(Neon Tommy will be previewing the 2011 College Football Season throughout the summer. You can find links to each of our Top 25 previews here. Today, we preview the team ranked 3rd, the LSU Tigers.)

 

Head Coach:

Les Miles (90-38 overall, 62-17 in six years at LSU)

LSU’s 2010 season:

11-2 (6-2) Defeated Texas A&M 41-24 in the AT&T Cotton Bowl

Offensive Analysis:

-- Nine returning starters

-- Impact Players: QB Jordan Jefferson, WR Russell Shepard, WR Rueben Randle

The LSU Tigers return nine of eleven starters from a rather volatile 2010 offense. Senior quarterback Jordan Jefferson will look to build off of a stellar performance at the 2010 Cotton Bowl where he led LSU to a win over Texas A&M. Jefferson threw for three touchdowns and ran for one more in the 41-24 victory over the Aggies.

However, Jefferson might not be alone at the top of the depth chart this season. Once again he’ll be pushed to keep the moniker of top signal-caller in Baton Rouge. Transfer quarterback Zach Mettenberger will be his direct challenge, along with the Jarrett Lee.

Les Miles and the Tigers will have to replace running back Stevan Ridley after Ridley left the Tigers for the 2011 NFL Draft. Ridley ran for 1,147 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2010. The second leading rusher was quarterback Jefferson. The Tigers will look to replace Ridley with a potential stable of stars.

Former five-star running back Michael Ford could be the feature back replacement, but will share handoffs with fellow sophomores Spencer Ware and Alfred Blue. Ware ran for two touchdowns in LSU’s spring game while playing in the outfield for the LSU baseball team during most of spring.

Biletnikoff Award Watch List nominee Rueben Randle will lead the receiving corps after Terrance Toliver’s departure. The ultra-versatile Russell Shepard will accompany Randle. The two combined for 66 catches in 2010.

The offensive line will return four of five starters, losing only left tackle Joseph Barksdale. Sophomore Chris Faulk (6-foot-6) will look to fill the void at the vacant tackle position.

Defensive Analysis:

-- Seven returning starters

-- Impact Players: CB Morris Claiborne, CB Tyrann Mathieu, DE Kendrick Adams

The Tigers will have to replace two talented defensive tackles, a leader at middle linebacker and arguably the best player in all of college football on the defensive side of the ball in 2011 (Patrick Peterson). 

Young talent will replace DTs Drake Nevis and Lazarius Levingston. Sophomores Michael Brockers and Bennie Logan will compete for the left defensive tackle position while freshman Anthony Johnson will anchor the right side. 

Senior defensive end Kendrick Adams leads a young and talented group. Sophomores Sam Montgomery and Barkevious Mingo will also see significant playing time in 2011. Before Montgomery’s season-ending knee injury last year, the combo of Montgomery and Mingo was easily the most impressive young talent in the SEC. 

Linebackers Karnell Hatcher and Kevin Minter will compete for the vacant MLB position throughout fall camp while seniors Stefoin Francois and Ryan Baker sure up the SAM and WILL positions, respectively. 

The secondary must replace All-World CB Peterson, and should do so with playmaker Tyrann Mathieu. Mathieu won the Cotton Bowl MVP award after forcing two fumbles and sacking Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill. 

Strengths:

There’s an abundance of talent in Baton Rouge, and the 2011 LSU Tigers could mold into something extremely special. Many might see the quarterback position as a sign of weakness for Les Miles and the Tigers, but most would take a quarterback with three years of experience in the SEC than a start-less sophomore with potential. 

And Jordan Jefferson can lead this team. Look at LSU’s 24-21 win over Alabama in 2010; Jefferson threw for 141 yards on 10-13 passing. 

With Mettenberger challenging him for the top spot, Jefferson must be consistent, and must manage the talent around him. There’s nothing that overcomes great leadership, and Jefferson has the opportunity to take the reigns and lead the Tigers to the SEC title.

Areas of Concern:

An SEC West schedule along with one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the country should worry the LSU faithful. An opening matchup at Cowboys Stadium against Oregon could be a detriment or a blessing: Les Miles and the defensive staff have all offseason to prepare for one of the most dynamic offenses in the country, but they won't have a pick-up game to reestablish game situations. 

If the Tigers can win an early October matchup at West Virginia and defeat Mississippi State on the road, a matchup in Tuscaloosa against Alabama could determine the winner of the SEC West. 

Final Thoughts

It’ll be a tough and long road to the SEC Championship in Atlanta for the LSU Tigers. More than likely, they’ll have to overcome a few obstacles along the road. The Tigers have enough talent to win every game on their schedule, but they’ll also need a little luck. Could this be the year for the purple and gold of Baton Rouge?  

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