In Depth Preseason Preview

Out of all the high profile coaching changes this off-season, LSU's hiring of Les Miles will be among the most interesting. He's not under the microscope that Notre Dame's Charlie Weis is, and he's not seen as a savior like Florida's Urban Meyer is considered. He doesn't have the fans giddy with glee like Steve Spurrier at South Carolina, and he doesn't need to change the direction of a program like Ed Orgeron is expected to at Ole Miss. What Miles has to do is try to maintain the high standards set by Nick Saban over the last five years with a team better than Saban ever coached; and that includes the national title squad.

For all the props Saban earned by turning LSU into a superpower, he only lost fewer than three games in one season. While everyone respected him, the atmosphere wasn't always warm and fuzzy with a high tension level always surrounding the program that creating a sense of urgency. It also made some supremely talented teams play very, very tight.

Under Miles, the program won't exactly be like walking into a hug, but the team appears to be a bit more relaxed and appeared to have more fun this spring. Miles is more media friendly coach who's hard to root against, but the Tiger fans aren't looking for a friend, they're looking for a national championship from a team that has as many, if not more, pro prospects than USC.

Only 13 lettermen are lost while 18 starters (but could technically counted as 20) return. Talent-wise, there's no weakness on either side of the ball, but you could nitpick at the dearth of developed depth in the secondary or at the lack of of a proven pass rushing end, but that's like looking for pimples on a beauty queen.

The two big questions are at quarterback and in the coaching. Is Miles ready for prime time? He had moderate success at Oklahoma State, but he didn't set the world on fire. (Then again, the same could be said for Saban when he was at Michigan State.) The assistants are there, like defensive coordinator Bo Pelini, to keep the same sort of butt-kicking fire there was under Saban, while Miles will have to prove early he can handle the pressure if the team isn't rocking and rolling. Second, will the three-way battle between JaMarcus Russell, Matt Flynn and Ryan Perrilloux be settled enough by September 3rd that there won't be a controversy if the winner isn't razor sharp from day one? The situation is the difference between the Rose Bowl and not playing in the SEC title game.

The Schedule: It isn't a peach, but all the big games are at Death Valley. Arizona State, Tennessee, Florida and Auburn are all top five-caliber teams that have to play in Baton Rouge. The SEC road games are nice and easy early on traveling to face Mississippi State and Vandy before the showdowns with the Gators and Tigers. Appalachian State provides a nice get-well week before the finishing kick at Alabama, at Ole Miss and against Arkansas.

Best Offensive Player: Senior OT Andrew Whitworth. On a team full of world-class speedsters and exciting playmakers, the senior tackle is the most reliable offensive player and the key cog up front that'll allow the machine to run smoothly.

Best Defensive Player: Senior DT Kyle Williams. Williams, combining with Claude Wroten, form one of the nation's best tackle tandems. He's able to get into the backfield and stuff the run equally well, and will be on almost everyone's All-America team before making millions next year in the NFL.

Key player to a successful season: QBs JaMarcus Russell, Matt Flynn and Ryan Perrilloux. They all have a world of talent, but one of them has to play like the be-all-end-all in fall practices or this could be a situation that tears apart the supremely talented team.

The season will be a success if ... LSU wins the SEC title. It's always asking for too much of anyone, including USC, to demand a spot in the national title game, but anything less than the SEC title for this group would be a major disappointment. Woe to Les Miles if the Tigers don't even win the West.

Key game: Oct. 22 vs. Auburn. The rest of the SEC West looks better and it's hard to get much worse than facing Tennessee and Florida from the East, but LSU can't play for the SEC title if it doesn't get by Auburn.

2004 Fun Stats:
- Fourth quarter scoring: LSU 83 - Opponents 30
- Rushing yards per game: LSU 193.8 - Opponents 99.8
- Kickoff return average: LSU 20.2 - Opponents 16.5
- Offense Breakdown and Analysis | Defense Breakdown and Analysis
- Depth Chart

2005 Recruiting Class
Star of the Class
Ryan Perrilloux QB 6-3 207 Reserve (East St. John) La.
Arguably, the No. 1 prospect in the nation for 2004 and one of the most elite recruits in recent history ... A consensus five-star All-American by every major recruiting publication ... A dominating playmaker called by many as the most dangerous offensive weapon in the nation ... No. 1 dual-threat quarterback who was nearly impossible to contain during his career ... Considered to have the strongest arm in the country with a quick release and pinpoint accuracy ... Can roll out and throw on the run flawlessly ... Breakaway speed with incredible agility ... Racked up a Louisiana high school record 5,006 total yards of offense as a senior, including 3,546 yards passing and 1,460 yards rushing ... Accounted for 67 total touchdowns (30 passing, 37 rushing) in 2004 ... Had one of the most dominating high school careers in state history totaling 12,705 yards of offense (9,025 passing; 3,680 rushing), which ranks as second all-time ... Ranks fourth on the state's all-time passing list ... Had 155 total touchdowns (84 passing, 71 rushing) in four years ... Totaled 21 tackles and two interceptions on defense ... Returned punts of 50 and 65 yards for touchdowns ... Accounted for 495 yards of offense in his final high school game versus Evangel in the state playoffs ... Three-sport athlete who plays shooting guard for the basketball team and centerfield for the baseball team ... Timed in the 40-yard dash at 4.48 seconds

Instant Impact Players
Steven Korte RB 6-2 230 Mandeville (Fontainebleau) La.
The state's top fullback prospect in 2004 ... Proved he can run and catch the ball out of the backfield and serve as a punishing blocker ... Physical running style with strong hands ... Missed two games at the start of the 2004 season due to a pulled hamstring ... Recorded 98 carries for 628 yards and six touchdowns as a senior ... Added 16 catches for 243 yards and three touchdowns ... Had a stellar junior season, accumulating 1,234 yards (11.3 per carry) and 19 touchdowns on the ground ... Also saw time on the defensive side of the ball at linebacker ... Runs a 4.5 40-yard dash

Al Jones DL 6-3 240 New Orleans (St. Augustine) La.
A blue-chip defensive end rated among the nation's best ... Relentless and aggressive pass rusher who caused havoc throughout his career ... Good quickness with a great first step off the line ... Registered 79 tackles and eight sacks as a senior ... Displayed his athletic ability by blocking three kicks ... Delivered a terrific junior season, tallying 70 tackles, including 30 for losses and 11 sacks ... Three-year starter ... Bench presses 315 pounds and squats 545 pounds ... Timed at 4.7 seconds in the 40-yard dash ... Recorded a 36-inch vertical leap

Rest of the Class

Kyle Anderson TE 6-6 260 The Woodlands Tx
Darry Beckwith LB 6-1 225 Baton Rouge (Parkview Baptist) La.
Ciron Black OL 6-5 315 Tyler (Lee) Tx
Harry Coleman LB 6-3 205 Baldwin (West St. Mary) La.
Chris Hawkins DB 6-1 180 Walker (Walker) La.
Lyle Hitt DL 6-2 272 Baton Rouge (Parkview Baptist) La.
Trindon Holliday ATH 5-6 170 Zachary (Northeast) La.
Max Holmes OL 6-4 285 Baton Rouge (Parkview Baptist) La.
R.J. Jackson RB 6-0 197 Houston (Westside) Tx
Brandon Lafell WR 6-3 180 Houston (Lamar) Tx
Antonio Robinson RB 6-1 199 Winnfield (Winfield) La.