SEC West Preview – LSU Tigers

It's time to breakdown the Mad Hatter and his Bayou Bengals from Baton Rouge. Les Miles is hoping to improve upon last year's tough season, but if he isn't careful, he could find himself unemployed come season's end, if Tigers' fans have anything to say about it.

I'm not one who thinks Miles should be canned, but I'm not an LSU fan, and that's basically the only opinion that matters in college football. Last season was the first season since 2009 that Miles and his squad haven't won at least 10 games (8-5 last season and 9-4 in 2009). With that being said, let's get into our preview.

Offense

Just like almost every other team in the SEC, LSU is looking for a sure-fire answer at the quarterback position. Heck, they are still looking for an answer at quarterback for last season. Anthony Jennings got the vast majority of the snaps last year, but he wasn't ever particularly impressive. Jennings completed only 48.9% of his passes, and had an 11:7 touchdown/interception ratio. Those aren't exactly mind-blowing numbers. Could upcoming sophomore Brandon Harris challenge Jennings for the starting job this season? Or will it be one of the other six, yes six, other quarterbacks on the current roster? Surely Miles won't take eight QBs into next season, but he is Les Miles, so don't ever discount any idea.

Whoever starts at quarterback, he'll be handing the ball off to one of the best athletes and running backs in the entire country. Leonard Fournette is a man among boys out on the field, and he'll just be a sophomore. Yes, fellow SEC fans, we have to see him at least two more seasons. They have plenty more talent in the backfield (sophomore Darrell Williams and a slew of good freshmen), but all they really need is Fournette.

Out wide, they have plenty of talent, too, but receivers without a quarterback who can get them the ball aren't going to be near as productive. They bring back their top four receivers from last season (Travin Dural, Malachi Dupree, John Diarse, and Trey Quinn), but none of them recorded more than 750 receiving yards, mainly due to a lack of quarterback talent. If Miles and offensive coordinator Cam Cameron can find a way to get them the ball, this offense could be as lethal as any in the country... That's a big "if" though.

Up front, the Bayou Bengals lost two starters to graduation. Right guard Evan Washington and one of the best offensive linemen in the country in La'el Collins. We all know that Collins was rated as an early round pick in this year's NFL Draft, but unfortunately an investigation of the murder of one of his former girlfriends, of which Collins had no involvement, prevented him from getting drafted. The Tigers still return three starters from last season in Vadal Alexander (RT), Jerald Hawkins (LT), and Ethan Pocic (RG or C). As of now, it looks as if redshirt freshman William Clapp could start at center and junior Josh Boutte may get the nod at right guard.

Defense

If there is one thing that LSU prides itself on, it has to be defense. Year in and year out, LSU's best athletes are usually on the defensive side of the ball, and 2015 will be no different for the Tigers. They ranked ninth in total defense last year, but return six starters (three left for the NFL Draft and two graduated). Finding someone to fill the shoes of Danielle Hunter at defensive end may be the most important job for Miles this offseason, because we all know every team needs a top tier pass rusher. On the defensive line, they are loaded with ability to fill in, but who will it be? Juniors Lewis Neal and Tashawn Bower are the default leaders to start at the end positions, and the Tigers return both defensive tackles from last year in Davon Godchaux and Christian LaCouture.

Kwon Alexander was a big loss for the Tigers at the Will linebacker position, but with their second leading tackler from last year in Kendall Beckwith and Sam linebacker Lamar Louis coming back, they'll have plenty of leadership and experience in the middle of that defense.

The third best pass defense in the land last season was the Bayou Bengals, but they lost cornerback Jalen Collins to the NFL Draft and safety Ronald Martin to graduation. They bring back senior safety Jalen Mills, one of the best defensive backs in the country, and junior corner Tre'Davious White. Don't expect them to be one of the top pass defenses in the country again, but they definitely won't be lacking for talent.

Special Teams

Colby Delahoussaye will take the roll as place kicker again this season, with yet another year of experience under his belt. He isn't the best kicker in the world, nor does he possess the strongest leg, but he is serviceable and makes enough field goals to put some points on the board.

Jamie Keehn is the Tigers' punter for the second consecutive season, and coming off a year where he averaged just a hair under 45 yards/punt. Keehn, similar to J.K. Scott at Alabama, has the uncanny ability to flip a field, and with the defense that LSU should sport this season, he may be their best offensive weapon.

McMoney's Prediction

There's a whole lotta talent here, and we all know that talent wins football games. They travel to Starksville, Oxford, and Tuscaloosa, along with tough home games with Auburn and Texas A&M. Oh, and they get Arkansas at home, but immediately after they do battle with Alabama. It's a gauntlet, that's for sure, but with more experience at the quarterback position and another solid defense (plus Fournette carrying the rock), they should get to 8 wins.

I'll give them 8-4, and they have a shot at nine wins, depending on who they get in the bowl game.

And if they don't get to nine wins, we may see a new head coach in Baton Rouge come the 2016 season.