SEC Early Look: Miles and LSU must step it up this season

story by Chris Rushing, College Sports Matchups (CSM is a content partner with The City Wire)

When Nick Saban arrived in Baton Rouge in late 1999, he took over a program that had all the tools to be amongst the nation’s elite yet had failed to live up to that measure for one reason or another. In year two, the Tigers won the Southeastern Conference championship and two years later were crowned football’s national champion.

Les Miles took over two years later and immediately delivered a SEC West Division title. Despite being heavily favored in the championship game, the Tigers were run out of the stadium by Georgia. In 2007, with a roster littered with first-day National Football League draft picks, the Tigers became modern-day college football’s first two-loss national champion.

Finally, Miles had his championship and his own time in the sun outside Saban’s shadow. That time in the sun did not last long, however, with Saban winning games in bunches and another national title in Tuscaloosa at the helm of the University of Alabama program.

Now, the likeable Miles has to answer questions on clock mismanagement issues and other eccentricities that have occurred over the span of the last two years (8-5 in 2008, 9-4 in 2009). Is there enough good will left in that 33-6 start to his LSU career to overlook another four- or five-loss campaign in 2010?

Have no doubt about it — this roster and two-deep is filled with Miles’ recruits. All indications are that the players love playing for him and his staff, and it’s hard to ignore any run that can garner you 11 wins for three-straight seasons in the always-tough SEC. However, Miles’ record isn’t mired by the 50 wins in five years — it’s the 15 losses during that time span.

THE OFFENSE
Once again charged with leading Gary Crowton’s offense is Jordan Jefferson with frequently-used Jarrett Lee ready in the backup role. Jefferson is different as night and day when playing at home as opposed to on the road. His inconsistency is one of the main reasons for the four losses last season. His stats aren’t bad (61.6% completion percentage, 2,166 yards, 17 touchdowns), but the ill-advised timeouts and head-scratching decisions with his arm have left much to be desired in the Tiger fan base.

It is hard to imagine LSU not having a big-time name returning at the running back position after the tailbacks that have gone through the program since 2000. Michael Ford appears to be the next in that line with Stevan Ridley and Richard Murphy to pick up the slack if Ford isn’t ready as a true freshman.

Receiver is once again a position of strength for Crowton and the LSU offense. Terrance Tolliver returns for his senior season and will be the first option no matter who is calling the shots at quarterback. For whatever reason, Tolliver only had one touchdown grab in the final 11 games last year (vs. Auburn). That is a stat that needs to be amended in 2010.

Russell Shepard and DeAngelo Petterson are two more big-play threats at the receiver positions, and sophomore Reuben Randle is poised to break out as the best complement to Tolliver in a role voided by the departure of Brandon LaFell.

Two new starters on the right side of the offensive line could spell trouble for Jefferson and the Bayou Bengal rushing attack, but this is a position LSU has continued to recruit well throughout the years. Joseph Barksdale will move from right tackle to left tackle to replace long-time starter and NFL draft pick Ciron Black. Josh Dworacyzk joins Barksdale on the blind side at the guard position.

THE DEFENSE
The defense will be led by Kelvin Sheppard (LB) and Patrick Peterson (CB). Both are first-team All-SEC type players and have all the potential in the world to be first-round NFL picks also. Sheppard led the team with 110 tackles in 2009 and is the only starter returning in the linebacker corps.

Morris Claiborne will start opposite Peterson and should be a name called often by announcers with most quarterbacks looking to avoid Peterson at all costs. Jai Eugene and Brandon Taylor are the projected starters at the safety positions. Both bring all-world talent, but little experience to those spots.

The defensive line is undergoing a transformation from years past with no huge bodies to line up across the trenches from mammoth offensive tackles and guards that litter most SEC rosters. Only one projected starter measures at over 270 pounds (Drake Nevis), but John Chavis and the rest of the defensive staff hope that the speed employed by the smaller, more agile bodies at the ends and noseguard spots pay off.

SPECIAL TEAMS
Josh Jasper is another very experienced kicker in the SEC, and the senior has delivered consistently for Miles and Co. Over the span of the last six games in 2009, he failed to miss any attempts.

Derek Helton returns as the go-to guy on fourth and long at the punter spot. Helton averaged 40 yards per kick and 25 fair catches a year ago.

LSU faces two Bowl Championship Series opponents in non-conference play in North Carolina and West Virginia. On top of a brutal SEC slate that features road tilts at Arkansas, Auburn and Florida, Miles faces perhaps his biggest challenge at LSU despite not having as many national expectations levied on the program as there were in 2005, 2007 and 2008.

The talent is there, but will the coaching and Jefferson improve enough to get the Tigers back to Atlanta in December? (And I don’t mean the Chick-Fil-A Bowl.)

• QUICK LOOK — LSU Tigers, 2010
Starters Returning: Offense — 6, Defense — 4
Key to the Team: Patrick Peterson, CB
Most likely to breakout: Reuben Randle, WR
Most important game: vs. Alabama, Nov. 6