LSU Jumps to #7 in AP Poll

After a week of upsets LSU goes up two spots in the AP Poll making 4 of the top 8 teams from the SEC and the other 4, guess what? We play them in the regular season. After losing to Washington, USC dropped to #12. Washington then moved into the polls at #24. As for the SEC Flordia is #1, Alabama #3, Ole Miss #4 (biggest overranking ever..), and Georgia #22.

LSU ends the Series for Tulane, Set to Open 2010 Season Against North Carolina

LSU has ended its contract with Tulane for the home and home series. After only 4 years, LSU and Tulane officials decided to end it. This opened up LSU opening game for next season and the Tigers have scheduled to play North Carolina in Atlanta for the Chick-fil-a Kick off game. That game will be televised by ESPN.

LSU #9 in SI Power Rankings

Self- explanatory, or I am too lazy to recap :)

Alem named Defensive Player of the Week

Rahim Alem was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week for the Vanderbilt game. Alem had 7 tackles and 1 sack in the game.

LSU- Mississippi State to Kick off at 11:20am

The LSU- Mississippi State game that is taking place in Starkville on the 26th will be a morning game kicking off at 11:21 to be precise. It will be on the SEC Network which is broadcasting on Cable channel 7 (WAFB) in Baton Rouge.

Tigers Crack the Top 10 in the AP Poll

After a crazy week in college football, LSU has moved up to #9 in the AP Poll. Ohio State and Oklahoma State lost this week, opening up spots in the Top 10. Flordia remains at #1, Alabama #4, Ole Miss #5 and Georgia at #23.

Richard Murphy Could be out for the Season

Running Back Richard Murphy may be out for the season with a knee injury. He was hit mid-air during the Vanderbilt game and the extent of the injury is unknown. Murphy is a junior this year. Link to Si.com

LSU 23 Vanderbilt 9

So this wasn't a pretty game, literally or in the playing style, but it was better executed than last week. The defense really did look better, but when they miss tackles it turns into a 26 yard run. That needs to be fixed. Props to Harry Coleman for knocking the living crap out of some people. Nothing better than those bone crushing hits. One thing that really is starting to bug me, is the offensive play calling. I don't understand why they refuse to throw the ball down the field. Jefferson has a cannon and we all know it, but we sure as hell ain't seen it. Then the use of Rueben Randle is bugging me too. I see #2 go in and line up at receiver just to watch the dude block... Ummm, how about NO! He was the #1 recruit because he can catch the dang ball and make defensive backs look like deer in headlights. The defensive line looked better at times. Drake Nevis had a hell of a game. Vandy had the center and the guard on him and Nevis still made 4 tackles and 2 of them for loss. The TigerNation however did the satisfacion of seeing Russell Shepard play. He lined up in the Wild Tiger 3 times for 27 yards, and man, that guy is quick. Everyone kinda was pissed when he caught his first pass only to fumble it :(. But I'll live.

Dog House: The O-Line, They were getting dominated by Vandy, and I promise you, they will face worse

Brownie Points: Chavis, The Defensive showed serious improvement in one week. I think that they are on the right track to getting to the LSU defensive we all miss and love.

Game Ball: Keiland Williams, Vandy was able to stop Scott, but not Williams who had 10 carries for 72 yards and 2 TDs.

Annoucement of my 2009 Freshman

I know that this is late, but that just makes the annoucement better :)

Every year some of my friends and family pick an incoming freshman that we think will have a great impact at LSU. I always call them my freshman

My first freshman is a senior this year so

My Senior is running back #5 Keiland Williams
My Junior is wide receiver #80 Terrance Tolliver
My Sophmore is cornerback #7 Patrick Peterson

and this years' freshman is..... (drumroll please)

Defensive end

#99 Sam Montgomery!!

Things That I see happening this year in College Football

- The loser of the Michagan- Notre Dame game will not be ranked at the end of the season

- There will be no two-time Heisman winner

- Ohio State will give USC a better fight this year

- There will be at least one SEC team in the National Championship (I am not ruling out the prediction by Danielson as a possiblity)

- Flordia will not have a perfect season

- Everyone will have at least one loss before November except the BCS Buster(s)

- USC will finally lose the top Pac-10 spot

- Ole Miss will disappoint, again.

- Auburn and Mississippi State's new head coaches won't have a "break-out" year

- Vandy pull off a upset somewhere.

