Big Easy dreams for No. 4 Tigers

The last two times the BCS National Championship Game was held in New Orleans, LSU stormed into the city and walked away champions.

The big game this year is again in The Big Easy.

The Tigers have big hopes for a three-peat.

With a mix of senior leadership and five-star talent stocked across their depth chart, No. 4 LSU appears primed and ready to try and make 2011-12 another special year in Baton Rouge.

“We have high expectations for ourselves in going for a national championship,” senior quarterback Jordan Jefferson said. “That’s where this team’s mindset is and we aren’t striving for anything less. … We will only settle for a national championship.”

Whether or not Jefferson is able to have a hand in the team’s season is unknown.

Baton Rouge authorities issued a warrant for the quarterback’s arrest Friday on charges of second-degree battery. Those charges stem from the quarterback’s alleged role in a Baton Rouge bar fight in which one man suffered fractured vertebrae.

With a warrant issued, Miles announced Jefferson would be suspended indefinitely to start the season.

Jefferson and teammate Josh Johns turned themselves into police and posted a $5,000 bond just more than an hour later.

“As sad as this incident is, it’s important that we learn from this and that we take away a valuable lesson,” Miles said. “This has weighed on all of us. It’s time for us to come together as a team and focus on what we are here to do.”

With Jefferson unavailable to play early in the season, senior Jarrett Lee will become the team’s starter and sophomore transfer Zach Mettenberger will shift to second team quarterback.

Lee completed 54-of-89 passes for 573 yards, two touchdowns and one interception last year. The fifth-year senior was also a vital part of LSU’s comeback wins against both Tennessee and Florida, leading the Tigers on an 80-yard drive against the Vols and tossing a touchdown strike against the Gators with less than a minute to play.

But most Tiger fans remember Lee for his freshman failures in which he threw multiple interceptions that were returned for touchdowns.

LSU offensive coordinator Greg Studrawa believes his new starter is far removed from his early failures.

“Jarrett Lee is throwing the ball really well and as good as he’s ever thrown the ball,” Studrawa said.

Away from the controversy, LSU’s offense is loaded with talent.

Sophomores Michael Ford, Spencer Ware and Alfred Blue make up a three-headed halfback monster in the Tigers’ backfield.

Ford provides the speed in the group, Blue brings the power and Ware is a blend of both styles.

“One is big, some are lighter and some can catch the ball out of the backfield. We want to take advantage of their abilities the best we can,” Studrawa said. “We are going to mix and match these guys and try to use their abilities all at the same time.”

On the edges, Rueben Randle returns at receiver.

A five-star prospect out of high school, Studrawa believes Randle becoming the next great LSU wide-out is a must if the Tigers will field a great offense.

The coach added he’s seen strides from Randle in his push to become a team leader.

“He wants to play confidently and when he starts making plays, that leadership ability will enhance not only within him, but in the eyes of the team,” Studrawa said. “I think right now he is progressing very well.”

Defensively, LSU lost several big names like linebacker Kelvin Sheppard, cornerback Patrick Peterson and defensive tackle Drake Nevis to the NFL.

But very few in Baton Rouge are worried about that side of the football’s success.

The Tigers return a slew of playmakers who figure to have an impact in third-year defensive coordinator John Chavis’ scheme.

“The thing they say is tradition never graduates, and that’s so true,” Chavis said. “Tradition never graduates. We have players that go on to the NFL and I’ll be shocked if those guys I’m talking about aren’t on an NFL roster and probably starting at the same time. … It’s time for some different guys to step forward.”

On the defensive line, LSU returns a stable of both speed and power ends like Ken Adams, Barkevious Mingo, Sam Montgomery, Lavar Edwards and Chancey Aghayere.

On the inside of the line, Josh Downs and Michael Brockers will be back. They’ll receive help from true freshman Anthony Johnson, whom Chavis believes will be a star.

Weighing more than 300 pounds, Johnson earned the nickname ‘Freak’ in high school because of his overwhelming blend of power and speed.

“I was at a football camp in high school and I was 315 pounds and ran a fast 40-yard-dash so the coaches there gave me that nickname and it stuck with me ever since,” Johnson said with a laugh.

The Tigers’ thinnest position may be at linebacker. But even there, the team returns starter Ryan Baker and 2010 contributors like Stefoin Francois and Karnell Hatcher.

What LSU loses in linebacker depth, they’ll make up in the defensive backfield where Morris Claiborne, Tyrann Mathieu, Ron Brooks, Eric Reid and Tharold Simon return at cornerback and Brandon Taylor and Craig Loston return at safety.

Added all together, Chavis believes the LSU defense will be a force in the new season.

“We’ve got room to improve, we expect to get better and that’s why we’re excited because we have athletes who give us the opportunity to go win,” Chavis said.

No matter how talented the Tigers’ may be, the 2011-12 schedule will be a test.

LSU opens the season Saturday in Dallas with No. 3 Oregon, last year’s national runners-up.

That game will kickoff at 7 p.m. and will be shown to a nationally televised audience on ABC.

Miles said he asked his team for approval before scheduling the game. The Tigers accepted the challenge unanimously.

“When you watch the film, you recognize they are very talented and very capable,” Miles said of Oregon. “They run a very good scheme. Our guys are challenged by that, and I think that challenge will allow us to step up and compete. That will help us get the season started off. We’re ready to play at a high level.”

Even if the Tigers survive the Ducks, LSU will need to continue to play at “a high level.” The Tigers will play road tilts with Mississippi State, West Virginia, Tennessee and Alabama, while hosting annual powers like Auburn, Florida and Arkansas.

To be the best, one once said you have to beat the best.

To get to New Orleans again, the Tigers will have to do just that.

There’s a whole lot of big, but not a lot of easy in their schedule.

“The schedule’s going to be plenty challenging, there’s no question about that,” Chavis said. “That’s what you want to see. That’s the kind of schedule that you want to be a part of and you want to prepare for.”

LSU halfback Michael Ford finds a hole during a game last season. Ford is a key returnee in 2011 as LSU hopes to have a strong season. STEVE FRANZ