2016 LSU FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Story By Lyles Martin
Photos By Steve Franz/LSU
LSU Coach Les Miles survived a palace coup. So what’s he going to do now?
Yes, there was Miles after the regular season home win against Texas A&M, escaping the coup d’état. According to Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports, “It was a spectacular miscalculation … What a joke. Turns out LSU Athletic Director Joe Alleva had no idea what he was doing … So, Miles was taken down from the gallows in the same way he was hoisted up on them … Shabbily.”
The dreaded Charlie Mac syndrome has overtaken Les Miles. And, that’s not a good thing. Including last season’s embarrassing loss to Alabama, Miles’ Tigers have lost five straight to the Tide. Miles’ last win came in Tuscaloosa in 2011 with an overtime 9-to-6 victory.
Back during the 2011 season, the LSU football team put together one of the best regular seasons ever — beating eight ranked teams on its way to the SEC Championship.
The Tigers couldn’t finish the deal, losing to Alabama in the national title game. Frankly, the entire program hasn’t really recovered since that Alabama loss. LSU has had at least three losses in each of the last four seasons … and, a 14-10 record in the SEC in the last three seasons.
After the loss in the national championship game, the Charlie Mac syndrome engulfed Miles. Charlie McClendon coached LSU from 1962 to 1979. During that time, McClendon won two games against Alabama and lost 14. He lost five straight from 1964-68, and nine straight from 1971-79. And now, Miles can’t seem to beat Alabama …
He always has been and will continue to be measured against Nick Saban, his predecessor. It’s not a good comparison. Whether he can turn this reprieve into a rebound remains to be seen.
If there’s a crossroads for Miles, it’s the 2016 season. The pressure is on Miles and he knows it.
The Tigers have 17 returning starters, raising expectations higher than they’ve been since the BCS Title game run in 2011.
Senior defensive tackle Christian LaCouture has added to the hype: “Anything less than a national championship is going to be unacceptable,” he said. “We have to work toward it, of course, but all the pieces are in place. We should have a special year.”
Unfortunately, LaCouture was lost for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee suffered during early fall camp. He was slated to start along the defensive line. He would be eligible for a redshirt season if he doesn’t want to enter the 2017 NFL Draft. He received his degree in August. It’s a huge loss for LSU. LaCouture was a team leader and a down-to-earth teammate willing to do anything to win.
The Tigers return nine starters on offense, including Heisman hopeful and LSU’s single-season rushing leader Leonard Fournette (the only player in SEC history to rush for 200 yards in three straight games). In all likelihood, this will be Fournette’s last season in Baton Rouge. He’s expected to be a high draft pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. He is on the watch lists for the Doak Walker, Walter Camp and Maxwell Awards.
Fournette sprained his ankle in a Tigers scrimmage during fall practice. According to Miles, it’s a slight sprain and should not keep him out of the opening game.
Quarterback
The key, of course, is not seeing if Fournette can steamroll more linebackers and defensive backs (he will), but if Brandon Harris can complete those crucial third-and-long passes to keep drives moving.
Brandon Harris
Harris is the starter (149-of-277 passes for 2,165 yards, 13 TDs and six interceptions). He expressed confidence in his ability, with offensive coordinator Cam Cameron’s move from the press box to the sidelines. “With him being on the sideline and him being able to communicate with me and me being able to look over there and look in his eyes and we see we’re on the same page. It’s important as a quarterback,” said Harris.
Purdue transfer Danny Etling should get playing time as Harris’ back-up. The junior started 12 games, and threw for 2,490 yards and 16 touchdowns for the Boilermakers.
The Running Game
There’s no doubt LSU will rely on its running game, with Fournette and sophomore Derrius Guice (436 yards, 3 touchdowns) and junior Darrel Williams (296 yards, 4 touchdowns). Add to that mix sophomore Nick Brossette, who has fully recovered from a season-ending knee injury against Ole Miss last year.
Fullback J.D. Moore returns from a torn ACL inside the left knee suffered during the second half of last year. His blocking during the first half of last season helped spring Fournette on some of his longest and best runs of the year.
Miles’ love for the running game continues; but even he admitted it’s time to inject a better passing game into LSU’s offense.
The Passing Game
Last year’s inept passing game (the worst passing stretch in Miles’ tenure; ranked 111th nationally) hampered the Tigers’ wide-outs and contributed to the transfer of former Barbe High receiver Trey Quinn (SMU) and John Diarse (TCU).
Leonard Fournette
The receiving corps shouldn’t lack for experience this year, with starters Malachi Dupre (57 passes caught for 1,016 yards and 11 touchdowns during his first two seasons) and senior Travin Dural (who missed the spring with a hamstring injury).
