What are your 3 biggest worries about the 2009 Season?

1. Defensive Line- Last year we had to put in 4 DEs to get any pressure on the QB. We were known for having a ferocious line of guys 8 deep and last year that didn't happen. The DTs need to stuff the run and the DEs need to rush around and and pressure the QB.

2. Secondary- This will be Chad Jones first year as a real starter at a true safety position which excites me, but leaves me concerned because it seemed like he was only in on man coverage schemes in years past. Hawkins and Eugene did not live up to expectations and couldn't cover very well. Peterson is obviously going to be good, but that leaves the other side of the field to through to still. I still haven't seen anything exciting from Harry Coleman. He can help out on the run a bit, but he's not a big play player. We lack the true turnover creators that we used to have like Landry, Steltz, Zenon, Jackson in the secondary.

3. QB- As much as I love Jefferson for his dual-threat abilities and his performance in the Bowl game last year, he has little experience. Everyone loved Lee after he stepped up in the Auburn game last year, Rivals even declared him a savior at QB for them, and look how that turned out. My real fear is that if Jefferson struggles, the coaching staff will turn to Lee who I never want to see in a game again. I'd rather run the ball 100% of the time than give him the ball.

 

1.Defensive Line- Lost some really good players and some inexperience in there.

2.Offensive Line- Last year there was hardly that many sacks on QB's, need to get more pressure from D-line.

3.Special Teams- Against Sec opponents, not enough good returns, just needs to step it up a notch.

We need all this plus more if we intend on beating florida real bad this year:tigereye: Either way Win or Lose I still love my Tigers:geauxtige

 

1. Defense- I still do not like Chavis as the defensive coordinator for many reasons.

2. Home Day Games- LSU in primetime day games, just not right.

3. Trindon Holliday not getting the ball enough.

 

As much as I hated Lee's performance last year, and as much as his poor play hurt the team, for some strange reason I still believe he is going to help us some day. He surely learned MANY valuable and painfull lessons last year.

I am more concerned with our defense and giving up so many big plays and just not being aggressive. Chavis needs to earn his pay and instill the right attitude, and kick some ass....simple as that.

 

Not everyone has come around to our new Bulgarian Customs Inspektor yet, but i believe the politburo will finish re-educating them before the season begins.

 

1. Offensive Line, because it's a young batch.

2. Secondary

3. Why people doubt Chavis. Or don't like him?

 

Great thread for good discussion. To be a little bit of the off the beaten path guy, this thread seems very tactical and personnel oriented, and I think generally speaking the talent in the upper echelon teams (right now, IMO, that's Florida, Alabama, GA, LSU...) is there for parity sake. So, the biggest worries for me are (not necessarily in order):

1. The schedule. The ultimate "highest" success of teams in college today really seem these days to be all about the scheduling. Is it a difficult road or an easier road but with enough credibility to gain popular vote (the latter being the preferable scenario)? This year, with a "normal" year of difficulty, the Tigers would be +1 maybe +2 in wins. But, they play far more difficult teams than any other SEC team this season, so fans have to be grounded in what's achievable.

2. Identity/Leadership. Akin to LSUtiger's post, if we assume we are talented, what's missing? IMO, it's an identity and a core leadership team. If you think about it, are we going to win with our defense or offense? Who are our leaders on both sides of the ball? This goes beyond the players, but the coaches as well. How are Chavis and his new team going to jive with Les and his playcalling? :milesmic: Too many unknowns, experience missing on the field. That leads to not having the built in "instinct" there, that leads to perhaps a lack of identity, which leads to inconsistency, which may lead to a loss here or there. This one may fall more quite honestly, to the coaching staff.

3. Maturity/Attitude. Here again, I think the biggest question mark for this season is whether unproven, but talented players will accelerate their growth as players and make that next step. I certainly feel like we have talented players, who work hard--but a championship team is built on experienced players to play hard all of the time and make good plays when they have to. The delicate balance of alot of youth along both sides of the ball, with the lack of clearly defined leadership, raises the potential again, for inconsistency. Whether in those early games, younger players establish themselves in terms of maturity and attitude will be key, and then, how do those same young kids respond to the tough middle portion of the very tough schedule to respond to adversity--those are the keys to an either ok season or a great season. This is on the players, and who is going to step up?

I think personally that the defense HAS to be better, just by the virtue of new coaches with some fire in their belly. But, will it rise to the level of those great defenses that won championships? The offense actually may have to carry more of the burden this season, but there as well, what will Miles and Crowton define as their "go to" game/identity and how will younger key players (Jefferson/Lee) respond to adversity?

I think we'll be better in many facets of the game, but it's going to require firing on all cylinders, some breaks and faster than normal maturity to really have a remarkable season. :yelwink2:

 

Good post on the intangibles. If things start to click before SEC play, I don't think a BCS bowl is an unreasonable goal, if not an SEC title.

Lot of questions for '09, to be sure. But I can guarantee our SEC rivals that this is a team I would not want to play come the '10 season.