ASU loses all four starting members of the secondary, including All-American and NFL-bound safety Corey Lynch, who was the cornerstone upon which ASU’s championship defenses had been built.
The fact that three of those starters were three-year starters cannot be overlooked, and despite an infusion of young talent, this group looks impossible to replace and likely will struggle against a very good LSU receiving corps.
Even with the secondary concerns this is still a talented team, led by what some are calling a legitimate Heisman trophy contender in QB Armanti Edwards. As always they are very well coached and well schemed in the spread offense, which gave Michigan’s supposedly more talented defense fits last year.
With the entire front seven back on the defensive side of the football, they should improve against the run, which will be critical if they’re to stifle an LSU running game which could lean heavily on Keiland Williams and Trindon Holliday.
Jerry Moore refuses to let this team get complacent, and while they’re not going to sneak up on LSU like they did Michigan, they certainly have no shortage of self-confidence.
I know what you’re thinking—lightning couldn’t possibly strike twice, could it? In all honesty it likely won’t, as even a quarterback-depleted LSU presents considerable problems for an Appalachian State team which figures to compete for a fourth consecutive National Championship.
Nevermind this SEC speed fallacy everyone keeps talking about—the real difference between LSU and Michigan will be attitude and outlook. Simply put, nobody is going to underestimate the Mountaineers after last year, and playing under the lights in a nationally televised contest like this could be a much bigger issue for a more inexperienced ASU team.
Despite the fact that LSU’s quarterback position remains uncertain, the Tigers have talent and depth at all the skill positions and match up considerably well against the Mountaineer secondary.
Armanti Edwards is going to look good against virtually anyone, but it will be interesting to see how he does without the majority of his supporting cast from last year’s upset, particularly his top three pass catchers.
By the same token, it will be interesting to see how the LSU quarterback, whether it be Lee or Hatch, comes out against ASU’s defense, and whether or not LSU plays a more conservative brand of offense.
This should be a competitive game, and although this LSU team is not nearly as vulnerable as Michigan was last year, the Mountaineers have proven they don’t back down to anyone.
That’s why I give Coach Moore and his squad at least a fighting chance against the defending FBS National Champions.
No. 9: Wofford at South Carolina (Sep. 6)
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