LSU Football Preview: Can Tigers Win 10 Games Again?

intro [Music] hey welcome in latest episode of that SEC podcast I'm your host Michael Braden I go by SEC mik Twitter and I'm joined as always by my cousin Shane who goes by Big Orange fils on the Twitter machine what's up yo TSC hober go tag us yeah as you can tell by Shay's intro you can tell by my background here we're marching on with our fall Camp preview series we're going with mlsu tiger Shane let's do it baby uh you know and one of the things that's kind of cool it's like we started out with these teams that we we feel like are hot but I'm telling you brother the closer we get to kickoff the more and more I'm picking up some of this LSU steam you're seeing it on the recruiting Trail by God they got the number one everything coming in you know what I'm saying LSU is fired up theyve 2023 recap they said the hell with baseball we're moving on we're ready for some football and I'm ready to talk about some tigers yeah they're just in such an interesting spot Shane I mean heck Brian Kelly's won 20 games in his first two years he he's clearly an elite coach uh you know we we forget what happened I I feel like so quickly but you know he walked into the SEC West the toughest division in the country won it his debut season so there there's reason for optimism there there's reason to question the Tigers this is one of the hardest teams to put my finger on Shane you could tell me they they make the college football playoff you could tell me they barely make a bowl game and I would I would buy either one not not that I think you know six and six five and seven is realistic or anything but uh just just this this is potentially one of the the hardest teams to Fig figure for me uh among the teams that are eyeing the college football playoff yeah I I mean this is this is one of those friends team that you could argue can make the playoff You could argue is going to miss the playoff um and and I feel like this is more like one of those Camp teams you know it's either you're one or the other there's nobody sitting in the middle saying well it could go either way they're like no let me tell you why they're going to make the playoffs or let me tell you why they're not and and I'm I'm kind of in that optimistic camp and this is one of my teams I I kind of fell in love a little bit earlier here in the off season but uh I'm very very interested with all the additions and the and the roster breakdown that we're about to do if I feel as optimistic by the end of the show right and there also go back and check it out if you you missed our old Miss preview they're kind of like the anti- old Miss where they will dip into the portal but they're more about recruiting elite players developing them and clearly Brian Kelly knows exactly what he's doing so we'll we'll start right there with coach Kelly Shane 186 and 69 in 20 years as a FBS head coaching breakdown coach before that he was at I believe it was called uh Grand Valley State something like that won championships at that level if if you count his uh I believe that's division three if you count his division three record he is actually the winnest coach in college football right now so again even with that out that he's outstanding he's 20 and seven in two seasons at LSU Notre Dame he was 113 and 40 my goodness Cincinnati 34 and six he he took them to uh BCS Bowl back back then and at Central Michigan 19 and6 but uh you know I really got to hand it to Brian Kelly Shane because a lot of coaches win 20 games in this league their first two years they're saying well I clearly know what I'm doing I don't have to listen to people saying you know we got to remove the defensive coordinator we got to blow up the defensive side of the football he he nearly didn't he he nearly kept Matt house but he made the tough decision he made the right decision blowing up the defensive coaching staff and I'm just fascinated to see how that plays out on the field this fall yeah well I mean you got to adapt or you die you know and and that's one of the things they kind of hit hard on him in the offseason there were some comments he made that went viral about paying players and you know we know we're at that day and age and and the fact of the matter is LSU maybe didn't have to go to the portal like they have in years past and and and that's one of the things that that we T like you said you talk about the opposite of an Old Miss team a team that's been merting a team that's been growing and the reason that folks are so optimistic about this season is just the fact that this is Brian Kelly's dudes you know this is the this is some of those classes that he brought in now we're starting to see you know kind of the ceiling of this program and and how far that can go right you say adap or die but it sounds easy Shane but not everybody's willing to do it dbo ain't doing it his his s crumbling Gus Malon didn't do it he's gone already you know uh Jimbo Fisher obviously another one get his ass out of here so uh you get These Guys these BigTime jobs all this money they say it's