by Christopher Paschal

4th – SEC West

Baton Rouge, LA | Tiger Stadium (102, 321) | 2017 Record: 9-4 (6-2)

Is LSU ever going to return to the top of the SEC with Ed Orgeron as the head coach? That’s the question everyone throughout the state of Louisiana asks when talking LSU football. Some may already have their answer, but I think it would be wise to hold off on that discussion for at least another year. Orgeron is experiencing the growing pains of trying to rejuvenate a program that so desperately wanted to beat Bama but couldn’t find the answers. Coach O faces a tough schedule this season, but he has the talent on the defensive side of the ball to keep them in every game they play. Look for LSU to play with a swagger even Miami can’t match in the opener. If they find a way to win that game, it could set the tone for the remainder of the season.

Offense

Quarterbacks: I wonder if deep in the LSU administration there is an unwritten (or written) agreement that LSU will never be able to pass the ball. Since 2012, LSU has ranked inside the top 50 in passing yards per game just once (2013). From 2014-2016, LSU ranked outside the top 100 in passing yards per game. It has to be the most asked question in college football: why can’t LSU pass the ball? This year, LSU will try to bring that question to an end with sophomore Myles Brennan (6-4, 195). No, Brennan has not been named the starting quarterback, but he is by far the most qualified. I understand that the quarterback battle is tight right now between Brennan and Joe Burrow, a graduate transfer from Ohio State, but LSU needs to start the kid they recruited if they want to be able to recruit quarterbacks in the future. Brennan is by far the most talented of quarterbacks meeting that requirement, and starting the least talented quarterback just because Brennan didn’t differentiate himself in camp would be the most “LSU” move of all time. Play somebody with talent and let the kid sling the football a little bit. If all else fails, grad transfer, Joe Burrow, has impressed many in Baton Rogue. Burrow may be the answer at the position, but at best is just a bandaid for a struggling LSU position group.

Myles Brennan returns for his sophomore season. Image from SEC Country.

Running Back: In my lifetime (ok, in my college-football-watching lifetime) I can’t remember a single time I felt unsure about an LSU backfield. And it won’t start in 2018. Yes, this is the first time in my young lifetime that a LSU backfield has been this under-hyped, and it’s the first time that a LSU backfield did not return at least some experience, but guess what, they recruited well. It starts and ends with senior Nick Brossette (6-0, 220) from Baton Rouge. Brossette was heavily recruited out of high school, with Texas leading a group that included Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Miami, Notre Dame, Ole Miss and Tennessee. But at the end of the day, the hometown kid decided to stick with the hometown school. Now, as a senior, Brossette is finally getting his shot to be the next Leonard Fournette or Derrius Guice. Behind him will be fellow Baton Rouge native, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, and Leonard Fournett’s younger brother, Lanard Fournette.

Nick Brossette is ready to step up as the go to guy. Image from SEC Country.

Wide Receiver: Gone are DJ Chark, Russel Gage, and pass-catching running back, Darrel Williams. In come blue chip freshmen from Louisiana, JaMarr Chase (6-1, 195) and Terrace Marshall (6-3, 200). Fast, athletic, and big for true freshman, expect them to contribute immediately. Justin Jefferson, Stephen Sullivan, and tight ends Foster Moreau and Thaddeus Moss (Randy Moss’s son) all return as well, plus Jonathan Giles (6-0, 195), who transferred to LSU from Texas Tech. Giles was a big-time playmaker at Texas Tech, receiving for over 1,000 yards in 2016. After sitting out in 2017, Giles is poised and ready for a big year receiving. LSU’s receiving corps might have actually gotten better, even with the departures of Russell Gage and DJ Chark, but the questions, as always, will be if a quarterback can get them the ball.

Stephen Sullivan returns for 2018. Image from NOLA

Offensive Line: The LSU offensive line has produced some studs over the years. Just in the last few drafts, LSU has put Trai Turner, Vadal Alexander, La’el Collins, Will Clapp, Toby Weathersby, and others in the NFL. This year, the Tigers will rely on another stud to anchor this offensive line in Saahdiq Charles (6-5, 320) at left tackle. Charles, left guard Garrett Brumfield, and right guard Ed Ingram all return. But the true question remains – who will replace Will Clapp at center? If LSU figures out that position, this offensive line will be one of the best in the SEC, but that is a huge if. Some of LSU’s passing woes could be alleviated by great pass protection.

Garrett Brumfield enters 2018 ready to make an impact on the o-line. Image from USA Today.

