Preview 2019: Previewing and looking ahead to the LSU Tigers season with what you need to know.
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– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Recruiting Class Analysis | Schedule Analysis
– LSU Previews 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015
2018 Record: 10-3 overall, 5-3 in SEC
Head Coach: Ed Orgeron, 4th year, 25-9
– CFN Preview 2019: All The Team Previews
5. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE LSU OFFENSE
– The offense wasn’t always explosive, and the stats are a tad bit askew thanks to the seven overtime thriller against against Texas A&M, but it was effective enough to come through when needed while not making a whole slew of mistakes.
This year, expect the offense to get more through the air under new passing game coordinator Joe Brady, but it’ll be more about efficiency than winging it deep. Getting back almost all of the key parts should lead to an even stronger, more consistent season, helped because …
– Joe Burrow has experience now. He wasn’t good enough to get the starting quarterback job at Ohio State – things worked out just fine for the Buckeyes with Dwayne Haskins putting up historic numbers – but he stepped in and became the perfect fit to settle the LSU situation.
He wasn’t accurate enough – he only completed 58% of his throws on the season, but he got better as the year went on – but he didn’t throw a pick in the first five games and gave up just five overall. Expect better numbers in a refined passing game that won’t ask him to take many chances. The 6-4, 216-pounder can run, too.
6-5 sophomore Myles Brennan is the main man in the near future and can step in for Burrow and be fine, and star recruit Peter Parrish will be groomed for 2020.
– Burrow added 399 rushing yards and seven scores to the mix, but leading rusher Nick Brossette is gone after rumbling for 14 scores. It’s now up to 5-9, 212-pound Clyde Edwards-Helarie to be the veteran to work around after coming up with 658 yards and seven scores.
Edwards-Helaire will be the reliable all-around No. 1, but superstar recruit John Emery will be expected to produce early on along with fellow big-time get Tyrion Davis. Senior Lanard Fournette got in a little work and will be a part of the rotation.
– Paving the way is a line that struggled last season, but is loaded with veteran talent. The Tigers finished second-to-last in the SEC in sacks, and they allowed way too many tackles for loss.
Four starters return, beginning with the tackle jobs held down by 6-5, 305-pound junior Saahdiq Charles on the left side and 6-7, 321-pound Austin Deculus is back on the right side … maybe. There’s enough depth to make the right tackle job a wee bit of a fight in fall camp.
Guard is the main question mark, at least on the left side. The right side is solid with 6-3, 332-pound senior Damein Lewis a rock, but the left guard gig is open with 6-4, 335-pound senior Adrian Magee and 6-4, 336-pound sophomore Chasen Hines battling it out. 6-4, 309-pound Lloyd Cushenberry is a potential all-star center.
– The six top receivers are back and the tight end situation is great, too. 6-7, 232-pound Stephen Sullivan finished second on the team with 23 catches for 363 yards and two scores. He’s a good deep threat tight end who can hit, and 6-7, 241-pound junior Jamal Pettigrew has the talent to become a major factor.
Justin Jefferson is a 6-2, 185-pound next-level talent averaging over 16 yards per catch with a team-high 54 grabs for 875 yards and six scores. After getting their feet wet, big sophomores Ja’Marr Chase and Terrace Marshall are ready to blow up. Seniors Derrick Dillon and 6-6 Dee Anderson are reliable veterans.
NEXT: What You Need To Know About the Defense, Top Players, Keys to the Season, What Will Happen
4. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE LSU DEFENSE
– A few killers are gone off the defense that allowed just 339 yards and 22 points per game, but eight starters and seven of the top nine tacklers are back to overcome the loss off LB Devin White and CB Greedy Williams. The pass rush was fine, the run defense was good enough, but the secondary was a killer – and should be again.
– Yeah, Williams is gone at one corner, but the Tigers welcome back the best safety in college football in junior Grant Delpit, and 6-2, 225-pound junior JaCoby Stevens has the size and thump to be a force after coming up with 35 tackles in a rising role. There’s depth, too, going along with a great recruiting class of talent.
6-0, 192-pound senior Kristian Fulton suffered a foot injury late last season, but he’s back at one corner job with all-star talent and upside. It’ll be a battle for the other spot, and there’s no wrong answer among sophomore Kelvin Joseph – a 6-1, 195-pounder who was good when he got his shot – battling with star recruit Derek Stingley Jr. The 6-1, 195-pound true freshman has the NFL upside to step in right away and rock.
– There’s no replacing when Devin White brought to the linebacking corps, but second-leading tackler Jacob Phillips is back after coming up with 87 stops despite a shoulder injury, and with 6-2, 238-pound senior Michael Divinity likely playing inside with the pass rushing ability to rock on the outside depending on the alignment.
The biggest key to the defense is the health of sophomore K’Lavon Chaisson, the 6-4, 238-pound pass rushing star who’s back from a torn ACL. If he’s right, the corps is a killer. If he needs time, it’ll either be Divinity on the outside, or junior Andre Anthony and Ray Thornton ready to do more.
– LSU is loaded on the line after getting through a season full of injuries. 6-3, 317-pound Rashard Lawrence and 6-4, 291-pound Breiden Fehoko are big veterans in the mix with 295-pound junior Neil Farrell. The ends will be working around massive 6-3, 362-pound sophomore Tyler Shelvin on the nose in a rotation with 6-4, 347-pound star recruit Siaki Ika.
NEXT: Top Players, Keys To the Season, What Will Happen
3. TOP LSU PLAYERS
Best LSU Offensive Player
WR Justin Jefferson, Jr.
