Preseason College Football Top 25 - #22 LSU

The college football season is less than one month away and as I try to pass the time between watching baseball highlights and soccer celebration dances, I can't wait for the gridiron action to get started. So, if we can't watch football, we're going to talk football. Welcome to the Preseason College Football Top 25 Countdown.

#22 - LSU Tigers - LSU enters 2010 with serious doubts about quarterback Jordan Jefferson. Is he ever going to become to effecient and talented player he has shown he came be against lesser opponents 9242 yards, 2 TDs passing against Auburn) or is he going to continue to disappear in big games (96 yards passing, -1 yards rushing against Florida)? LSU has surrounded Jefferson with talent at receiver with Terrence Toliver, Rueben Randle and Russell Shepard, and at RB with spring practice sensation Michael Ford. Now Jefferson must get them the ball. Jefferson wasn't helped out much by his offensive line last season and that group mst give him more time to get the ball to his talented weapons.

Defensively, the Tigers are always tenacious on defense but the 2009 LSU unit did not get after the passer as well as expected. Expect a talented group of linebackers to stress getting after the passer in 2010. Meanwhile, Patrick Peterson is a lock down corner who can allow the defense to put him on an island and pin their ears back on opposing passers.

Alabama is the obvious roadblock for the Tigers but with games against improved Arkansas and Auburn teams and games against tough non-conference foes North Carolina and West Virginia, its hard not to see LSU taking a step back in 2010.