Louisiana State Football Preview

LOUISIANA STATE
The defending national champions are loaded with ability at most positions, except at QB. The athletic Ryan Perrilloux could have made this offense special but finally saw his future taking snaps in Baton Rouge come to an end when he was dismissed this spring. In the process a two-man battle is taking place between Jarrett Lee and Andrew Hatch. Lee appears to have more athletic ability and is the best option for making plays. The story on Hatch is going to get beaten to death this fall. The Nevada native who was the third team QB for Harvard just a few seasons ago may earn the starting role based on his mental capacity to understand the scheme better. There is no shortage in experience with the RBs. Despite losing the bruising Jacob Hester, no team boasts as many players here as does LSU. Upwards of five guys will see the field while sharing carries and they are all worthy of starting at just about any other school. Enhancing their chances will be a quality OL made up of two NFL-worthy players in Herman Johnson and Ciron Black while the receivers have proven veterans Brandon LaFell and Demetrius Byrd back in the lineup. Defensive coordinator Bo Pelini left to take the head coaching job at Nebraska. Also gone on this side of the ball are six starters including star DT Glenn Dorsey. But LSU is used to plugging holes with fresh talent and the DL rotation will continue to a plus. The secondary got raked this past season in terms of departures and will have to start out with few if any household names, as is the case with the entire defense. Under this umbrella, one of the best defenses nationally a year ago is not going to equal the same type of numbers through the reloading process. LSU is still the favorite to win the West Division. All eyes will be on the QB position, get used to it. The run game will be the primary source of victories.