LSU Football: Comparing '11 Club to Les Miles' '07 National Championship Team

Before LSU's downfall in the 2011 BCS National Championship, the team was being considered as one of the greatest college football teams of all time.

After their 21-0 loss to Alabama, those talks quickly disappeared, but with the loss, are they still the greatest team in LSU's history?

They certainly had talent at every position on the field, and with their insurmountable depth, this 2011 team certainly makes a great case.

But we're not even sure if this is the greatest team Les Miles has had. After all, he did win a national championship in 2007 with a very talented group.

This is the position-by-position comparison of those two great teams.

Quarterbacks: Advantage '07

The weakness of last year's team was undoubtedly the quarterback position.

With Jarrett Lee losing the starting job after managing games well and making key throws, Jordan Jefferson became the ripple that tore the team apart.

Jefferson was limited with his abilities, and because of that, the Tigers were a one-dimensional offense.

Matt Flynn was the exact opposite. Everyone knew that Flynn had what it took to win games, as he proved it all season against teams like Florida, Auburn and Alabama.

Flynn had 2,622 yards that season with 21 touchdowns, and he saved his best performance for last when he threw four touchdown passes to defeat Ohio State for the championship.

Jefferson, unfortunately, did not save his best performance for last, and we'll keep it at that.

Running Backs: Advantage '11

As good as the running backs were on the '07 team, LSU's running back rotation last season was better.

I'm a huge fan of Jacob Hester, and because of the way he ground through that season, I was close to giving the edge to '07.

But when you look at the depth of last team's club, how can you dispute their talent?

As if Spencer Ware's brash running style, Michael Ford's elusive running and Kenny Hilliard's physicality weren't impressive enough, the Tigers still had two running backs in Alfred Blue and Terrance Magee that were more than capable of carrying the torch.

Last year's team had four running backs score more than 7 touchdowns, which is a feat that the '07 club failed to do.

Wide Receivers: Advantage '07

LSU has always had great receivers, but the trio of Early Doucet, Demetrius Byrd and Brandon LaFell was something fierce.

LaFell provided the explosive plays, while Doucet and Byrd were the go-to guys in the clutch. Byrd and Doucet's sure-handed abilities became visible in games such as the classic Florida game and the comeback victories over Alabama and Auburn.

Doucet put the entire team on his back against Alabama late, as he tied the game at 34 on a 32-yard touchdown reception on a fourth down play with 2:00 left in the game.

And who could ever forget Byrd's 22-yard touchdown reception against Auburn with one second left on the clock? Auburn fans certainly won't.

When it came to the receivers last year, Rueben Randle was a stud, but the overall group fails to compare to the trio that won LSU's last national championship.

Tight End: Advantage '07

Neither team had a game-changing tight end, but Richard Dickson was far more productive for the Tigers in '07 than Deangelo Peterson was for the Tigers last season.

Due to a few nagging injuries and so forth, Peterson was relatively a non-factor for the Tigers in 2011. He had 18 receptions for 179 yards and a touchdown, which seems very miniscule compared to Dickson's stats his sophomore season.

As a sophomore, Dickson was very much involved in the offensive game plan, and Gary Crowton used him wonderfully in the championship game against Ohio State.

That season, Dickson had 32 catches for 375 yards and five touchdowns, and with Crowton's play-design in the championship game, he had two touchdown receptions in the 38-24 win against the Buckeyes.

Offensive Line: Advantage '11

When it comes to football, you're only as good as the push you receive upfront, and the push that the offensive line gave in 2011 was tremendous.

So good, in fact, that the Tigers' ground-and-pound last year was feared by every team not named Alabama.

The Tigers main priority was run first, and this offensive line helped produce some big-time rushing yards.

The team averaged 202 rushing yards per game, and when one Tiger would go down with an injury, another Tiger would step up and perform just as well.

One of the big reasons why LSU will be so good next year is because they return most of their offensive line, and if they produce like they did in '11, it'll be another season to remember.

Defensive Line: Advantage '07

You really can't go wrong with either defensive line, but if I had to choose, I would go with the group from 2007.

The defensive line for the 2007 team was exactly what the secondary was for the team last year. They were without a question the strongest/deepest part of the team, and everybody knew it.

First and foremost, the man who led this group is one of the greatest LSU players of all time, and that's Glenn Dorsey. The Tigers have never seen a more dominating presence inside, and they perhaps never will.

Joining Dorsey on the line were Tyson Jackson, Ricky Jean Francois, Kirston Pittman, Al Woods and Drake Nevis.

Good luck trying to block that.

Linebackers: Advantage '07

Neither team had an outstanding linebacker core, but they both had two great leaders.

For last year's squad it was Ryan Baker, who was fourth on the team in tackles with 58, and for the '07 team, Ali Highsmith was the man.

It's close between both groups, but I'm giving the nudge to the 2007 squad.

Highsmith's 101 tackles in '07, along with great support from Darry Beckwith, Luke Sanders and Perry Riley, is far too impressive to overlook.

Secondary: Advantage '11

The '11 secondary blows by '07's secondary, easily.

Sure, 2007 had a fantastic safety in Craig Steltz, but Chevis Jackson, Jonathan Zenon and Curtis Taylor don't compare to last year's group.

Tyrann Mathieu was one of the best players in college football last year, while Mo Claiborne was the best cover corner in the game. LSU's safeties Eric Reid and Brandon Taylor were incredible, and most consider Reid's interception against Alabama to be the play of the year.

Add in the depth that Ron Brooks and Tharold Simon provided, and this is one of the best secondaries I've ever seen in college football. I'm not so sure we'll ever see another group like that again.

Special Teams: Advantage '11

This isn't even a comparison.

That's not a slight to Colt David or the rest of that team's special teams, but last year's special teams was one of the best groups I've ever seen.

From Brad Wing's punting to Drew Alleman's kicking to Jarvis Landry's big hits to Tyrann Mathieu's electrifying returns, this group was fantastic.

With Mathieu, Alleman, Landry and Wing all returning, LSU should have the advantage in special teams against any team in the nation in 2012.