Junior D.J. Chark (79-yard end-around touchdown in the Texas Bowl) has drawn praises from new wide receivers coach Dameyune Craig during early fall camp. If there is a plus in the offensive coaching, it will come from Craig. He thinks outside of the box: more so than Cam Cameron, who is lucky he still has a job at LSU.
Former five-star wide receiver prospect Tyron Johnson has been granted his release to transfer. Johnson caught nine passes for 150 yards and two touchdowns during his only season with the Tigers.
The Tigers won’t lack for size. Wide-outs Jazz Ferguson and early enrollees Stephen Sullivan and Dee Anderson; tight-ends Colin Jeter and DeSean Smith; all average over 6 feet, 5 inches, 227 pounds. No team in the SEC has a group of receivers taller than LSU’s.
Sullivan, Anderson and freshman Drake Davis are all challenging to be the Tigers’ No. 3 or 4 options at wide-out.
Jeter and Smith will be joined by sophomore Foster Moreau at tight end. Moreau is regarded as one of the better run blockers for the LSU offense.
Offensive Line
With the loss of Jerald Hawkins and Vadal Alexander to the NFL, LSU’s offensive line will be a work in progress. That’s to say, it’s in flux. Preseason All-American center Ethan Pocic, whom Miles called the most versatile offensive linemen he’s ever coached, is a team leader. Pocic, a Remington and Outland Award candidate, played 796 snaps with 132.5 knockdowns blocks last year.
As a group, the Tigers have five players on the offensive line with at least one career start to their credit. These include left guard Will Clapp and senior right guard Josh Boutte, left tackle Maea Teuhema and NBA great Karl Malone’s son K.J. Malone.
Travin Dural
Sophomore Toby Weathersby is a candidate to replace Vadal Alexander at right tackle and Garrett Brumfield is competing with Boutte for a starting guard position. Andy Dodd should see playing time at center.
Redshirt freshmen Chidi Okeke, Adrian Magee and George Brown, Jr., will need to gain game experience to help on the offensive line.
“The young and old of this offensive line are going to produce a really talented group,” Miles said. “Some of those young guys need some reps and that’s key, but, boy, they’re talented.”
Defense
Defensively, the Tigers will be loaded with 8 of 11 starters from last year. So that unit expects to improve on the 24 points and more than 347 yards allowed per game last season.
LSU also added former Wisconsin defensive coordinator Dave Aranda, who’s a huge improvement over Kevin Steele, now at Auburn. Steele’s departure was a blessing in disguise. Aranda’s Badger defense led the FBS in scoring defense (13.7 points per game) and was second in yards per game allowed (268.5).
Aranda will transition the Tigers into a more 3-4 defense than their traditional 4-3 scheme. He’ll use multiple sets. The 3-4 is the defense’s version of the spread offense, using three defensive linemen and four linebackers.
Aranda’s new version won’t allow his defensive linemen to completely abandon the traditional hand-in-the-dirt position. And now, Aranda gets a defense with the talented athletes he never had in Madison. Undoubtedly, LSU has the players to fit the new style.
Aranda, like offensive coordinator Cameron, will be calling plays from the sideline. “[It] will be the first time all of my coordinators will be on the sidelines,” said Miles.
The 3-4 puts the Tigers’ returning defensive line-up all over the field.
Arden Key, who had five sacks and 6.5 tackles for a loss during his freshman year, will line up as a stand-up rush end at times. He has a personal goal of 20 sacks this season.
Returning end senior Lewis Neal, a Ted Hendricks Award watch list candidate, will now play a more stand-up, outside rushing lineman. He’ll be backed up by junior Deondre Clark.
LaCouture’s back-up at end, Frank Herron, a junior who played in a reserve, rotating role last season, will now get more playing time with the loss of LaCouture.
Davon Godchaux has moved from nose tackle to replace LaCouture at end, and Greg Gilmore is practicing with the No. 1 group at nose. He will also play the end spot in certain sets, as he did in the spring.
Lewis Neal
Godchaux likes what he’s seen in the new defense. “The new defensive scheme helps a lot because it creates a lot of one-on-ones,” he said. “Arden is a freak, Tashawn is a freak, Lewis is a pass-rushing guru, and me, and it’s going to free me up a lot having three guys like that in one of our packages. It’s going to be very interesting for teams who are going to try and block us.”
LSU is two-deep on the defensive front, with talented true freshmen as third-string reserves.
The Tiger’s “D” got good news during the second week of training camp with the return to campus of Travonte Valentine. Valentine was the No. 3 high school defensive tackle when he was a 2014 LSU signee. He was ruled academically eligible to play, before the SEC overruled the NCAA, forcing the tackle to miss his freshman season. A short time later, he was dismissed from the team for a violation of team rules.
“[He’s a] very quality defensive player; a guy that in my opinion gives us reason to trust him as being a quality student and doing the things we ask him to do,” Miles said. “We’re very optimistic that it’s exactly the right thing to do. Could be pretty special.”
