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Is this the most talented LSU football team of all time?

Posted on 7/14/16 at 9:14 am
Posted by TigerBlood17
Member since Jan 2014
1458 posts
Posted on 7/14/16 at 9:14 am
Below are the 247sports composite class rankings for the four years that make up each respective team.

2016
2016 recruiting class rank – 3
2015 recruiting class rank – 6
2014 recruiting class rank – 2
2013 recruiting class rank – 6
2016 Avg. – 4.25

2011
2011 recruiting class rank – 8
2010 recruiting class rank – 8
2009 recruiting class rank – 1
2008 recruiting class rank – 12
2011 Avg. – 7.25

2007
2007 recruiting class rank – 5
2006 recruiting class rank – 9
2005 recruiting class rank – 13
2004 recruiting class rank – 3
2007 Avg. – 7.50

2006
2006 recruiting class rank – 9
2005 recruiting class rank – 13
2004 recruiting class rank – 3
2003 recruiting class rank – 3
2006 Avg. – 7.00

2004
2004 recruiting class rank – 3
2003 recruiting class rank – 3
2002 recruiting class rank – 21
2001 recruiting class rank – 1
2004 Avg. – 7.00

2003
2003 recruiting class rank – 3
2002 recruiting class rank – 21
2001 recruiting class rank – 1
2000 recruiting class rank – 21
2016 Avg. – 11.50

Rank
1) 2016 – 4.25
2) 2004 – 7.00
3) 2006 – 7.00
4) 2011 - 7.25
5) 2007 – 7.50
6) 2003 – 11.50


I understand that this method has its flaws, but I think that it is a decent indicator of the overall talent of each team. It seems that some of our best teams had their highest recruiting class 3 years prior, which would make the players juniors on that particular team.

I think this at least brings up the question, is this the most talented LSU team of all time?
Posted by 1badboy
In space
Member since Jul 2014
8103 posts
Posted on 7/14/16 at 9:17 am to
NO !!!! 1958 Billy Cannon & the Chinese Bandits!
Posted by rduple2
Belle Chasse
Member since Oct 2009
258 posts
Posted on 7/14/16 at 9:17 am to
If it is, that would be mighty impressive considering the number of players that have played in the NFL in the last decade or so.
Posted by higgsBoson
Democratic Party
Member since Jan 2012
1408 posts
Posted on 7/14/16 at 9:18 am to
Certainly on paper there is more highly touted players from the recruiting sites than ever. It's been very obvious that recruiting has been strong.

I don't know if you can look at these raw numbers. I'd be more interested in rankings of OL and DL than raw numbers. Plus disparity between number of skill and line positions in numbers and rankings. I think having a more even spread of players at all positions and also steady numbers between years (not 5 4 star LBs one year and none another) would be more telling.
This post was edited on 7/14/16 at 9:22 am
Posted by BCS Statmaster
Member since Jan 2007
1552 posts
Posted on 7/14/16 at 9:18 am to
Greatest summer team ever
Posted by LordoftheManor
Member since Jul 2006
8371 posts
Posted on 7/14/16 at 9:19 am to
2011 was the best/most talented LSU team I've ever seen.
Posted by Penrod
Member since Jan 2011
39265 posts
Posted on 7/14/16 at 9:21 am to
Yes. The 2015 class is ranked 6th, but it probably was the best class that year in retrospect. A better way to judge is on how they are drafted. In a few years we'll be able to judge better.
Posted by Geaux23
Member since Sep 2012
5809 posts
Posted on 7/14/16 at 9:21 am to
That data shows that they are the most highly recruited, we will see about most talented
Posted by oldcharlie8
Baton Rouge
Member since Dec 2012
7806 posts
Posted on 7/14/16 at 9:28 am to
no. 2006 was
Posted by lsudat10
Lexington, KY
Member since Mar 2010
2742 posts
Posted on 7/14/16 at 9:31 am to
My god that 2008 class was so bad. If it was re-ranked, it wouldn't be in the top 40. PP7 tips it into the top 50.
Posted by dukke v
PLUTO
Member since Jul 2006
202874 posts
Posted on 7/14/16 at 10:03 am to
2007was loaded.....
Posted by saturncube21
Member since Nov 2015
7307 posts
Posted on 7/14/16 at 10:06 am to
Too bad our coach is not
Posted by lsu2006
BR
Member since Feb 2004
39980 posts
Posted on 7/14/16 at 10:06 am to
No

/thread
Posted by Powerman
Member since Jan 2004
162219 posts
Posted on 7/14/16 at 10:19 am to
It's arguably the most talented offensive skill position team of all time with recent competitors being 2006 and 2013

Posted by p0845330
Member since Aug 2013
5700 posts
Posted on 7/14/16 at 10:22 am to
I'll give my answer at the end of the season.
Posted by timm6971463
oakdale la
Member since Mar 2008
4361 posts
Posted on 7/14/16 at 10:24 am to
when you say our coach you must mean bama or auburn ,because our Coach miles is great !
Posted by victoire sécurisé
Member since Nov 2012
4894 posts
Posted on 7/14/16 at 10:37 am to
Saban's 2004 team had:

Marcus Spears
Corey Webster
Travis Daniels
Andrew Whitworth
Chevis Jackson
Claude Wroten
Craig Davis
Craig Steltz
Dwayne Bowe
Early Doucet
Glenn Dorsey
Jacob Hester
JaMarcus Russell
Joseph Addai
Kyle Williams
LaRon Landry
Matt Flynn
Melvin Oliver
Ronnie Prude
Rudy Niswanger

That's 20 NFL players, including 8 first-rounders and, by my count, ALL twenty lasted at least long enough in the NFL to garner a NFLPA pension check. Saban coached this team to a 9-3 season with a loss to Iowa in the Cap One bowl, and he was incredibly fortunate to get that (THREE missed PAT's from Oregon St.).


Time will tell if 2016 is more talented. It's off season hype time, so if every player lives to to their hype, LSU will have about 40 first-round picks over the next 4 years.
Posted by Alt26
Member since Mar 2010
28339 posts
Posted on 7/14/16 at 10:40 am to
All time is a bit much considering that recruiting rankings are a relatively new invention. That said, just pure numbers-wise you're probably right. I don't think it just a coincidence that Alabama routinely sits at the top of both the recruiting and actual rankings. Great players make great teams.

Unexpected injuries can always throw a kink into things, but as it stands today, LSU has ZERO excuses for 2016 to not be a championship year. The usual excuses thrown about: decimated by the NFL draft, inexperience (especially at the QB position) aren't present this year. At least 3/4ths of he expected starting line up is comprised of Juniors or Seniors; Virtually every key player who could have left early (except Hawkins) is back; the QB has significant starting/playing experience.

You hate to place such high expectations on any team. These guys are human after all. But I don't think it's unfair to ask as far as SEC/National Championships go "if not this year, then when?"
Posted by dukke v
PLUTO
Member since Jul 2006
202874 posts
Posted on 7/14/16 at 10:41 am to
And Marcus Randall was the fricking qb on that team. Russell and Flynn were very young. At the most important position, you had the youngest talent.
Posted by victoire sécurisé
Member since Nov 2012
4894 posts
Posted on 7/14/16 at 10:49 am to
That 2004 team lost to Jason Campbell, David Greene, and Drew Tate. Almost lost to Derek Anderson.

All turned out to be NFL QB's.
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