my way or the highway but again I I just want to credit Brian Kelly for not being that way and Landing defensive coordinator Blake Baker sh he's been was instrumental last couple years at Missouri turning around Eli drinkwitz program coming off 11 win season could not have done it without Blake Baker now here's another interesting thing Shay Blake Baker was on staff at LSU in 2021 so had Brian Kelly sat here and said hm let's keep this guy you know but he didn't and he went to Missouri so he was a linebacker coach became defensive coordinator I don't think it was ever on the table for him to be LSU defensive coordinator but I also think it takes you know a big man to sit here and say oh I screwed that up and not only did he do that they had long time defensive backs coach a big reason why LSU is DBU is Corey Raymond who he let go when he got hired at the job he went down to Florida recruited a bunch of defensive backs for the Gators now Cory Raymond's back to fix the mess that is currently DBU so these are two huge additions for LSU's coaching staff this off season and it ain't over yet because they got arguably the best defensive line coach if he's not the best he's top two top three yeah and Bo Davis who's at Texas last couple years that's why Texas was dominant on the defensive side of the ball particularly in the line of scrimmage last season he's worked at with Nick Sabin he played at LSU Shan again we love these guys that play and and returned to coach he's been in the NFL uh two stops with Sabin actually and uh yeah Bo Davis elite elite elite defensive line coach and these th three hires alone I think are going to be huge for LSU oh yeah I mean they opened up the checkbook and said get whatever you need you know and and that's one of the things I love about LSU is they are one of those blue chip programs that typically stays toward the top but you see in years past man Just In Our Lifetime how many of these Blue Chip programs you thought would never change and then all of a sudden they're in Nebraska you know they're a Florida they're they're they're they're fighting tooth and L we thought Texas here's here's another one Texas finally getting back in the mix right now but it it was some long days man you know there was a lot of bad coaches that came through there to get to this point so once you get close to that that that top you want to stay there and I love the commitment that this athletic department has for this football team right and and it wasn't just those guys either Shane Edge coach Kevin peoples he was at Missouri last year so he's coming with Blake Baker I like that they're bringing uh safeties Cate coach Jake olssen he was also at Missouri so that I like this because this isn't you know you're hiring a defensive coordinator and saying okay fix fix all this bring your guys that that helped you you know so I I think the the continuity even though they're new coaches to Baton Rouge they're not new coaches working together I think that'll be big and uh you know we did lose offensive coordinator to Notre Dame so we we've got new offensive coordinator Joe Sloan and our outstanding receivers coach Cortez hton is now the passing game coordinator so new roles new responsibilities on the off side of the football as well in addition to a new special teams coordinator Slade Nagel who was at to Lane the last eight seasons as uh tight ends coach offensive coordinator quarterbacks coach he's played he's basically coached every positioned down there at too late shade so he's staying inate bringing in a new special teams coordinator but that is one again I'm not panicking or anything but uh a lot of transition uh all across offense defense special teams from for LSU's coaching staff that's something that uh you know you got to keep your eye on at least yeah but again too this is a team that has kind of changed the last couple of years so I'm not expect you talk about coach Kelly that's one of the things I admire most about him is just the adaptability not just you know what we just talked about the start of the show not just the the office side of it but the play side of it he's going to he's going to get the best players out there he's going to get the best coaches out there and he's going to get the most out of him because he's got a track record of doing it yeah now we get into the returning production from last returning production season Shane and uh you know obviously the great news we had the best offense in the country highman Trophy winner all these draft picks the bad news they're all the way in the NFL now so uh we're 35% returning production on the offensive side of the football that's 13th in the SEC only 133% of our passing yards are back 21% of our rushing yards are back and 33% % of our receiving yards and we're bringing back 75% of the offensive line snaps Shane that's number three in the SEC that a big reason why a lot of people are high on LSU is this offensive line may be the best in the SEC if not the country so new pieces certainly all around the quarterback but but again this is LSU brother we we still