He was ranked as the nation’s No. 1 JUCO defensive tackle out of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. At 6 feet, 4 inches, 345 pounds, he should be the projected starter at nose tackle. He’s big and fast for his size, and can plug the inside.
Valentine had to complete one course during LSU’s summer intersession to become eligible for the season. There was more good news for Valentine. He passed his course on Aug. 21 and began fall classes on Aug. 22.
Sophomore Isaiah Washington, back-up to Key at the Buck position, which is a defensive end hybrid, suffered ligament damage to a knee in preseason camp and is out for the season. Freshmen Sci Martin and five-star recruit Ray Thornton will move up in the rotation to take Washington’s place.
Linebackers
If the arrival of Aranda was a positive move for the Tigers defense, the return of inside linebacker Kendell Beckwith, who elected to return to school for his senior year rather than enter the NFL draft, was the best thing that could have happened for the defense. Beckwith, the leading returning tackler, solidifies the linebacking corps, and seems to be embracing Aranda’s new 3-4 defense.
“Just tell people to get ready for guys flying around making a bunch of plays play after play,” Beckwith said during preseason camp. “It’s a lot of fun.”
Kendall Beckwith
Duke Riley, a special teams standout last year, gets an opportunity to start at inside linebacker along with Beckwith. Donnie Alexander will provide depth to the rotation inside.
Tashawn Bower will play the hybrid outside linebacker. He is a senior who Aranda will use at end as well as certain sets. He’s battling senior Corey Thompson at the F-linebacker position. Thompson was moved from safety to linebacker in the spring to add depth to a thin linebacking corps. He sustained a broken fibula during the second week of fall practice, and will be out 6-to-8 weeks.
Depth at linebacker is young, with three true freshmen on the depth chart.
CORNERBACKS
Veteran Tre’Davious White (No. 18) has developed into one of the top cornerbacks in FBS football. He’ll play in the slot (nickel back) where Tyrann Mathieu played in 2011. “I can blitz, I can be around the football more, I can make more tackles,” said White. “It’s going to be fun. Plus, there won’t be any missteps with Kevin and Donte. Those guys are ready for the challenge.”
He’ll be joined by sophomore Kevin Toliver II at a corner. Toliver finished with 35 tackles and 12 pass break-ups as a true freshman last year. Sophomore Donte Jackson, the fastest player on the team, who ran a 4.24 40-yard dash, will also roam the secondary at the opposite corner. Junior Ed Paris of New Orleans should rotate snaps at the corner.
Tre’Davious White
Safety
Preseason All-American Jamal Adams starts at safety. Adams is nominated for the Bednarik, Lott, Nagurski and Thorpe Awards. He was a second team All-SEC pick last year, with 67 tackles and a team-high four interceptions.
Adams will be joined at safety by senior Rickey Jefferson. Dwayne Thomas and John Battle will add depth to the safety position.
For LSU’s defense, a hulking line will be able to rotate plenty of bodies in and out, even with the loss of several key players. “Obviously, any time that you run into an injury, that requires a review of the line-up and where guys should be, but we think we’re in pretty good shape,” Miles said. “We’re fortunate to have some depth. We feel kind of fortunate that we’ve had a couple of underclassmen step forward and give us that.”
The secondary is as talented as it gets, with future NFL picks White and Adams. The front seven is so good that it will be tough to run consistently against them. And, with Aranda using multiple looks, the Tigers should be much improved on the defensive side of the ball.
Special Teams
With the transfer of Trent Domingue, Colby Delahoussaye, who suffered a slight injury during a summer traffic accident during the summer that involved a fatality, will likely assume kicking duties for extra points and field goals. He’s connected on 24 of 29 field goals during his career.
“I’m hitting the ball well, relaxed and having fun,” Delahoussaye said. “I don’t really look at it as a second chance, but as a blessing. Nothing is guaranteed, so I’m going to go out and have fun with it.”
Freshman Connor Culp is competing with returning starter Cameron Gamble as LSU’s kick-off specialist.
Australian Josh Growden will break in as the Tigers’ new punter.
Tre’Davious White and Donte Jackson are expected to return punts, while Derrius Guice is expected to return kick-offs.
Recruiting
LSU’s 2016 recruiting class was ranked No. 3 nationally by ESPN. The Tigers continue to recruit at an elite level. They signed nine of the top 10 prospects in the state of Louisiana.
Monroe defensive tackle Rashard Lawrence picked the Tigers over Ohio State. Michael Divinity Jr. who brings good size (6 feet, 3 inches, 225 pounds) to the outside linebacker spot, will see immediate playing time, especially in passing downs.
True freshmen Savion Smith (6 feet, 3 inches, 191 pounds) out of the IMG Academy in St. Petersburg, Fla., and a Rummel High School alum and the top player in the state, Kristian Fulton (6 feet, 178 pounds), will have a significant impact this season in the secondary.
