LSU Football: Why Les Miles' Tigers Might Be Even Better Next Year

As well as things are going now for the LSU Tigers, they figure to only get better. The Tigers will have to find a new quarterback—seniors Jarrett Lee and Jordan Jefferson share the position now—and they will have to replace two starters on the offensive line.

But replacements already have been identified at both quarterback and on the offensive line.

The Tigers' practice of spelling starters with understudies during the game against even the toughest opponents means they will return experienced players at virtually every position.

Meanwhile, stars such as Tyrann Mathieu, Anthony "The Freak" Johnson and Odell Beckham Jr., are only beginning their turns in the spotlight.

Here are seven reasons it's only going to get better in Baton Rouge.

Walking the Line

LSU enjoys a veteran offensive line now but it will lose two starters after this season. However, three of the most heralded recruits of the last three years—Lael Collins, Chris Faulk and Chris Davenport—are ready to step in.

Center Patrick Lonergan will return as well. Faulk already starts at left tackle, the premium position on the offensive line. The Tigers make a point of spelling their linemen even during tough games, which means all will start with experience.

T and Mo Show Continues

LSU's secondary smothers defenses now and it figures to only  get better next year. Tyrann Mathieu is just a sophomore and Morris Claiborne, who patrols the opposite side, is a junior.

Five-star safeties Craig Loston and Eric Reid are both sophomores, as is Tharold Simon, who already averages six tackles per game. Safeties Ron Brooks and Brandon Taylor, a team leader, are the only losses of consequence.

Freak, Brockers and 3 Other Rockers

LSU has allowed only 300 yards rushing through four games. Only three seniors ever see action on the defensive front. 

Meanwhile, of the top seven linemen, one is a true freshman, three are redshirt freshmen and two are sophomores.

Redshirt freshmen Michael Brockers and Benny Logan and sophomores Barkevious Mingo and Sam Montgomery already are the top tacklers among the defensive linemen.

Freshmen Anthony "The Freak" Johnson, Jermauria Rasco and redshirt freshman Ego Ferguson are already pushing them. The beat goes on—or, if you're an opposing runner, the beatdown.

Young Receivers Are Catching on

Of the 64 passes LSU has completed this year, only eight have gone to seniors. Those seniors were all tight ends. LSU will lose absolutely nothing from its receiving corps after this season. 

Freshmen Odell Beckham Jr. and prep All-American Jarvis Landry already have become two of the Tigers' top three wideouts.

Sophomores Kadron Boone, James Wright and redshirt freshman Jarrett Fobbs have begun to emerge.

Rueben Randle, a junior, leads the team with 18 catches for 282 yards. Inexperience in the wide receiver corps may slow LSU against top opponents this year but the Tigers will be in great shape after this.

Backs Are All Back

This LSU team has done something few have managed—establish a character on offense. That character relies on a power running attack that has been slowed for a time during some games but never stopped completely.

At the heart of that attack are three sophomores—Spencer Ware (77 carries, 327 yards), Michael Ford (52 carries, 304 yards) and Albert Blue (18 carries, 76 yards)—who seem cut from the same power and speed mold.

All three are in their first year of getting real playing time,and all figure to improve. 

QB Situation in Good Hands

Regardless how the Jordan Jefferson/Jarret Lee situation plays out the rest of 2011, LSU will have a new quarterback in 2012. And that's always rough in the SEC.

But LSU will be in good hands with Zach Mettenberger, who left Georgia after one troubled season, then led Butler, Kansas to the national junior college championship in 2010.

Mettenberger, a 6'5" pro-style passer, should fit in well with the system the Tigers are using now with Lee. He's made just one appearance so far, but it gladdened the hearts of everyone in the Bayou State.

He hit 8-of-11 passes for 92 yards and had a QB rating of 173. If he falters, Phillip Rivers' little brother, Stephen, waits in the wings.

Familiarity Breeds Success

Usually it takes a while for teams to hit on all cylinders when they change offensive coordinators. What you're seeing now is the Tigers making that transition.

They hired Steve Kragthorpe to coach the quarterbacks and call the plays, but he backed out of the play-calling duties when he was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease over the summer.

So they promoted from within and named OL coach Greg Studrawa, a former coordinator at Bowling Green, to the position.

Coach Stud, one of the most popular assistants on staff, has the Tigers in high gear. They're averaging more than 40 points per game and 350 yards of total offense. Memo to SEC: This is your best chance to stop them.

Help on the Way

LSU already has 19 commitments, including two highly regarded TEs, three top offensive linemen and wide receiver Anthony Johnson, younger brother of former LSU All-American Patrick Peterson.

The Tigers have finished in the top 10 in recruiting for six straight years and a strong finish—augmented by what could be a national championship season—seems all but sure.