- Biggest Disappointment of the Season: Georgia

- Biggest Surprise: Oklahoma State

Special Teams Preview

I am most worried about special teams. Return game should be fine with Holliday returning kick-offs and Chad Jones returning punts (though I would like to see Randle return a few). The Tigers lost their punter last year in Brady Dalfrey who though only started one year had been on the team for five years. Then the Tigers lost the school's record holder in points scored, Colt David. Josh Jasper, who will be this years placekicker, did play a good bit last year for kick-off and some field goals. But at punter the best guy we have a is a Junior College commit in Derek Helton. He comes with a good resume, but I am not ready to put confidence in this guy. Especially since he averaged 24 yards per punt in last Saturday's game.

Grade: D, I am sorry, but I am extremely worried about this group. The lack of experience and depth for that matter is seriously frightening to me.

Real Deal: Josh Jasper, He has the makings to be one of LSU next best.

Starters: PK Josh Jasper, P Derek Helton, KR Trindon Holliday, PR Chad Jones

LSU falls to #10 in SI.com Power Rankings

Sorry, after that defensive performance, I would too...

LSU stays at #11 in the AP Poll

Jump to SI...

Quarterback Preview

So I am going to finish my previews even though the season has started. I was sick last week and trying to catch up in school is like Jarrett Lee facing the best defensive backfield aka disaster. year

So for the quarterbacks, LSU should be much better than last year. Jordan Jefferson is the starter and he should be better than the Hatch/Lee combo from last year. I have read alot of articles saying how much of a leader he has become along with how much he has improved and learned. Jarrett Lee should be a decent back-up as long he has learned to relax more in the pocket. Then you have the man that is the talk, Russell Shepard. He will no doubt make an impact on the team the question is where... He has been practicing multiple positions and seems to fit into the offensive scheme. Then the person alot of people are forgetting is Chris Garrett. He enrolled early like Shepard and has grown under Crowton. He is a pro-style quarterback that has a CANNON. To be honest, I could see him taking over the offensive in a few years more than Shepard.

Grade: B Experience, that is the only thing holding me back from making this my favorite position.

Real Deal: Chris Garrett. He is overshadowed by Shepard for now, but I am putting in a "I told you so" now...

Starter: Jordan Jefferson, duh...

Defensive Line Preview

So most people have this higher on their list, but I put too much faith in them last year and was disappointed. The defensive line has plenty of talent the real question is, whether they will be able to dominate the line of scrimage. Rahim Alem is crazy good at defensive end. He made the All-SEC team last year without starting. The other end will probably be Pep Levingston. On the inside will be Drake Nevis and Al Woods who have shown serious promise. 6-year Senior Charles Alexander is back and will be in the rotation...

Grade: C Purely off of "I'll believe it when I see it"

Real Deal: Rahim Alem, I repeat, he made the All-SEC team last year without starting.

Starters: I outlined them earlier and I know you can read

Sizing up the Five Star Freshman

Scout.com hunted down all the five stars from last year's recruiting class and gave a preview. LSU has the most out of the country with 5 so it was a slightly interesting article....

A Pretty Good LSU Preview

Normally I hate this guy Pete Fuitak for his basis to Alabama, but he must have took some common sense medicine because he wrote a pretty awesome preview...
Click the title for the jump

Offensive Line Preview

This could have been higher, but I was too indecisive about it. Though LSU had a good O-Line last year, it didn't quite do as good as I thought and I am just being stubborn now. LSU has Pre-season All-American Ciron Black back at left tackle so major plus there. Josh Dworaczyk is at left guard (I just love LSU's unpronounceable last name boys). Opposite of him at right guard is senior Lyle Hitt, aside him is right tackle Joseph Barksdale who is one of two non-returning-starters. The biggest question is center which has been disputed in the offseason. T-Bob Hebert has been put on top of most depth charts, but I have heard P. J. Lonergan as well...

Grade B- The indecision at center kind of worries me but I am probably being OCD.

Real Deal: Ciron Black, Yeah it is a obvious choice, get over it...

Starters: LT Ciron Black, LG Josh Dworaczyk, C T-Bob Hebert, RG Lyle Hitt, RT Joseph Barksdale 

LSU #9 in first Sports Illustrated Power Rankings

LSU pops up at #9. Florida at #1 of course, Ole Miss #8, Alabama #10, Georgia #15...
See a pattern here...

Linebackers Preview

This year's linebacker corps should be interesting for multiple reasons. First off, the new defensice coorinador John Chavis is known for his linebackers so him coming in will have a huge effect on this area of the defense. Second, when John Chavis came to LSU he converted the top tackler on last year's team, Harry Coleman, from safety to Sam Linebacker. At the depth chart he will back-up Kelvin Sheppard, but I am sure that he will get plenty of playing time. Sheppard plays both middle and strong side linebacker so he will be seen. Perry Riley is back at weakside and Jacob Cutrera at middle. Basically LSU returns 3 starters since Darry Beckwith was out with injuries last year, giving all the starters playing time. With Chavis taking the reins here, I see Linebackers becoming a star position at LSU.