Donavaughn Campbell (6 feet, 5 inches, 349 pounds) out of Ponchatoula, and Lloyd Cushenberry (6 feet, 4 inches, 310 pounds) from Dutchtown High School should see snaps on the offensive line.
Freshman Willie Allen from River Ridge will redshirt this season after suffering a leg injury during fall camp.
LSU will count on freshmen Edwin Alexander (6 feet, 2 inches, 333 pounds), who was recently cleared by the NCAA, and Lawrence to play on the defensive line.
The speedy Devin White, out of Springhill, will be counted on for snaps this season at an inside linebacker spot.
Freshman defensive end Glen Logan from Destrehan has already made headlines in preseason camp, when he launched into a padded yellow dummy with so much force that the sled ran into a wall in the Tigers indoor facility. The padded exterior of the wall collapsed.
Tight-end Caleb Roddy of Denham Springs High has moved up on the depth chart because of injuries to DeSean Smith and Foster Moreau.
Without a quarterback in the 2016 recruiting class as signing day approached, the Tigers opted for Zachary High School All-Stater Lindsey Scott, Jr. Scott is a dual-threat quarterback that Miles likes. But he probably won’t see time this season.
While LSU recruits at a high level, they lose on the recruiting trail to Alabama. The Tide’s stack of top-ranked classes have been just better enough than LSU’s classes year upon year, especially when it comes to the offensive and defensive lines.
Can The Tigers Beat The Tide?
Football is, at its heart, a simple game. The team that blocks and tackles better typically wins. But blocking is the big key. Just ask Nick Saban.
LSU earned its highest preseason rankings since 2012, as the Tigers were voted No. 6 in the Amway Coaches’ Preseason Poll and No. 5 in the first Associated Press Poll. And, naturally Alabama was voted No. 1 in both polls.
Can the Tigers beat the Tide this year? It’s a home game in Death Valley on Nov. 5.
For LSU, Nick Saban’s arrival in 2000 was a Godsend, and why the fan base still is fixated by him today. He transformed LSU, left LSU and now specializes in beating LSU. And the fans can’t stand it.
With the most returning starters in the SEC and a favorable schedule, Tiger fan expectations’ are justifiably high.
Former Tiger quarterback Rohan Davey, who led LSU to the 2001 SEC championship, recently appeared on a Baton Rouge radio station and explained how important this season really is.
“There’s no excuses this season. You’re not going to get any punch lines from me with this one. No excuses. It’s prime time. Everything’s set. The team is set. They’re working their behinds off. All we got to do is play (quarterback). We play the position, we’re going to put ourselves in position to do great things at the end of the year. There’s no excuses this year. None at all.”
Will things be better for LSU in the 2016 season? Only time will tell. But, a large portion of the Tigers’ success rests on the right arm of Brandon Harris. For LSU to win the SEC and claim a play-off spot, the passing game has to improve behind Harris. That’s critical. He doesn’t have to carry the entire offense. He needs to be a game manager who doesn’t make mistakes; is accurate in those short, touch passes to the tight-end and backs out of the backfield. He needs to convert crucial third downs and occasionally make one or two big pass plays to his talented receiving corps. In some passing situations, he must utilize his ability to roll out rather than throw from the pocket. And he must use the RPO … run, pass option.
Les Miles has averaged more than 10 wins in his 11 seasons at LSU. He won at least 11 games in five of his first seven years but hasn’t done it in any of the last four seasons.
He probably has to beat Alabama this year, which is another way of saying LSU probably has to win the SEC West for Miles to keep his job. It’s clear that anything less than a nine-win season puts Miles’ job in jeopardy once again.
The Tigers go into the season as a top-10 team and as arguably the second best squad in the SEC. No question LSU has one of the best teams in the country, with NFL talent, the most high-end experience and some of the best coaches in all of college football. It’s time to put the pieces together, and as Miles would say, “work toward victory.”
It all gets started Saturday, Sept. 3, at 2:30 pm on ABC, when LSU plays Wisconsin at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisc. ESPN’s College GameDay will open the season live at Lambeau Field.
If there is one thing in Miles’ favor, it is that he is in the fourth year of a contract that runs through the 2019 season; and includes a buyout that doesn’t drop below $12.9 million after the 2017 season. With a cash-strapped school in a borderline-insolvent state, a buyout by the Tiger boosters will probably be frowned upon again by LSU President F. King Alexander.
The worst-case scenario is the firing of Les Miles at season’s end, and allowing Athletic Director Joe Alleva to make the new hire decision. We all saw how he handled the fiasco at the end of the regular season. As CBS Sports writer Dennis Dodd surmised, “Alleva not only failed, he bungled. If there is a Napoleon Dynamite of the profession, he is it. All he needed was a T-shirt adorned by a unicorn.”
Comments are closed.