EYE ON THE PRIZE: LSU primed and ready for another championship run

Les Miles enters his third season at LSU with a combined 22-4 record and this year’s team appears to be his strongest overall. The Tigers were hit hard by the NFL Draft as they produced four first-round selections (quarterback JaMarcus Russell, wide receivers Dwayne Bowe and Craig ‘Buster’ Davis and safety LaRon Landry). But, with 15 returning starters and 24 seniors on its roster, there is little doubt why LSU has been ranked in the top four of every pre-season poll.

Take into consideration that the Tigers play SEC giants Auburn, Florida and Arkansas at home and have posted 10 fourth-quarter comebacks in the last three seasons (mainly thanks to strength and conditioning coach Tommy Moffitt) and you can see why LSU fans have high expectations for this team.

The team starts with quarterback Matt Flynn (6-3, 228, Sr.) and new offensive coordinator Gary Crowton. Flynn has started only one game in his college career.

Flynn played in seven games last year, completing 12-of-20 passes for 133 yards and two touchdowns, but it is his performance the year before that captures the imagination of LSU followers.

With Russell sidelined by injuries, Flynn took over in the 2005 Peach Bowl against Miami and earned offensive MVP honors by passing for 196 yards and two touchdowns and running for 39 yards in a 40-3 victory.

While Crowton’s style is different from former LSU offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher’s, you may see a similar Tiger offense this year.

Look for Keiland Williams (5-11, 223, So.), Charles Scott (5-11, 221, So.) and Richard Murphy (6-1, 198, Fr.) to get the bulk of the rushes this season, along with Flynn, who is a better runner than Russell was. Wide receivers Early Doucet (6-0, 207, Sr.) and Brandon LaFell (6-3, 194, So.) should be the top receivers with Jared Mitchell (5-11, 192, So.) and Trindon Holliday (5-5, 159, So.) also seeing a lot of action.

And Crowton also likes the fact that the defense he goes against every day in practice is tabbed as one of the nation’s best.

Pushing Flynn for playing time will be Ryan Perrilloux (6-3, 222, So.) and Jarrett Lee (6-2, 190, Fr.).

Along the line, the right tackle spot is one the Tigers will have to fill as the other four spots are returning starters in Herman Johnson (left guard, 6-7, 351, Jr.), Brett Helms (center, 6-2, 283, Jr.), Will Arnold (right tackle, 6-4, 319, Sr.) and Ciron Black (left tackle, 6-5, 314, So.). Tight end will be manned by Keith Zinger (6-4, 250, Sr.), who has 24 career starts under his belt and is tops among offensive returning starters. Richard Dixon (6-3, 237, So.) is also expected to see a lot of time at tight end. The versatile Jacob Hester (6-0, 228, Sr.) will start at fullback. There are eight returning starters on offense.

On defense, all of the projected starters have career starts at those positions with the one exception being free safety, a spot where Landry manned for the past four seasons. The defensive line is talented with Glenn Dorsey (6-2, 299, Sr.), Tyson Jackson (6-5, 292, Jr.), Charles Alexander (6-3, 294, Jr.), Marlon Favorite (6-1, 295, Jr.), Kirston Pittman (6-4, 254, Sr.), Al Woods (6-4, 314, So.), Rahim Alem (6-3, 252, So.) and Tremaine Johnson (6-2, 273, Jr.) are expected to get the bulk of the snaps. The linebacker core is led by Ali Highsmith (6-1, 225, Sr.), Darry Beckwith (6-1, 232, Jr.) and Luke Sanders (6-5, 235, Sr.). All three linebackers have double-digit starts under their belts. Craig Steltz (6-2, 204, Sr.) is penciled in as the starter at strong safety while the talented, yet basically unheard of Curtis Taylor (6-3, 204, Jr.) is projected to start at free safety. Also expect to see Danny McCray (6-1, 205, So.) a lot in the nickel and dime packages this season.

Cornerbacks Chevis Jackson (6-0, 190, Sr.) and Jonathan Zenon (6-0, 176, Sr.) have 38 career starts between them (Jackson has 25).

There are a total of 11 seniors and juniors on the two-deep depth defensive depth chart.

On special teams, place-kicker Colt David (5-9, 175, Jr.) is back along with returners Doucet and Holliday. The punting duties are expected to be handled by Patrick Fisher (6-5, 235, Sr.). Andrew Crutchfield (6-1, 190, Fr.) is also expected to see some time at place-kicker, similar to the situation that David and Chris Jackson experienced last season. Flynn will once again be the holder on kicks while Jacob O’Hair (6-2, 224, Sr.) is back as the deep snapper for all kicks.

The Tigers start their season on Aug. 30 when they play at Mississippi State. The game will be broadcast nationally by ESPN and starts at 7 p.m.