| Les Miles is 51-15 with a national title under his belt | | | | is Terrance Toliver, who caught 53 passes for |
| in five seasons at LSU, but the school is far from | | | | 735 yards and three scored in 2009. Inside runner, |
| satisfied. LSU is not at all happy about playing | | | | Stevan Ridley, and the speedy Michael Ford figure |
| second fiddle to Alabama in the SEC West, | | | | to get most of the carries. |
| especially since former LSU coach Nick Saban is | | | | Defense: It's safe to say LSU wouldn't have won |
| the reason for Bama's re-emergence. Since | | | | a lot of games last season if it wasn't for the |
| winning a national title in the 2007 season, LSU | | | | defense. The Tigers boasted the 11th-best scoring |
| has had no answer for Alabama, Florida or Ole | | | | defense in the country in 2009, only giving up 16.2 |
| Miss. In fact, the Tigers are 0-6 against these | | | | points per contest. While LSU does lose seven |
| three schools the last two years. With Auburn | | | | starters, it isn't expected to take a step back. |
| and Arkansas also on the rise, 2010 is a critical | | | | Middle linebacker Kevin Sheppard and cornerback |
| season for Miles to show the school that he's | | | | Patrick Peterson lead the defense. Sheppard |
| capable of getting back to the top of the | | | | returns for his senior season after leading LSU |
| mountain. | | | | with 110 tackles. Peterson is a shutdown corner |
| Offense: LSU's offense was atrocious in 2009. | | | | who will be playing on Sunday's soon enough. |
| The Tigers ranked dead last in the SEC, and 112th | | | | LSU's defense could have been even better a |
| nationally, in total offense, averaging just 304.5 | | | | season ago if it had been able to get more heat |
| yards per game. In case you don't know, there | | | | on opposing quarterbacks. In fact, the Tigers only |
| are only 120 FBS teams in the country. From a | | | | tallied 21 sacks last season. Defensive coordinator |
| scoring standpoint, the Tigers ranked No. 10 in the | | | | John Chavis expects to do much better in the |
| SEC, averaging just 24.9 points per game. Every | | | | pass rush department with the additions of Sam |
| good offense starts with a good offensive line, | | | | Montgomery, Barkevious Mingo and Ken Adams |
| and that was something the Tigers did not have | | | | up front. |
| in 2009. LSU ranked No. 11 in the league in rushing | | | | Prediction: 4th SEC West - The Tigers are a year |
| offense, averaging 122.8 rushing yards per game, | | | | away from having the level of talent and |
| and No. 9 in passing offense, averaging 181.8 | | | | experience to challenge for a league title and |
| passing yards per game. This unit also allowed 34 | | | | more. Still, it would be nice to build some |
| quarterback sacks. With three starters returning | | | | momentum with a strong campaign in 2010. But |
| up front there is reason to believe the line will be | | | | that might be difficult to do with a challenging |
| better, but I don't think it will be like night and day. | | | | schedule, and with the way Auburn and Arkansas |
| Quarterback Jordan Jefferson is coming off a solid | | | | have gotten back on the map. Check out my |
| season, throwing for 2,166 yards and 17 scores | | | | 2010 SEC football predictions to see how I have |
| with only seven picks. I can only imagine what he | | | | the rest of the league stacking up. |
| could do with a little more time. His primary target | | | | |
