re: Why Are People Surprised LSU Is Not Getting Praise?

quote:

---

LSU lost their QB

---

As did Alabama.

quote:

---

their interior D-Line

---

Alabama lost the majority of their secondary.

quote:

---

LSU will either start a true sophomore with one game as a starter under his built or a true freshman.

---

Alabama will be starting a QB that has never played a down of college football.

quote:

---

2015 will be the year

---

The year we have to replace 4 starters on the offensive line?

quote:

---

2014 we are going to take some lumps I am afraid.

---

This fanbase makes too many excuses. LSU fans criticize ESPN and the media for picking other teams to beat us, yet we all predict "2-3" losses almost every year now.

Other teams are taking hits as well. Most of the top teams in the SEC are starting new QBs.

If LSU fans actually believe that we have some of the best talent in the conference, then it's time that our own predictions for our program are properly calibrated. Stop equating a 10 win season with a national title. They're not the same, despite the fact that many LSU fans seem to be perfectly content with 10-3 records and Chik-Fil-A bowl appearances.

Maybe it's not the media that "hates" or disrespects LSU. Maybe, just maybe, it's the actual fans - and those sentiments bleed over into the media.

I don't think the best case scenario is that our DTs are as good as last year. They could be better for sure. Ego and Freak were all potentiol but they definitely weren't amazing. Especially freak.

quote:

---

LSU has never needed a great QB to win, we have done it for ages and our Defensive Backfield and LBs should be very very good this year. Not to mention we return a ton at O line.

---

Exactly.

The defense will be better now with experience behind them and even more incredible talent.. and the offensive line should be even more dominating this year with the new coach and lead by La'el.

Also the schedule HIGHLY favors LSU.

quote:

---

Alabama will be starting a QB that has never played a down of college football.

---

He's had backup time at FSU even if it was limited

quote:

---

We scored 28 unanswered in the 4th quarter.

---

Is this not a good thing?

I think the team flying under the radar this year is Florida. I think they are going to be much improved and give us fits this year. QB is a huge question mark for us

quote:

---

LSU lost their QB, their interior D-Line, the best two receivers on the team, the best running back on the team, a starting safety, etc.

---

quote:

---

And Les Miles is still the coach.

---

And he will to do one of his best coaching jobs this year for LSU to win 10-11 games.

quote:

---

LSU lost their QB, their interior D-Line, the best two receivers on the team, the best running back on the team, a starting safety, etc.

---

How useful were our QBs in 2010, 2011, and 2012? In 2011, all we did was run nearly 70% of the time and toss play action pass TDs. Losing the interior DL is like addition by subtraction. Do you remember how much better the offensive line looked after we lost some guys during the season in 2012? I remember making a thread about it before true freshman Hill ran for three straight consecutive 100 yard games against top ranked SEC opponents. We just replaced Hill with the best RB recruit in the last decade. The #1 player in the nation. We have a shite load of safeties. I mean i loved Loston, but was he really THAT big of a loss?

quote:

---

LSU will either start a true sophomore with one game as a starter under his built or a true freshman.

---

Did that matter to Manziel, or Winston, or Hackenburg, or Murray or Brett Hundley or Marcus Mariota, or etc, etc, etc. Honestly, Harris has had possibly more high level tutoring than just about any redshirt freshman QB, let alone true freshman. Jennings is a redshirt QB who I believe is much better than he has shown us in the spring game and Iowa game. I see it every year, a young QB coming into his own through trial and error on the field and producing big. I think it's finally our turn.

quote:

---

LSUs strong suit for years has been the interior defensive line. Even the best case scenario this year is that we may be as good as last year at the position...a down year by any measure.

---

The worst case scenario is we play just as good as last year, best case is that we are our regular selves. It's also not just the DTs. We have better run blockers at DE, a bevy of fast experienced LBs who fly to the ball, and a secondary that can come in and lay a lick if needed. We lacked the experience last year and this year we have it with loads of talent to back it up.

quote:

---

While I don't expect LSU to lose more than 4 games, there is a great chance that they lose that many if we are honest.

---

There is a chance, it's not great, but that possibility is there.

quote:

---

2015 will be the year...2014 we are going to take some lumps I am afraid.

---

I agree, just like 2010. We'll finish this year out with 10-11 wins and then be playoff bound in 2015.

quote:

---

The question I have is how is 2015 going to be our year when we will probably lose at least 3 or 4 OL?

---

The top rated JUCO OT comes in this year and will back up Hawkins at RT. Boutte will back up Collins, Pocic will back up Porter. Hopefully Miles and Grimes works them into the gameplan a good deal this year. If that happens and provided we don't have guys jump ship after only 3 years at LSU (I know they do it at other positions, but outside of Turner last year, it's very rare), we should be pretty experienced.

I'd say Alexander stays at LG, Hawkins moves to LT, Demond (JUCO) goes to RT, Pocic stays center, and Brumfield or somebody at RG. I'd be comfortable with that.