Grade: B- LSU pretty much returns 3 starters at LB, but it will be interesting to see how these guys react to the new Chavis defense.

Real Deal: Harry Coleman, I bet alot of people didn't see this coming, but he is known as the hardest hitter on the team. The reason he had the most tackles last year is because he constant got beat on pass protection, but at linebacker, he will be able to cover that extra receiver, tight end, or running back with ease.

Starters: WLB Perry Riley, MLB Jacob Cutrera, SLB Kelvin Sheppard (this could change mid-season depending on the addjustment Coleman makes)

Defensive Backs Preview

The talent in the defensive backs is as good as ever. Chad Jones will be permanently at free safety where he played in high school. I have heard multiple things about the Strong Safety position. I have heard the hard-hitting Ron Brooks from special teams, then I have heard Brandon Taylor too. So I guess we will have to wait until Saturday and see. Corners are pretty solid. Last year's starter Chris Hawkins is back (and hopefully with better pass protection). Then last year's freshman Patrick Peterson has been named the next best defensive star. He will start at the other corner.

Grade: B The fact that there isn't a defined strong safety is the only reason for the B. There is lots of speed here and a butt load of talent.

Real Deal: Patrick Peterson, Believe the hype. He is that good, hence why the kid was my freshman...

Starters: FS Chad Jones, SS Ron Brooks (??), CB Patrick Peterson, CB Chris Hawkins

Wide Receivers/ Tight End Preview

Every year LSU has top-notch wide receivers, it's how the Tigers have the name wide receiver U. LSU returns senior Brandon LaFell who passed up the NFL Draft to return. With him is Terrance Tolliver, a junior that is wanting to have a break out season. I am quite depressed that Tim Molton is injured though :(. Of course you have true freshman Rueben Randle that will be seeing immediate playing time. Then you have seniors, RJ Jackson and Chris Mitchell who really haven't seen much playing time but will be in the rotation. I have also heard that Russel Shepard will play at wide receiver so that should be interesting...
At tight end, Richard Dickson is back, nuff said there.

Grade: B+ Since LaFell hasn't been the most consistent receiver, and he is the only one with serious playing time. But there is some serious talent in this group.

Real Deal: Rueben Randle- He was the number recruit for a reason, people...

Starters: WR: Brandon LaFell, Terrance Tolliver, Rueben Randle TE: Richard Dickson

Running Backs Preview

Starting today I will preview a position a day for the upcoming season. The positions will go in order of the strength in my opinion. (So the best position first.) I will say my projected starters, the breakout player (The Real Deal), and give a grade for the position.

To say this isn't the Tigers strongest position this year would be a sin. LSU returns one of the best backs in the nation in Charles Scott who passed up the NFL Draft for his senior year. He will be splitting time with senior Keiland Williams. Adding some diversity to the backfield is Trindon Holliday who is ummm fast (understatement of the year). You also have rising start Richard Murphy, a back with quick feet that makes you miss so bad, you look like middle school player. Fullback could be a concern since Quinn Johnson left, but with so much depth at running back, it really shouldn't be a problem. Look for freshman Dominique Allen to see some playing time and running backs Charles Scott and Steven Ridley to take some snaps there as well. James Stampley is on the depth-chart but I am not buying that just yet (don't shot me if I am wrong).

Grade: A-, If we had a true experienced fullback, the running backs would have gotten bonus points. With Charles Scott leading, this group is among the best in the country. Also Scott is considered a wild card by some people for the Heisman.

Real Deal: Steven Ridley- I saw this guy once, and I know he is going to be A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! Watch and see my friends...

Starters: RB; Charles Scott FB; Steven Ridley or James Stampley

LSU #11 in AP Preseason Poll

Can you feel it? Football season is almost here, 12 days eh? Let the upsets, disappointments, and "I told you so"s begin. The AP always starts the season with their poll. LSU is at #11. To sum up the SEC, Florida is #1, Alabama #5, Ole Miss #8, and Georgia #13.

Craig Loston Cleared to Play

LSU star recruit Craig Loston has been cleared to play by the NCAA. The safety was unable to practice with the team since a course he took online was not accepted by the Clearinghouse so he had to retake the class in a classroom. 

Happy Birthday Jordan Jefferson!

The only reason I know it's his birthday is that he is my friend on Facebook and it shows up. 

But here is an article about Jefferson rising as a leader on the offensive side of the ball. It does make me feel better since there were none of these about Hatch or Lee last year...