Colonels feature 3-headed monster at QB
August 20, 2013
LSU’s new No. 18 hopes to make his mark
August 20, 2013
Sitting quietly at No. 13 in the preseason top 25 poll, a lot of college football experts have overlooked LSU in their 2013 national championship plans.
That’s OK with the Tigers.
They believe that their play will speak for itself in the fall.
A proverbial underdog for the first time in several seasons, LSU is grinding its gears in preseason practices in an effort to show that the team is still among the best in the nation.
The Tigers will be tested in their first game of 2013 – an Aug. 31 showdown with TCU that will be played in Cowboys Stadium.
“I want to win a SEC Championship and even a national championship,” LSU linebacker Lamin Barrow said. “We did a lot of good things this summer. We have worked very hard. We just want to come out and dominate every game.”
To “dominate” in the always-brutal SEC, a lot of new faces will have to step up and play big for the Tigers.
LSU lost more than 10 underclassmen to the NFL Draft following last season – a group of players that included halfback Spencer Ware, defensive end Barkevious Mingo, defensive tackle Michael Brockers, linebacker Kevin Minter and defensive back Eric Reid.
But even with the departures, pundits believe LSU’s offense has a chance to be explosive in 2013.
Senior quarterback Zach Mettenberger is back for the Tigers after an up and down 2012 season as the team’s starter.
Mettenberger completed 207-of-352 passes for 2,609 yards, 12 touchdowns and 7 interceptions a year ago.
He played some of his best football in the final games of the season, including gems against Alabama and Ole Miss.
After a full offseason and summer to get better, those around the Tigers’ program believe the senior is ready to have a big year.
“Zach has matured as a quarterback,” receiver Jarvis Landry said. “He has definitely raised his level through fall camp. Zach is completing a lot more passes. His anticipation and his timing have improved. Everything that we need him to do, he is doing.”
If Mettenberger is better, he has weapons capable of disrupting defenses.
Landry is the leading receiver in a group that also returns Odell Beckham Jr., Kadron Boone and James Wright.
In the backfield, the Tigers will return 2012 opening day starter Alfred Blue, 2012 leading rusher Jeremy Hill and Tri-parish native Kenny Hilliard.
LSU is also experienced on the offensive line and will return four of-five starters.
But perhaps the biggest weapon in the Tigers’ toolbox is first-year offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, who lands in Baton Rouge with a litany of success in the NFL.
Cameron said the transition from pro to college has been difficult at times.
But the coach added that LSU’s roster is oozing with talent and he believes his scheme will fit the SEC.
“We are still working our way through (the scheme),” Cameron said. “We have some things planned. Obviously there is a great foundation here offensively, especially in the running game and protection scheme. There is a lot of good stuff in this offense. … We just try to build on the things that fit our players.”
LSU head coach Les Miles agreed with Cameron’s sentiments. He believes that the Tigers’ offense will benefit from the new coach’s teachings.
“The fact that Cam has real understanding of different aspects and places on the field and where and how to attack (is a plus),” Miles said. “We’re not there yet. Certainly we’re not ready to play, but his influence (is huge). We’re going to be better offensively.”
On defense, coordinator John Chavis has a talented, but young group of Tigers.
LSU lost players to the NFL at every defensive position – a migration that shook the team’s depth chart.
“I think it’s always a test,” Chavis said of the departures. “Obviously the number of guys that we lost last year isn’t usual – normally you don’t lose that many. But we did.”
But Chavis also urged fans to stay calm because of the strength of the Tigers’ recruiting efforts.
The longtime coordinator said that even with youth and inexperience at some positions, the Tigers will have talented young players who can hold their own in SEC play.
They also have a mix of veterans like defensive tackle Anthony Johnson, Barrow, cornerbacks Jalen Mills and Jalen Collins and safety Craig Loston.
Loston said he believes the mix will be “special.”
Since I’ve been here, there have never been so many young people who are looking forward to playing,” Loston said. “This year, we have a lot of young guys that can get the job done, and we have a couple of guys that have experience and have done well also in the past. … I think it will be something special.”
For LSU to reach its goals in 2013, it surely will take a special effort.
That’s because LSU’s 2013 schedule is brutal.
After taking on TCU in the opener, the Tigers will play its usual SEC slate – an eight-game stretch that includes road tilts with Georgia, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Alabama and home contests with Florida, Texas A&M, Auburn and Arkansas.
That schedule, combined with inexperience has many experts sleeping on LSU.
They don’t mind – not at all.
They like being the underdogs.
