Seriously. Who gives a **** about preseason polls put out in January. We are losing a lot of seniors and we had/have very big line issues on both sides of the ball. Win the SEC and it all washes out.
ULM and McNeese should be W's I'll give you that. Here's the 2010 schedule as I see it: North Carolina (GA Dome) - LSU traditionally has been great in domes, particularly the GA Dome. However, UNC's defense is stout and LSU's offense sucks - toss up at best at Vanderbilt * - should be a W, but always seems to be closer than it should Mississippi State * - LSU has owned State recently, but Mullen seems to be closing the gap a bit but still should be an LSU win West Virginia - Devine and Sanders returning for the WVU. LSU better be able to score with the Mountaineers. Another toss up Tennessee * - Program in a big time flux, right now. However, was a field goal away from beating Bama and has a lot of good young talent. at Florida * - LSU is 0-2 the last two years vs. UF and the last two trips to the Swamp. Can't put this in the W column by any means McNeese St. - why are playing the Pokes or any FBS team for that matter at Auburn * - AU will be much improved next year and LSU never plays well on the Plains. Alabama * - defending national champs, Heisman Trophy winner returning, QB who hasn't lost a game in years, great coaching, great defense, 2-0 vs. LSU last two years. Doesn't bode well for LSU UL-Monroe - question is will the total score x 5 be more than the number of empty season in TS for this mid-Nov. game. Win this one and LSU will be the Louisiana State Champions, woohooo! Ole Miss * - LSU is 0-2 vs. the Rebs the last two years and Miles can't seem to beat Houston Nutt. at Arkansas * - The Hogs will be a very good offensive team next year now that Mallett is returning. LSU seems to struggle in Little Rock. To me there are four sure wins on this schedule and eight pick-ems. I'm sorry Red but even with Purple and Gold colored glasses I can't see a Championship run in this schedule for LSU. Too many issues offensively plus a porous defense doesn't equate to titles in my opinion. The style of offense and how it operates clashes with Chavis' bend but don't break defense, which is losing one of it's best players and playmakers in Chad Jones. I see an 8-4 type of year - give or take a win or loss. I sure hope I am wrong and everyone can tell me so in Jan. 2011.
Everybody thinks their coach has blunders and everybody tries to trash other teams coaches to make them feel bad. Don't let it get to you. With the polls, LSU was preseason #9/#11 and Penn State was preseason #5/#9. Because they both have great coaches, they lived up to the hype and finished the regular season with LSU at #13/#13 and Penn State at #9/#11.
That's about right. If we're worthy we'll move up really quick. Potentially top-5 by the time the BCS comes out.
the sched is set up for a run IF the O turns the corner. the best oppt is at home and every other top SEC oppt is in flux. UF-new everything. UT-new coach, new QB. AU-new QB. OM-new QB. WV at home and UNC in neutral dome.
And no sure losses. We have had much worse schedules. I can't see it either, LSU has issues. What I said was that the schedule is good enough for a championship-caliber SOS if LSU could win out. Whatever problems LSU has this season, an unfavorable schedule ain't one of them.
I don't know, if LSU can get the run game and offensive line issues figured out, and Jordan Jefferson gets better at extending plays, and not just depending on his first 2 looks being open, i think LSU will have a chance for a championship run next season. I am banking on this happening, and i think it will.
I'm optimistic about next season. Look how close we were to beating Bama and Fla. We were not dominated at all. Bama got the benefit of some close calls (need I mention PP's interception, yes it was an interception). At QB, we should be better than the redshirt frosh we started the last 2 years (I count JJ as a redshirt frosh last season he played so little the year before). We got the kind of play I expected from redshirt frosh at QB, glimpses of talent, and glimpses of confusion and mistakes. We will be better at QB next season due to maturity and experience. That won't turn JJ into Drew Brees, but he'll be better. I don't see a drop at receiver, with RR stepping in for LaFell, TT returning, and Shepard at slot. I don't see us slipping at RB putting in Ford for Scott. We should be better at FB, TE not so much. I can go through the D, but its similar. We lose Jones, but pick up Loston in his place, of all things, probably a small upgrade. We should get an upgrade at DE in place of Alem. We need to improve on the o-line bigtime. That may be strength and it may be coaching. Playcalling needs to improve, and if that has been limited by what the QB knew, it should improve, unless CGC is a moron, in which case it won't improve. I think a more experienced JJ gives CGC more options in playcalling and improved execution, and they straighten out the o-line and LSU improves. The schedule definitely gets harder. We'll have a thread in the summer to pick the record, I'll wait till then after I hear some reports out of the spring.
They asked five guys from their coverage staff which unranked team was their biggest oversight. Two of them answered: West Virginia (who LSU plays). David Fox's answer: Leaving West Virginia out of the top 25 wasn't necessarily an oversight; at that point, I figured either Noel Devine or Jock Sanders -- or both -- would declare for the NFL. ... Devine can be a Heisman contender if he gets the ball enough, especially behind a veteran line. The defense could be the best in the league behind seniors Chris Neild, Pat Lazear, J.T. Thomas, Brandon Hogan and Sidney Glover. Whether the Mountaineers can win the Big East depends on new QB Geno Smith. Steve Megargee's answer: West Virginia seems worthy of a top-25 ranking now that RB Noel Devine and WR Jock Sanders have announced they plan to return to school for their senior seasons. Devine could have a huge season while running behind a line that features four returning starters. WVU is counting on Geno Smith to emerge as a suitable replacement for Jarrett Brown at quarterback, but the return of Devine and Sanders should take some of the pressure off the first-year starter. I still believe Pittsburgh will enter the 2010 season as the Big East favorite, but West Virginia also merits a spot in the top 25. Rivals.com College Football - Roundtable: Looking ahead to 2010