Defense

Defensive Line: Writing this preview has felt very LSU-like. Little-to-nothing for the quarterback position, a few Louisiana native stud running backs, talented wide receivers that probably won’t get the receptions they deserve, and yet another offensive line with at least one NFL-type monster. And that feeling of this being a very LSU-like preview will not change with my breaking down of the defensive line, because per usual, this LSU defensive front is one of the best in the country. Yes, I understand the Tigers lost Arden Key at Buck to the NFL. (I consider the Buck position – a hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker whose main mission is to rush the passer – to be closer to a defensive lineman than a linebacker.) And I understand that Christian LaCouture is also now in the NFL, after leading the Tiger defensive linemen in tackles last season. And yes, Greg Gilmore also got drafted this past April after leading LSU in sacks last season.

But does it really surprise you that the Bayou Bengals reloaded up front? Replacing former five-star prospect Arden Key at Buck is former five-star prospect K’Lavon Chaisson (6-4, 240) out of Houston. Key was phenomenal at that position (when he was healthy), and I don’t expect LSU to miss a beat with Chaisson. Chaisson finished last season as a true freshman with two sacks and 27 tackles. When you watch this guy play, you see why he will be the next LSU great on the defensive side of the ball. One characteristic that LSU defenses have is that they fly to the football. No offense, and I mean no offense, is able to beat an LSU defense to the edge. Look at Oregon in 2011. Look at Louisville in 2016. Watch any SEC game. No matter how elite the player (Lamar Jackson) and no matter how fast the offense (Chip Kelly’s Oregon teams), it does not matter when playing LSU. Chaisson fits that mold. He has the first step of Jadeveon Clowney and he has the relentless motor like a Jamal Adams. No, Chaisson is not built or capable of holding down blockers in the run game, but LSU doesn’t need him to do that. I look for Chaisson to have a monster season.

At the two defensive end positions, LSU will start massive block gobblers in Rashard Lawrence (6-3, 300), a key contributor in last season’s run defense, and in Breiden Fehoko (6-3, 298), a transfer from Texas Tech. Lawrence is a Louisiana native, and he plays like one. Mean and aggressive, Lawrence was a former five-star prospect that was considered one of the best defensive lineman in the country coming out of high school. Last season, fighting through an injury to his lower leg/ankle, Lawrence still tallied 32 tackles. Now that he is fully healthy, I look for Lawrence to add at least 15 more tackles to that total number. Opposite him is another blue chip player in Fehoko, although Fehoko is about as unlocal as possible. Originally form Hawaii, Fehoko took a pit stop in Texas before arriving in Baton Rouge. If all the reports are correct, and the tape of him doesn’t lie, this is about to be the best defensive end tandem in the SEC. Last but not least, there is the big ole nose tackle, Ed Alexander (6-3, 340) out of Hammond, Louisiana. Alexander is remarkably nimble for a man his size, recording 17 tackles and a sack in a backup role behind NFL-bound Greg Gilmore. Behind Alexander is a 380 pound redshirt freshman by the name of Tyler Shelvin. And guess what people, this defensive line only got deeper after Orgeron signed seven more top-end defensive line recruits.

LSU’s defensive line is locked and loaded. Image from Associated Press

Linebacker: At linebacker, the Tigers return an All-American in junior Devin White (6-1, 240). Yes, I know Devin White wasn’t actually named a 2017 All-American at the end of last season, which was a complete joke. White was the heartbeat of one of the nation’s best defenses last year. He finished the season with 133 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and one interceptions, and he led the SEC in tackles per game. It was argued by some pundits and radio show hosts that the reason White wasn’t named as an All-American is because of the 133 tackles he recorded, only 37 were solo. I can’t even begin with how ludicrous that is. White was penalized because he plays with a bunch of studs? White wasn’t given the honor he deserves because he plays on one of the fastest defenses in the entire country? You mean to tell me that White was not named as an All-American because while he was just as aggressive and smart and on target as his fellow linebacking compadres, White isn’t as good because his teammates are better than his competitor’s teammates? Excuse me, but that is absurd. Just because other linebackers had to do all their work by themselves doesn’t make them superior. Devin White, another Louisiana native, can run as fast as most running backs (timed at a 4.5 forty yard dash) and has great anticipation in run defense.

He will be joined by Marrero, Louisiana native Michael Divinity (6-2, 240) who was considered the top linebacking recruit in the entire country in 2016. Jacob Phillips (6-3, 235), the top rated inside linebacking recruit in the 2017 recruiting cycle, will start opposite of Devin White in the middle. This will be a very strong unit for the Tigers.

