With the College Football season upon us, many eyes are on the SEC, and for good reason. Georgia is ranked number one in the pre-season polls, Florida has the reining Heisman Trophy winner, Auburn has their usual stout defense and a new offense, Alabama is looking to return to the spotlight, and Tennessee is, well, Tennessee, and represented the East in the SEC Championship game.
Lost in the spotlight of the ultra competitive SEC is the defending national champion, LSU. The Tigers got rid of Ryan Perilloux, and all of a sudden there is no more talk of LSU winning the conference.
With Perilloux, LSU was definitely in the mix to repeat as National Champions. There is no denying that he would be one of the best quarterbacks in the nation guiding one of the best teams. We can only dream of what it would have been like with him at the helm.
What we fail to realize is that LSU was never just about their former troubled quarterback. They are loaded where it counts the most. Harvard transfer Andrew Hatch talent wise is a step down, but they don’t need him to be Perilloux. They need him to manage the game and just make a few plays.
Two seniors and two juniors return to anchor a massive offensive line that will make it easy for Charles Scott and Keiland Williams to run behind. Right guard Lyle Hitt is the only starter listed under 300 pounds. They are not just big, but they are experienced, physical and good. Most games the trenches is where the game is won, and I believe they have the best offensive line in the SEC. That gives them a good chance against anyone.
On the other side of the ball, LSU continues its tradition of excellence on the defensive line. Kirston Pittman and Tyson Jackson are senior defensive ends that will get after the quarterback, and Ricky Jean Francois and Charles Alexander anchor the middle of a very solid defensive line. Even without Glenn Dorsey they are still very capable of dominating games.
They will make things a lot easier for their linebackers and defensive backs. If you can dominate the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, you can win consistently, and LSU is definitely able to do that.
The schedule is not easy, but I think it sets up well for them. They are at Auburn on 9/20 and three weeks later they are at Florida. Georgia and Alabama are home games for the Tigers. Their last game of the season is at Arkansas and that could very well be a trap game. That loss to the Razorbacks last season almost kept them out of the championship game.
A win versus Auburn sets them up for another appearance in the SEC Championship game. There is no telling what will happen in the SEC this year, but it would be a crime to think that LSU will not be in the mix.
Appalachian State is up first. Let the fun begin!