LSU goes into the 2001 season as the TideFans/NARCAS favorite for the SEC’s
Western Division championship. The Tigers are loaded on defense and have 20
returning starters overall. But there are health questions at quarterback, as
well as potential problems on the offensive line.
OFFENSE
LSU’s offense won’t win any points for originality, but they get the job
done. The Tigers boast a great receiving corps and strong tailbacks, and if
quarterback Rohan Davey can stay healthy, this unit could do a lot of damage.
LSU operates from, basically, the classic pro-set.
QUARTERBACKS
Davey is a nightmare for defensive coordinators; he is built like a fullback,
has a tremendous arm and his teammates would kill themselves for him. But Davey
can be erratic, and worse, he is fragile. With a few holes in the Bayou Bengal
offensive line, betting on Davey to stay 100 percent healthy throughout the
season is a long shot. Problems begin there – LSU’s backup quarterbacks are
all freshmen. Redshirts Matt Mauck and Marcus Randall are battling with signee
Rick Clausen – UT QB Casey Clausen’s brother – for second team. None have
any experience, and it is doubtful that LSU will be heavy favorites if the
season falls on their shoulders.
RUNNING BACKS
LaBrandon Toefield was a freshman all-American in 2000, and he seems to have
fully supplanted Domanick Davis as the featured back. Toefield is built like a
brick with legs, but he had injury problems in 2000 regardless. Davis will
battle redshirt freshman Derron Parquet for the backup spot. Tide fans will
remember Parquet from recruiting two years ago; it is said that he wanted to
sign with UA, but Alabama did not make a scholarship available to him. Tide fans
are hoping that decision does not come back to haunt them. Fullback is nothing
short of potluck supper, with as many as five players having an equal shot at
the job. Reese Angelette, Jeremy Burnham, Solomon Lee, Ryan O’Neal (who has
also worked at LB) and Elice Parker have seen their names connected to the job.
None, unfortunately, are standouts, which brings the position grade down.
WIDE RECEIVERS
There isn’t a weakness among this group, which includes bona fide star Josh
Reed, bruising tight end Robert Royal and steady Reggie Robinson and Jerel
Myers. Only Alabama’s group can challenge LSU for the title of best in
conference. The Tigers have depth at all positions; reserve tight end Joe
Domingeaux would start for most schools. Signee Ryan Gilbert could get in the
mix at receiver.
OFFENSIVE LINE
If there is a problem spot for head coach Nick Saban – other than Rohan
Davey’s health – it is the performance of the offensive line. Both guards,
junior Rob Sale and senior Dwayne Pierce, return in 2001 along with left tackle
Rodney Reed. Brad Smalling has experience, and he is the likely starter at right
tackle ahead of Terry Phillips and Jason Baggett. Jason Underwood gets the call
at center, although Sale has played the position and could slide over. Other
than Baggett, none of the reserves are particularly experienced. With Davey’s
health a question mark, LSU needs production out of this group badly.
DEFENSE
With perhaps the best linebackers in the country, LSU’s defense could be
hard to get past in 2001. For the first time in recent memory, LSU has a strong
secondary, but potential problems await on the defensive line.
DEFENSIVE LINE
One word: Consistency. LSU must have it, or the team is sunk. End Jarvis
Green will one day make an NFL combine worker faint with glee, but he has not
proven able to put his massive talent to good use on the field itself. Tackle
Muskingum Barnes is not the greatest athlete, but he tries hard. Howard Green
and Chad Lavalais are competing for the other slot, while Kendrick Allen and
Kyle Kipps will work at the end position opposite Green. The name to watch is
recruit Marquise Hill, the top rated defensive lineman in America last year
according to many. Above all else, LSU must stop the run better; they were 9th
in the conference in total defense and 8th in rushing defense in
2000.
LINEBACKERS
The duo of Bradie James and Treverance Faulk are monsters that no team
relishes facing. Both are as fast as running backs and hit with the force of
defensive linemen. Faulk amassed 113 tackles and James 110. They are joined by
Jeremy Lawrence, an unassuming sort who provides a terrific compliment to the
two stars. Senior Walter Moreham and talented redshirt freshman Marcus Yanez
provide good depth.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
In terms of sheer experience, the defensive backfield probably has more than
any other position. Lionel James and Ryan Clark are a pair of three-letter
seniors who anchor the safety positions, with senior Terrence O’Bryant and the
capable Norman LeJeune as reserves. Robert Davis, Demetrius Hookfin and Erin
Damond are all terrific athletes at cornerback, but could stand to up their
consistency a bit. Damien James can play either corner or safety.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Gone are the days of Danny Boyd and other shankmeisters. While John Corbello
isn’t yet Van Tiffin, he does possess a strong leg and is the most consistent
placekicker to come down the pike at LSU since seemingly the days of the leather
helmets. Punter Donnie Jones had a solid freshman campaign, and reminds many of
former UT standout David Leaverton. Domanick Davis is lethal as a return man.
OVERALL
LSU has the chance to win every game on its schedule this year, but a
back-to-back-to-back stretch of Auburn, Tennessee and Florida could prove to be
too much for the Tigers. Although LSU finally slew one demon in 2000 – they
beat Alabama in Baton Rouge, and the last time that happened, disco music hadn’t
even been invented yet – but this is still a team with more personalities than
the green room at an HBO comedy special. Coach Nick Saban’s mad scientist
persona doesn’t help calm the fears, but he has gotten results and seems to
keep it together once he walks onto the sidelines. The Tigers are predicted here
to finish in a three-way tie for the division crown and to win the division by
merit of the SEC’s tiebreaker system. Whether they can do it or not rests on
the health of Davey’s legs and ribs, and the ability of the coaches to find a
single heartbeat for this oft-disjointed group.
