LSU Football: 5 Critical X-Factors for 2012

Key X-factors such as solid quarterback play could be what separates the LSU Tigers from another national championship in 2012.

Without any hesitation, the Tigers will easily be the most talented team in college football, but that doesn't always guarantee a title.

Some might argue that last year's team had the most talent in the nation, and you saw what happened on Jan. 9 against Alabama. 

In order for LSU to secure its goal and win another championship next season, these are five critical X-factors that the Tigers must have to triumph. 

Solid Quarterback Play

It's like beating a dead drum discussing LSU's quarterback play, but it's that important.

Tiger fans have suffered long enough with Jordan Jefferson's inability to lead the team with superb play, and it's cost the Tigers. After all, this is a guy who finished his career at LSU with 34 touchdowns and 20 interceptions after playing in 42 games.

With Jefferson at quarterback, teams around the league and across the nation knew the best way to stop LSU's offense was to shut down the running game. For the Tigers to live up to their potential this season, they have to be more than just a one-dimensional offense.

With Jefferson gone, the Tigers will have one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC, Zach Mettenberger, taking over the reins. It's imperative for him to get off to a strong start and strike fear into the defense with his deep ball. 

Should he do that and prevent defenses from loading the box against the Tigers' running game, LSU should be just fine offensively. 

Another Primary Receiver Emerges

Odell Beckham should be the go-to target for the Tigers this season.

Beckham proved last season that he's worth the hype as he showed off his catching skills and big play abilities throughout the season. Furthermore, he was second on the team in receiving behind Rueben Randle with 475 yards. 

But for the Tigers to keep those safeties deep, another wide receiver must emerge. This is where guys like Russell Shepard and Jarvis Landry come in. Tigers fans have been waiting a long time for Shepard to break out and live up to the hype that surrounded him when he was the No. 1 recruit nationally in high school.

In 13 starts, Shepard has only managed to catch 52 balls and record 473 receiving yards. Those aren't terrible numbers by any means, but it's not exactly what fans had in mind. As a senior, Shepard is running out of time to have his breakout year, and it'd be nice to see Landry join him.

If the spring game is any indication as to what Landry will be like for the Tigers in the fall, consider every team in the SEC warned. Landry led all receivers with 120 yards in the scrimmage, and if Mettenberger develops chemistry with all three of these receivers, the Tigers' struggles through the air will cease to exist.

Replace Ryan Baker

As a leader, Ryan Baker was top-notch.

At the 2011 SEC Media Days, I had the chance to speak with Baker, and he blew me away with his intelligence. He showcased that at linebacker last year. He was the quarterback of the defense, and he will be surely missed this season. 

In his senior season, Baker had 64 total tackles, and he took on big responsibilities such as covering Alabama's All-Everything Trent Richardson. 

The Tigers have some linebackers returning with experience in Kevin Minter, Lamin Barrow and Tahj Jones, and they've added some outstanding recruits in Ronnie Feist and Kwon Alexander to the roster.

So the talent is there. The only thing to worry about is if they can replace Baker's leadership skills. 

A Healthy Secondary

Consider LSU's secondary stacked, when healthy.

Some might argue that the secondary will be almost as good as it was last season because of Craig Loston and Tharold Simon filling the voids of Brandon Taylor and Mo Claiborne. After all, it was Simon that led the All-Star cast defensive backs in pass deflections a year ago. 

However, they won't have near the amount of depth. Last season, LSU could rotate in guys like Simon and Ron Brooks, and the secondary wouldn't miss a beat.

I'm not so sure that will be the case in 2012, and that's why it's important that everyone stays healthy.

Losing a player like Tyrann Mathieu or Eric Reid could cost the Tigers a shot at the national championship. That's how important they are to this team and this unit.

Coaching Staff Avoids Hiccups

When it comes to Les Miles, you have to take the good with the bad.

He's a great motivator, great recruiter and a great coach. But he's had his share of mind-numbing moments along the way. Such as the Ole Miss debacle in 2009 where he didn't call timeout in time and Jefferson spiked the ball with zero seconds remaining.

Or what about the time he nearly botched the win against Tennessee in 2010, and the Tigers barely escaped after Tennessee was penalized for having too many men on the field? And I won't even discuss the national championship game against Alabama. 

The fact of the matter is that Miles is tough to read. You never know what he's going to do, and when he starts to gain your trust, he usually does something to create more doubt in him. 

And that's why he's a huge X-factor for the Tigers this season. If Miles can just let his talent take over and manage the clock well in 2012, the national championship is as good as LSU's.