Around the SEC: Sleeping LSU Tigers?

Quarterback Jordan Jefferson and the Tigers finished the season strong with a bowl victory, but can the team overcome a rough schedule?

By Harold McIlvain II

Could a program with two national titles in the last five years be flying under the radar?

It sure appears like it for the LSU Tigers this season. But the top ranking might not show.

After finishing with an 8-5 record and struggling with quarterback issues, the Tigers seemed to find their stride in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl with a 38-3 win over Georgia Tech.

After starting so many young quarterbacks last year, LSU head coach Les Miles said he sees the offense being quite a bit better.

LSU Football Schedule 2009: 9/5 @ Washington 9/12 Vanderbilt 9/19 Louisiana 9/26 @ Mississippi State 10/03 @ Georgia 10/10 Florida 10/17 Bye 10/24 Auburn 10/31 Tulane 11/7 @ Alabama 11/14 Louisiana Tech 11/21 @ Mississippi 11/28 Arkansas

“Offensively, certainly we’ll be better,” Miles said. “A year ago we put three freshmen quarterbacks on the field, all of which at one point in time got hurt. One currently has eight games experience as a starter, one three.”

And that experience will make a big difference for the Tigers this year.

Jefferson has a year of experience and will look to lead the offense to a better season.

“If we had to start today, I would start Jordan Jefferson,” Miles said. “But I believe our offense will function extremely well with the idea that our quarterbacks are a little bit more veteran.”

Miles did not make it known who would start if the season started on a Tuesday or a Thursday, or perhaps a week or two from now. Or yesterday. Just that day.

Senior running back Charles Scott will be the feature producer of the offensive attack after gaining 1208 yards on the ground with 18 touchdowns.

But I just hope he won’t be the producer of any other program you watch on your television.

I’m not going to lie, both have talent. If there were a football and American Idol hybrid show, I think both would be in the finals.

The team has the weapons around it to be successful, but the defense brings the Tigers to another level.

With a great core of defensive backs helping the rest of an improved defense, LSU could sneak past what most people are projecting they can’t attain – a Southeastern Conference championship.

But are they really under the radar? Houston Nutt doesn’t think so.

“I don’t want to ever look at it like that,” Nutt said. “I know LSU is going to be good. I can tell you right now when I look down at their stretch lines, they’re going to be three deep and they’re going to look beautiful. I know they can play.”‘

The only thing that might hold the team back? The schedule.

Having both Georgia (on the road) and Florida on the schedule doesn’t help the Tiger’s chances with the usual suspects of Alabama (on the road) to deal with, which could mean they fall a couple of games short.

Offensive lineman Ciron Black said the Tigers are determined to have another great season as the bowl win only did so much for the team’s overall success.

“Right now we’re really hungry,” Black said. “We ended the season on a great note with the Chick-fil-A Bowl. That wasn’t enough. We only had one game to do that and we couldn’t salvage the season with that one game.”

Players to watch:

QB – Jordan Jefferson:  The sophomore seemed to make the right progression last year and evolved into a quarterback who could lead a team. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he has a very good season.

RB – Charles Scott:  He seemingly came out of no where when the team was looking for a back to carry a run-heavy offense. He hasn’t looked back and should have another great season.

OL – Ciron Black:  The left tackle will lead one of the better offensive line units in the nation by anchoring the left side. Success starts up front and this team has the talent.

Around the SEC will be looking at each team as they prepare for the college football season. For more coverage, check out the Mississippi State, Alabama, Florida, Georgia or Ole Miss preview.