Considering the talents that LSU brings in, Jefferson was a nice recruit, but he wasn’t a sure-thing superstar. Now the 6-2, 185-pound target has the upside to grow into even more of an explosive No. 1 guy.
He averaged over 16 yards per catch with a team-high 54 grabs for 875 yards and six scores – coming through with two big touchdowns against UCF in the bowl win – and now he’s the leader of a deep group of receivers for Joe Burrow to work with.
2. QB Joe Burrow, Sr.
3. RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Jr.
4. OG Damien Lewis, Sr.
5. RB John Emery, Fr.
Best LSU Defensive Player
S Grant Delpit, Jr.
Put him on every list of All-Americans and front and center for the Thorpe.
Greedy Williams might have been the star of the LSU secondary – partly because of his cool name – but Delpit was the team’s best defensive back, and this year he might just be the best in college football.
The 6-3, 203-pound future NFL star made 74 tackles with five sacks, 9.5 tackles for loss, and nine broken up passes, doing everything from his safety spot with tremendous range and great thump.
2. CB Kristian Fulton, Sr.
3. LB Michael Divinity, Sr.
4. LB K’Lavon Chaisson, Soph.
5. LB Jacob Phillips, Jr.
NEXT: Keys to the Season, Prediction & What Will Happen
2. KEYS TO THE SEASON
Biggest Key To The LSU Offense
The offensive line has to come up with a stronger season. The Tigers have the quarterback in Joe Burrow. They have great young running backs to go along with a share thing in Clyde Edwards-Helaire, and they have a loaded receiving corps with the talent to do a whole lot more.
Now the offensive line has to do its part.
There’s no excuse to not be better. The coaching is top-shelf, there’s depth, and four starters are back with NFL prospects across the board.
Damien Lewis is a pounding guard, and Lloyd Cushenberry is a good-looking center who should become a fixture at the gig over the next few years. It’s up to the tackles to be stronger, and juniors Saahdiq Charles and and Austin Deculus should be fine.
The line allowed 36 sacks last year – it gave up a mere 19 two seasons earlier – and 89 tackles for loss. Better all-around protection changes the offense.
Biggest Key To The LSU Defense
The run defense has to be a consistent rock. The offense should score more and be more explosive, but it’s not going to be the type of attack that puts up 40 points per game on a consistent basis. It’s all about maintaining control, making fewer mistakes than everyone else – LSU led the SEC in turnover margin – and controlling the clock.
That means stopping the run.
Granted, the losses came against some of the nation’s best teams, but the Tigers gave up 200 rushing yards or more against Alabama, Florida and Texas A&M – all defeats. The only other time they allowed that many was in the dominant win over Mississippi State.
How big a deal is this? Since beating Wisconsin to open up the 2014 season, LSU is 1-11 – with just that win over the Bulldogs last year – when giving up 200 yards or more.
Key Player To A Successful Season
PK Cade York, Fr.
No pressure, son. Just go out there and try to be solid in place of the guy who who came up with the greatest kicking season in LSU history. All Cole Tracy did was connect on 29-of-33 field goals with four against Miami, a game-winner against Auburn, and with three of his four misses coming from 49 yards or longer.
York has all the talent to be fantastic. He’s a big kicker with a deep leg and the upside to be the main man for the next four years, but again, all he has to do is be as good as Tracy was.
Key Game To The LSU Season
at Texas, Sept. 7
The Alabama game is the Alabama game – that will always be a big deal, obviously. That’s on the road, and Florida, Auburn and Texas A&M are home games. It’s hardly an easy schedule, but there’s a chance to do big things if the Tigers can hold serve in Baton Rouge, and if they can get off to a hot start.
If LSU wants to be a major player in the College Football Playoff hunt, it needs to come away with a win over the Longhorns in Austin in Week 2. Do that, and as long as there’s not a total gag, the team should be 5-0 when Florida comes to town.
The last time LSU played at Texas it lost 20-6 to open the 1954 season. This time around, it’s almost certainly a playoff elimination game.
– LSU Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
2018 LSU Fun Stats
– Penalties: Opponents 102 for 906 yards – LSU 83 for 794 yards
– Field Goals: LSU 29-of-33 – Opponents 13-of-17
– 1st Quarter Scoring: LSU 107 – Opponents 36
NEXT: What Will Happen
1. LSU WIN TOTAL PREDICTION: WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN
As is the case with just about everyone in the SEC West, it’s possible to be among the nation’s best teams and still struggle to get to ten regular season wins.
As opposed to last season when head coach Ed Orgeron was on every preseason hot seat list, and when there was so much uncertainty, this time around there’s more experience, bigger expectations, and a whole lot to get fired up about.
The quarterback pecking order and situation is as good as it’s been in years. Joe Burrow is settled in, there’s talent galore at running back and receiver, and four starters are back up front.
There’s no Devin White or Greedy Williams on defense, but the secondary is going to be among the nation’s best, the linebackers are potentially devastating depending on where the parts fit, and the line should be stronger as long as everyone gets and stays healthy.
But again, it’s the SEC West, so …
Set The Regular Season Win Total At … 9
LSU is good enough to beat anyone and everyone on the schedule, but it has to go on the road to deal with Texas, Mississippi State and Alabama.
Getting Florida, Auburn and Texas A&M at home is fine, but it has to win all three of those to realistically be in the SEC and College Football title chases, and that’s not going to happen.
Judge LSU on a bit of a curve. Nine wins is about right, ten would be amazing, and eight or fewer would be a missed opportunity.
– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– Recruiting Class Analysis | Schedule Analysis
