Tiger Tangents: An '09 Sneak Peek at The LSU Wide Receivers

It's tough to be a WR sometimes.

The Tiger WR's had to endure a a rough 2008. With no real passing threat during the season including the threat of playing defense more than they liked due to interceptions, it wasn't a banner year.

Senior Brandon Lafell skipped early entry into the NFL draft to try to improve his 63 catch 929 yard campaign from a year ago. After Lafell though there was a drop off in go to guys.

Or maybe Lafell's success was the problem.

LSU QB's zeroing in on Lafell and no one else. It was no secret that Demetrius Byrd was a little less than happy with the lack of looks he was getting from the QB's. It was nothing personal of course and much more of a lack of comfort and development from the LSU signal callers who lack the awareness to progress through their reads.

Things look up a bit at quarterback in '09 with everyone gaining a year of experience and the emergence of Jordan Jefferson at QB1. Hand in hand with that will be the performance of the wideouts.

We start with Lafell who has sick speed. Lafell can burn you but over his time at LSU has become a better route runner. His biggest inconsistency may be his hands which aren't bad as they are inconsistent. His biggest strides were made from his sophomore to his junior season when the mercurial #1 seemed to hold to haul in more catches without drops.

Also while he was seen as more of a slot guy his first two years Lafell, whose nickname is "Jo Jo", proved he could bring in balls between the hash marks in traffic last season. He will without a doubt be the top option at this position.

Even though Jared and Chris Mitchell are seniors, they are coming off a paltry season where they combined for just 17 catches. They may not be able to counted on in the production department but bring a wealth of experience to the position.

Terrence Tolliver was supposed to have his breakout season last year. It didn't happen. The 6'4" junior has the size and the hands but Tiger fans are hoping he can bring the mental part of his game around in '09. He shows flashes of brilliance but in '08 they were just that...flashes. All signs point to #80 showing his stuff in 2009.

R.J. Jackson is a converted running back who hopes to move up the depth chart in his senior season. There's been a precedent at LSU with tailbacks turned receivers with Josh Reed and Devery Henderson who both play on Sundays now. Jackson has a long way to go and will have to pack quite a number of highlights in his last collegiate season to follow in those footsteps.

My pick/kiss of death for this year's breakout player is Tim Molton. Wait, who? Coaches love this kid and he is practicing his way onto the field and he may be hard to keep on the bench in '09. You don't see many #43's lined up out wide but at 6'3" and 175 lbs he looks the part. Molton has great work ethic and is becoming hard to cover because of his size and agility. Catching everything that comes his way isn't hurting his cause either. I really like this guy to make some noise in '09 if he's given the chance.

Redshirt freshman Chris Tolliver wants to prove why he was so highly recruited two years ago. Tolliver has decent size at 6'1" and needs to see the field in order to prove he can be a top flight receiver.

Speaking of guys who were highly recruited, freshman Rueben Randle will probably figure into the mix in '09. He won't make it on to campus until the fall and learning the system may hinder him at first, but Randle looks to be a big time threat for years to come much in the same mold of Julio Jones at Alabama.

This squad will have a lot to prove in 2009. With Lafell being the only player with a great season behind him, this group will have to grow up quickly. But with a good mix of seniority and skills, the Tiger receiving corps may be the difference between a good season for LSU and a great one.