Three Reasons Why LSU Will or Will Not Make the College Football Playoff in 2019
After four seasons of toiling at a subpar level below standards LSU set in the early 2000’s, the Tigers are back. Head coach Ed Orgeron has made a quick transition to a style of play he wants on the field with his offense seeing the results in a 10-3, 5-3 SEC, run in 2018. The Tigers ended the year ranked No. 6 in the Associated Press poll after a 40-32 Fiesta Bowl victory over then- No. 7 Central Florida. With 15 total starters back, the excitement level is at a feverish pitch in Death Valley.
The Tigers offense fought through adversity last season adapting to new coordinator Steve Ensminger’s schemes, a first-year starting quarterback in Joe Burrow, and injuries up and down the line that only saw two players start all 12 regular season games. In 2019, the big guys up front return four of five with talent on the outside and a senior quarterback in the pocket. Junior tailback Clyde Edwards-Helaire is the leading returning rusher after a 146-carry 658-yard seven-touchdown campaign. But there is much anticipation in the stands with fans ready to see five-star true freshman tailback John Emery Jr. and four-star Class of 2019 talent Tyrion Davis. With an experienced line and a quarterback defenses have to respect in the aerial attack, this backfield could return the team to the glory days of rushing for 230-plus a game last seen in 2016.
LSU’s defense has some big shoes to fill from last year’s squad but has an even spread of returners back from a Top 25 group in 2018. Gone are All-Americans (LB) Devin White and (CB) Greedy Williams, but there are All-American candidates in safety Grant Delpit and (Buck) outside linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson. The anchor in the trenches is senior defensive end Rashard Lawrence, placed on the preseason Hendricks Award Watch List. If cornerback Kristian Fulton can stay healthy, he is yet another Tiger with All-American potential this season.
With all the returning talent, and a tough schedule ahead, can LSU make a run at the College Football Playoff in 2019?
Three Reasons Why LSU Will Make the College Football Playoff in 2019
Joe Burrow – Quarterback
While Joe Burrow may not be the flashiest quarterback in the SEC, he has grit and moxie. His leadership showed in the regular season ending 74-72 seven-overtime thriller against Texas A&M. The Tigers took the loss, but the momentum Burrow and the offense gained against the Aggies should translate to wins in tight games this season.
While Burrow looked the part during his junior season, fans must remember that was his first season as a collegiate starting quarterback, his first season at LSU, and the first time the entire unit was running coordinator Steve Ensminger’s offense. The Ohio State transfer completed 58 percent of his passes on the way to a 2,894-yard campaign with 16 passing touchdowns. With the thought of a growing comfort level between coordinator and quarterback and with four starters returning along the offensive line, this unit should be salty.
The Defense
The Tigers’ defense was good in 2018, but still statistically performed below typical coordinator Dave Aranda standards even though the defense was a Top 25 nationally ranked squad (339 ypg). One thing working against LSU in 2018, the defense only had five starters returning. This unit has eight and promises to be even better than the previous year even with the loss of All-American linebacker Devin White and All-American cornerback Greedy Williams to the NFL.
The secondary will be one of the best in the nation led by All-American candidate Grant Delpit at safety. Linebacker Jacob Phillips was tough against the run last season and has Patrick Queen next to him taking over for White. The Tigers have three standouts at end in Glen Logan, Breiden Fehoko, and Rashard Lawrence. If LSU can avoid the injury bug that plagued this unit, the Tigers could have a top-10 national defense running around the field.
The Schedule
As college football schedules go, LSU’s is laid out to succeed in 2019. There are hard games on the road to Texas and Alabama, and at home against Florida and Texas A&M, but everything is spread out nicely. One could argue that the only tough two-game stretch is a home game against Auburn followed by bitter rival Alabama, but the Tigers do get a bye week in between.
One of the knocks against LSU over the last decade or so has been the team’s tendency to lose a game they were favored to win. In 2018, it was falling 27-19 on the road to then- No. 22 Florida only to rally the following week beating No. 2 Georgia 36-16. Can the Tigers avoid a head-scratching loss that keeps them out of the SEC Championship Game and a possible playoff berth?
Three Reasons Why LSU Will Not Make the College Football Playoff in 2019
Alabama Crimson Tide
A series that was once owned by LSU in the early 2000’s has taken a turn for the worse with rival Alabama winning eight straight contests. In 2018, Alabama had their way with LSU rolling up 576 yards of total offense to the Tigers’ 196; that includes a paltry 12 yards on the ground.
The good news, Alabama may not be as loaded with top experienced players as seen in recent years. The Tide’s offense returns six starters, but the vast majority are skill position players. The defensive front for Alabama will be green as well. As is the case with every team going up against Alabama in the Nick Saban era, can the opposition take advantage of those weaknesses enough for the upset?
The Loss of Devin White
LSU played fantastic defense before Devin White joined the team, but losing an All-American at inside linebacker would be tough for any team to overcome. Patrick Queen played in all 13 games a year ago starting four. He was effective with his time getting 40 stops with 4.5 tackles for a loss and did well starting for a suspended White against Alabama. The hand wringing in the middle of the defense is replacing White’s 123 tackles, 12 tackles for a loss, and three sacks.
The hope is the defensive front will be improved enough to keep blocks off the linebackers so the unit can eliminate anything that may pass the line of scrimmage. Queen has experience, but can he help the team forget about White with his play on the field over time?
LSU’s Rushing Attack
The Tigers’ rushing attack fell way off last season going from 208 yards per game to 174. Many can point to the loss of Derrius Guice without another dynamic back on the roster, but more was at play than just the talent of Nick Brossette. The offensive line suffered through various injuries with only center Lloyd Cushenberry and right guard Damien Lewis starting all 13 games. Through the struggles of piecing together different starting units up front in 2018, can this group find their footing and morph into the powerhouse that controls the game in the trenches?
Brossette used up the last of his eligibility leaving Clyde Edwards-Helaire as the top returning back. A lot of hope is placed upon two incoming true freshmen to be the difference makers out of the backfield this season in five-star recruit John Emery Jr. and four-star back Tyrion Davis. Despite their recruiting rankings, is it too much to ask of true freshman to be the dynamic play-makers needed on offense that will help carry this team to a College Football Playoff berth?
Final Prediction
After waiting for another run to a title since the amazing 2011 campaign that finished with a 13-1 record and an appearance in the BCS Championship Game, LSU will make a run to the College Football Playoff in 2019. This squad is mixed with young and veteran talent and the schedule lines up for some potential Top 10 victories to impress the Playoff Selection Committee. The regular season has potential pitfalls with a road game to Texas, home games against Florida and Auburn, and the Nov. 9 visit to Tuscaloosa, but if the Tigers can clear the mental hurdle that has been Alabama, there is no stopping this team. The SEC Championship Game will not be a cakewalk, especially if having to face Florida again or getting a rematch against the Georgia Bulldogs from last season. The only thing that can seemingly stop LSU in 2019 is LSU.
Photo credit: si.com; Joe Burrow in the pocket for LSU (2018)