EARLY BIRD 2010 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
RELEASED DECEMBER 2009
LOUISIANA STATE TIGERS
OFFENSE - 5
------RETURNING STARTERS------
DEFENSE - 4
KEY LOSSES
OFFENSE: Charles Scott-TB, Keiland Williams-TB, Brandon LaFell-WR, Chris Mitchell-WR, R.J. Jackson-WR, Trindon Holliday-RB/KR/PR, Richard Dickson-TE, Ciron Black-OT, Lyle Hitt-OG
DEFENSE: Al Woods-DT, Charles Alexander-DT, Rahim Alem-DE, Harry Coleman-SLB, Jacob Cutrera-MLB, Perry Riley-WLB, Chris Hawkins-CB, Danny McCray-SS, Chad Jones-FS (NFL)
Secondary

Patrick Peterson and Chad Jones are set to become two of the best cover men in the SEC. As has been tradition since the Saban days, the entire unit will be well stocked.

Offensive Line / Defensive Line

The running game fell apart all of the sudden in ‘09, and the sack protection has also faltered. There is work to be done in Baton Rouge with the OL. Another question, though not a concern, is how the DL will be full of new starters. This is the SEC, so don't expect too much drop off there.

WR Terrance Toliver
 
CB Patrick Peterson
 
* DEPTH CHARTS were only designed as a simplistic gauge for listing players that departed and players that received the most playing experience (consistent starters). NationalChamps.net recognizes the importance of missing personnel data not listed such as redshirts, transfers, injuries, incoming recruits, back ups and alternates. Their coverage will begin with our full 2010 Preseason Preview due out this coming spring.
LOUISIANA STATE 2010 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/
Key Players
OFFENSE
QB Jordan Jefferson-Jr Jarrett Lee-Jr
FB Thomas Parsons-So Dominique Allen-So
TB Stevan Ridley-Jr Richard Murphy-Sr / Russell Shepard-So
WR Terrance Toliver-Sr Rueben Randle-So
WR .. ..
TE Deangelo Peterson-Jr Mitch Joseph-Jr
OT .. ..
OG Josh Dworazcyk-Jr ..
C T-Bob Hebert-Jr ..
OG .. ..
OT Joseph Barksdale-Sr ..
K Josh Jasper-Jr ..
 
LOUISIANA STATE 2010 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/
Key Players
DEFENSE
DE Lazarius Levingston-Sr Chancey Aghayere-So
DT Josh Downs-So ..
DT Drake Nevis-Sr ..
DE Lavar Edwards-So ..
SLB .. ..
MLB Kelvin Sheppard-Sr ..
WLB Ryan Baker-Jr ..
CB Jai Eugene-Sr Ron Brooks-So
CB Patrick Peterson-Jr ..
SS Brandon Taylor-Jr Karnell Hatcher-Jr
FS .. ..
P Derek Helton-Sr Josh Jasper-Jr
QUICK ANALYSIS

12/8/09
LSU will go through a huge amount of player turnover compared to other Top 25 teams. Per usual, many of these departures will be playing on Sundays next fall. But this is LSU, so realize quickly that the replacements will be more than good enough to keep the Bayou Bengals competitive. Trying to pinpoint exactly what caused some of the offensive ineptitude in 2009 is key. The running game took a major step backwards, but, as is true in their other units, plenty of quality running backs are still available to right the ship. Jordan Jefferson wasn’t expected to be an All-SEC caliber QB in his first real season of being the starter, but critically, he has to improve, or at least benefit somehow from the lessons learned. The OL may be the biggest project for coaches this off-season (11th in the conference rushing and dead last in sacks allowed). As always, the defense will pull the Tigers through many of the schedule’s obstacles. The secondary is stacked with athletes. The biggest player turnover will be in the defensive front seven. Call this a reloading project, as LSU will do well here with heralded young talent ready to step in. Nine- or ten-win seasons may be looked at as a disappointment in this part of the country but still, any expectations for a better win total in 2010 might be pushing reality to some degree with all of the personnel losses. Coach Miles and his staff will be going through a very important spring. Where this team lands in the August polls will be determined by what happens during that time. The SEC West is getting competitive again. LSU fits in this race somewhere near the top. Anything less than a January bowl invite will be unacceptable.

 

LOUISIANA STATE
2010 SCHEDULE

Sep. 4 North Carolina @Atlanta, GA
Sep. 11 at Vanderbilt
Sep. 18 Mississippi State
Sep. 25 West Virginia
Oct. 2 Tennessee
Oct. 9 at Florida
Oct. 16 McNeese State
Oct. 23 at Auburn
Nov. 6 Alabama
Nov. 13 Louisiana-Monroe
Nov. 20 Mississippi
Nov. 27 at Arkansas