Defensive Backs: There is a reason LSU is consistently considered one of the few schools who can claim the title of Defensive Back University (DBU). That’s because they produce some legit shutdown corners and playmaking safeties. 2018 will be no different. At corner, the Tigers return their leading interceptionist (is that a word?  If it’s not, it should be) in Greedy Williams (6-2, 185). Williams, a sophomore from Shreveport, Louisiana, led the Tigers with six interceptions, and like his nickname suggests, he is greedy when it comes to trying to make plays in the secondary. Rarely, however, does Williams get burned. Opposite him will either be the lightly recruited sophomore Jontre Kirklin, who played quarterback in high school out of Lutcher, Louisiana or the heavily recruited freshman Kelvin Joseph out of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Joseph is my pick. He was one of the most highly touted defensive backs coming out of this recruiting cycle, and with his size (6-1, 200) he should be the next big-time corner. At safety, LSU has a plethora of options. Expect Eric Monroe (6-0, 200), a talented pass defender out of Houston, Ed Paris (6-1, 200), a senior returning from injury, John Battle (6-3, 200), a returning starter and senior out of Florida, and sophomores JaCoby Stevens (6-2, 215) and Grant Delpit (6-3, 200), both massive recruits now entering their sophomore seasons, to get legitimate playing time. That’s depth, speed, and experience all bundled up into one of the best secondaries in the country.

LSU or DBU? Image from SEC Country

Special Teams 

For a program that prides itself with great special teams play, LSU struggled last season kicking the ball. Graduate transfer Cole Tracy will man the place kicking duties, while the punting situation might change every game. It looks like Giles has been working out as the primary return specialist, but with the speed on this roster, any number of guys could fill this spot.

Coaching Staff

It’s starting to become put up or shut up time for the Bayou-raised, Cajun-talking head coach, which might be best for LSU. Not because I want to see Coach Ogeron go, but because that is normally when he does his best. Dave Aranda returns as defensive coordinator, and with the talent this defense has, this could be one of the best defenses in the nation. But gone is creative offensive coordinator Matt Canada, who survived just one year in Baton Rouge. Steve Ensminger takes over as the play caller for this offense that needs to desperately score points with a new quarterback and a backfield that hasn’t scored a combined touchdown in its career.

Biggest Strength: Speed – To paraphrase the movie Talladega Knights, LSU is all about hot, nasty speed, and this team has a lot of it, especially on the defensive side of the ball. There is a reason why whenever you watch LSU play defense there are no solo tackles. It’s because half a dozen Tigers get to the ball at the same time.

Biggest Weakness: Quarterback – I literally have no words for this position group. 2013 was the only year LSU had some form of a passing attack. With the wide receivers, running backs, and offensive linemen this program produces, it is a shame, and frankly, kind of peculiar that it has not produced one solid quarterback in that time.

Offensive, Defensive, and Freshman Players of the Year

 Offensive: Foster Moreau. When you have a young, inexperienced quarterback, there is nothing better than a big (6-6, 255), veteran tight end. Moreau is a great pass catcher, recording 24 receptions last season, three of which went for touchdowns. Look for Moreau to be heavily featured in this season’s passing attack.

Defensive: K’Lavon Chasisson. This was impossible to pick. But instead of going with the obvious picks like Devin White, Greedy Williams or Rashard Lawrence, I am going with the guy that wants to prove he is worthy of the hype, and even more so, prove he is just as good, if not better, than Arden Key. Chaisson doesn’t need to be a well-rounded player on the edge, he just needs to create havoc and rush the passer. I think he passes both of those requirements with flying colors.

Freshman: Kelvin Joseph. He will be named to the Freshman All-SEC team by season’s end as a legitimate Yang to the Greedy Williams Ying. I look for him to record at least two interceptions and to be surprisingly mature enough to help in run defense.

Schedule Breakdown and Projected Wins and Losses

Win – Miami (Arlington)

Win – SE. LA. State

at Auburn – Loss

Win – Louisiana Tech

Win – Ole Miss

at Florida – Loss

Win – Georgia

Win – Mississippi State

Alabama – Loss

at Arkansas – Loss

Win – Rice

Win – at Texas A&M

Final Record: 8-4 (4-4)

The Final Word

 Let’s address the two glaring predictions I made before moving forward. Yes, I have LSU beating Georgia (one of the best teams in the SEC) and then losing to Arkansas (one of the worst teams in the SEC). The reason is because of this offense. LSU is going to win five of their eight games by a razor thin margin. This defense is going to be one of the best in the country, and on the brightest stage (i.e. Miami and Georgia) it is going to suffocate even the best of teams. But following yet another heart-breaking loss to Alabama, this LSU team will not have the firepower and maturity at quarterback to win the following week in Fayetteville. I know, call me crazy, but in my heart, I think this is how it shakes down. This is one of the toughest schedules in the country, so even if LSU falls to a 6-6 record, I say keep Orgeron for the simple fact that he is building what could be the best recruiting class in the nation in 2018-19.