Like Tirk I'm bored. So let's look at 2016. Before I get into the schedule the first thing that needs to be discussed is recruiting and who we lose from this year's team. On Defense we lose for sure Mills, Jones, and Louis. On Offense we for sure lose Vadal Alexander, obviously lose Diarse as well. Keehn is also gone. Impact Juniors that may leave early: Kendall Beckwith, Tre White, Ethan Pocic, Jerald Hawkins, Travin Dural. I think it's safe to say the most important piece is Kendall Beckwith. Everyone else there is replaceable for next season you could argue White isn't but I think with Jackson's emergence and Tolliver with a year under his belt, the kids coming in and Paris and Thomas, you should be fine at corner. LSU needs to sign 5 linebackers in this class at least even if Beckwith stays. The defensive line should be a lot better next year Gilmore and Herron are juniors, you should bring in some young talent and Godchaux should have a monster Junior season. On the ends, Bower, and Neal bring experience and Key will be a lot better, you also have Deondre Clark and Sione Teuhema to rotate. I'd seriously think about moving Teuhema and Clark to linebacker. Especially if Beckwith leaves, Clark could be moved to middle linebacker, he runs a 4.6 where Beckwith runs a 4.73 in the 40, at 6 foot 4 253, Clark may be ideal to fill that role if vacated. Obviously it's more than just 40 time, you're the coach on the field, but I would rather him than Duke Riley. Here is the schedule: Wisconsin @ Lambeau Jacksonville State Mississippi State @ Auburn Missouri (first time since they joined the SEC) @Florida Southern Miss Ole Miss BYE Alabama Arkansas South Alabama @A&M 5 games on this schedule I would say no chance LSU loses. LSU pretty much owns A&M and they are in deep shit right now, so that's probably 6 definite wins. Florida is a coin toss, they will lose some key defenders and they have a quarterback issue. I don't think Franks will be some stud in week 6 of his true freshman season. Les has never lost the first game of the season while at LSU and I think Wisconsin loses some key players as well, and maybe we will have their DC. I hope LSU doesn't get lost in the awe of that field. That's gonna be one hell of an experience for those kids, especially the ones who won't go on to play on Sunday. Ole Miss loses some skill at receiver and on defense, LSU should win that game, Arkansas loses some key players as well, LSU should win that one too. Alabama loses a ton. Especially if some of those juniors declare. LSU has a shot at beating them if Les can get out of his own way. Auburn will be better but they still have a quarterback issue. So here it is folks, and it's the same thing we have been saying for so long. IF LSU can get consistency (good consistentcy, not consistently bad) from the quarterback position, winning the SEC West is attainable. At this point though I just don't think Les is a good enough game day coach for me to say that LSU will beat Alabama next year. Can they? Of course, but I'm not sure they will. If Fournette doesn't win the Heisman next year and LSU doesn't win the West, Les needs to go, because there isn't a team in West that will have more experience and talent than LSU. Alabama will have some future studs, but the experience is what I feel will make LSU the favorite to win the West if Les can get out of the way. Am I crazy for saying that?
All of this is perfectly valid... if your name isnt Les Miles. Let's see how dust settles on draft, recruiting and DC.
So much will be riding on what kind of production we get at QB and if Beckwith decides to come back. Its possible that the light could come on for Harris or Etling could emerge in the spring and stabilize the position. But I don't see anyone who is remotely ready to play MLB for us if Beckwith goes pro.
Wisconsin @ Lambeau Win Jacksonville State Win Mississippi State Win @ Auburn Win Missouri (first time since they joined the SEC) Win @Florida Loss Southern Miss Win Ole Miss Loss BYE Alabama Loss Arkansas Win South Alabama Win @A&M Win 9-3
Wisconsin @ Lambeau at least we stole their dc. still a loss. Jacksonville State Win Mississippi State loss @ Auburn loss Missouri (first time since they joined the SEC) loss @Florida Loss Southern Miss loss Ole Miss Loss BYE Alabama Loss Arkansas loss South Alabama Win @A&M loss this schedule worries me. looks like 2-10 if we beat USA. otherwise 1-11. thats gonna be bad.
