rotating young D-linemen last year. A lot of young studs saw significant action, most notably Dorsey and Tyson Jackson. And I think Francois will eat a few guys before the season's over.

Funny how we keep getting nailed for our 'lack of experience,' but they continue blowing sunshine up USC's ass. And they have almost no experience at their skill positions. Whatever.

 

He also fails to mention how a big bowl win often makes people overconfident in a team. It happens every year, where a team has a great bowl game & people think it will carry over into the next year, but it doesn't.

I can't believe that Mandel says he expects us to lose atleast 3 games... It's one thing to say we will lose 3 games, but to say he can't see us possibly doing better than 3 losses & he expects more.. wow. He's really making a statement about it.


I think he's on to something, by the way (although I think there are better choices than us). We have a lot of makings of an overrated team, where people could look back & say, well how did we overlook that?

Runningback situation is a very, very serious concern. If Keiland Williams (or Scott) isn't absolute terrific, we likely won't have a good running game. As I said in another thread, Broussard just doesn't appear ready to be anywhere near his 04 form.

The QB controvery might be a big deal, but I don't think it will. The coaches will pick & starter and stick with him. It's not going to matter that Contained wants him on a short leash (I think it was Contained, but sometimes I get him confused with ChosnOne). Also, as long as we win it won't matter. But if things get bad, the QB controversy could make things much worse.

From an outsiders view, depleted lines are very worrisome. I'm confident in who we have stepping up to start, but the real question is depth. And there really isn't a way to know how that will turn out until the season unfolds, but it could mean very bad things for our team's production.

 

And how can we be 'overrated' if I keep seeing us picked anywhere from 10th to about 15th or so? He thinks we'll be worse than that? Ok.

 

True 'dat, Breaux :thumb:

 

Not really. RJ Jackson is lost for next year, that leaves Antonio Robinson & Trindon Holliday, neither of which are backs that could lead a strong running game in the SEC. We will likely need one (or more) of the true freshmen coming in to step up, even if Broussard is back to his old form.

 

The most likely team, as alread has been said, to be a bust in the SEC is the Gators. I still think LSU will go 10-2 and maybe play in Atlanta, depending on the result of the LSU-Auburn game.