By Matt Smith
SouthernPigskin.com

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Matt Smith takes an in-depth look at the LSU Tigers.

SEC Season Preview: LSU
Head Coach: Ed Orgeron 3 fifth season at LSU; eighth season overall (31-33 SEC, 61-41 overall)
Offensive Coordinator: Jake Peetz (first season)
Defensive Coordinator: Daronte Jones (first season)

2020 Recap: 5-5
LSU became the first defending national champion to lose its season opener since Michigan in 1998 when Mississippi State came into Baton Rouge and put up more than 600 passing yards in a stunning performance. The defense, despite plenty of individual talent, never clicked as a unit, and coordinator Bo Pelini was fired after one season. The offense had more excuses, as starting quarterback Myles Brennan was injured after three games and star wide receiver JaMarr Chase opted out of the season due to COVID. The middle of LSUs 5-5 season was a disaster, which included blowout losses to Auburn and Alabama, but the Tigers did finish strong with a shocking road upset of SEC East champion Florida and a shootout win over Ole Miss in which Kayshon Boutte set the SEC record for receiving yards with 308.

2021 Schedule
Sept. 4 3 at UCLA (8:30 p.m. ET, FOX)
Sept. 11 3 McNEESE (8 p.m. ET, ESPN+)
Sept. 18 3 CENTRAL MICHIGAN (7:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network)
Sept. 25 3 at Mississippi State
Oct. 2 3 AUBURN
Oct. 9 3 at Kentucky
Oct. 16 3 FLORIDA
Oct. 23 3 at Ole Miss
Nov. 6 3 at Alabama
Nov. 13 3 ARKANSAS
Nov. 20 3 LOUISIANA-MONROE
Nov. 27 3 TEXAS A&M

Under Center
LSU might have had the SECs most intriguing quarterback competition, as 2020 opening-day starter Myles Brennan returned from an abdominal injury to battle sophomore Max Johnson, who guided the Tigers two late-season wins over Florida and Ole Miss. Brennan got little help from his defense in his three starts, going 1-2, but did throw more than 1,100 yards with 11 touchdown passes. Johnson was almost as efficient and even less turnover-prone, as just a single throw of his 150 attempts landed in a defenders arms.

This one looked really hard to handicap heading into August. Brennan has been a loyal solider through the transfer of Joe Burrow and a frustrating injury, but Johnson is the future and delivered the highlight victories of 2020. I would have leaned with Johnson regardless, but Brennans availability for the season is in doubt after surgery earlier this month on his non-throwing arm. I would not write Brennan off if there are no lingering health effects, but its clear now that Johnson will start the season.

In The Trenches
For a 5-5 team, the offensive line stats check out. The Tigers ranked No. 10 in the SEC in run blocking and No. 7 in pass blocking, so an average front paved the way for an average team. LSU was dealt a blow this summer when starting left tackle Dare Rosenthal surprisingly transferred to Kentucky. That still leaves four senior starters, led by right tackle Austin Deculus and left guard Ed Ingram. There was a coaching change in the summer, with Brad Davis coming down the road from Arkansas to replace James Cregg, who was let go in June. A Baton Rouge native, Davis will be working with his fourth different SEC team in five years, as stints at Florida and Missouri preceded his time at Arkansas. This is a solid but not dominant unit that will likely fly under the radar again.

On the other side of the ball, Ed Orgerons beloved defensive line took a step back in 2020. The Tigers allowed only three of 10 opponents to under 150 yards rushing. The coaching change should help matters, but the individual players need to do their part as well. Glen Logan and Neil Ferrell are veterans in the middle of the line, while Ali Gaye, a second-team preseason All-SEC selection, as well as returning sack leader Andre Anthony and BJ Ojulari, brother of former Georgia star Azeez, bring the heat off the edge. Much like the offensive line, this unit is fine, but leaves a bit to be desired.

On The Edge
Bouttes big day against Ole Miss has expectations sky-high for his sophomore season, even if the 2020 Ole Miss secondary is a terrible litmus test. After not reaching 50 yards in any of the first seven games as a true freshman, Boutte put up 111 and 108 yards against Alabama and Florida respectively before the undressing of the Rebels. Behind Boutte are sophomore Koy Moore and juniors Trey Palmer and Jaray Jenkins, but the duo combined for just 32 catches in 2020. Jenkins was the most productive in 2020, but a trio of first-year receivers probably have the highest ceiling. The depth is fine, but the order behind Boutte is a bit cloudy.

Running back duties will likely be shared by a pair of juniors in John Emery and Tyrion Davis-Price. Davis-Price led in carries and yards in 2020, but Emery was a bit more explosive. Neither has Leonard Fournettes power or Clyde Edwards-Helaires versatility, but this could be a top-half-of-the-league duo even in a very strong year for running backs in the SEC. Well save the best for last with the secondary. No cornerback duo is better than junior Derek Stingley Jr. and sophomore Eli Ricks. Stingley had six interceptions as a freshman, then didnt get many balls thrown his way in 2020, allowing Ricks to pick off four passes in his freshman year. Jay Ward has played cornerback, but in order to get the best players on the field, hell spend 2021 at safety.

Ranking The Units
1. Defensive Backs
2. Offensive Line
3. Running Backs
4. Defensive Line
5. Receivers
6. Linebackers
7. Quarterbacks

Schedule Analysis
SEC Rank: 4
National Rank: 17
Like Auburn, theres a pretty high floor for an LSU schedule with the annual dates with Alabama, Florida and Texas A&M. A long trip to UCLA to open the season is a great matchup, but the Rose Bowl has been a house of horrors for the SEC in September (ask Alabama, Tennessee and Texas A&M). The rotating game is Kentucky, but the Wildcats could be 4-1 or even 5-0, so Lexington might be a snake pit in mid-October. Finishing with three home games, including the finale against Texas A&M, is a plus, especially if Orgeron needs them all to save his job. Starting 4-0 is imperative with a pretty brutal stretch in October and early November.

Season Prediction
Its not that much of a leap to envision this team winning 10 or 11 games after bottoming out in 2020. Its also not difficult to envision another .500 season in SEC play with a tough schedule and another new set of coordinators. Im going with the latter, as my confidence in Orgeron is again waning after being unable to sustain a high level of success after the 2019 national championship season.

I will call for losses to Mississippi State, Florida, Ole Miss and Alabama, leaving the Tigers at 8-4. The sum of the parts is much greater than that, but Im not sure the whole will be where it should be. Will that be the end for Orgeron? Eight is probably the number where it could go either way. An NCAA notice of allegations is looming. Oklahoma and Texas are on their way in. It may be time for a change.
Record: 8-4 (4-4 SEC)
CFP Ranking: NR
Bowl: Gator Bowl vs. Miami (FL)