got a top 10 roster I don't care how many people we sit to the NFL this we're just basically reloading for the Next Generation that'll be in the NFL in a year or two you know what that's what they do buddy reload and and and that's why you got so many universities sitting on you know outside Baton Rouge saying hey man if you can't start come over here you can you know what I'm saying so that's just the kind of talent they've always got rolling through there and will continue and and and I will say going back on the coaches one thing I didn't mention is you know they brought back a lot of Louisiana guys you know what I'm saying and and and sometimes that culture I think gets lost and and uh when you bring a little bit more of that passion you know that passion for your your program I think that that that pays dividends especially on the recruiting Trail yeah no doubt sh and obviously they're kicking ass on the recruiting TR right now now interestingly SH now we got the reverse issue on the defensive side of the football obviously we were awful let's call it what it is arguably the worst defense in school history but uh we're bringing back 64% of the production which is number four in the SEC on the defensive side of the ball so that would suggest that we're going to get a lot better but I I think you could also argue many would I don't want these guys back but again we're not saying that for these guys but we're we're number two in the SEC 78% of our tackles are back 73% of our tackles for loss that's fifth in the also fifth in the SEC and sacks returning 61% interceptions 60% that's sixth in the SEC and passes defended 70% back that's number four in the SEC so again we got a ton of experience on the defensive side of the ball and and that that's that's why I highlight these returning production metrics Shane because it those don't tell you necessarily who's the best who's the worst but they give you a a great indication of the units that will improve the most from one year to the next because of the returning production so I I mean it goes without saying with the returning production with the talent on hand and the coaches hired it would be a complete disaster if if this defense and not a disaster but a but a shock that if LSU's defense does not get much better yeah no and again I think I think this boils down to coaching I keep going back to it man I just don't think folks it it wasn't that LSU had terrible athletes on defense last year you know I I don't think that was the case at all I think you can make an argument that they just weren't in the right place they didn't have the right plays they didn't have the right development you know there's there's some of that I think is is what's contributed to honestly one of the worst defenses I've ever seen in my life Mike I mean it was garbage at times and I it was laughable you know it almost looked like me playing NCAA like I don't care we're going to have shoot out anyway you know that's kind of what it felt like but but I you know I don't I don't know how how many times I've referenced recipes on this show but it felt like we had the ingredients last year we just didn't know what to put where you know and it just came out like [ __ ] so that's one thing I love about this returning production is because yes maybe that defense didn't look great last year but one of the cool things about it is I think they may be in the right place this season right and back to your point Shane it's almost like the old uh well old it's about to be new again the college football video game where where you just you you let the computer you let your opponent just score at will for the sole purpose of racking up production for your quarterback who you trying to get to win the Heisman so uh that's kind of what it looked like for LSU last year I I do it on Madden now I just simulate the defense so I get back out there I I do want the punt returns though you know CU I like those all right let's highlight the transfer portal shaded and uh we we lost some key pieces here for LSU uh now we've attacked as well but uh left transfer portal update tackle Lance herd at Tennessee he's projected to be their starting tackle he he was our highest rated s just two years ago so that's a hit uh Jeremiah Hughes quarterback he's now at Michigan State running back Logan Diggs he's now at Old Miss so the fact he's had a rival here kind of hurts us offensive lineman Marlon Martinez he's at Mississippi State and then Edge Defender Quincy Wiggins he made the mistake of joining d up there in Colorado he got suckered in up there so again we ain't crying over a lot of these guys I I think the tackle could hurt you but again we got two of the best tackles in the ESC so he was really just an elite depth piece but uh wait till you get to the guys we've added he's go yeah he's going to hate that November you know when he's up there two feet of snow and he could have been down there eating gumbo you know without a shirt you know because it's 75 degrees outside yeah now the guys we've added Shane I on three 247 Sports I don't I don't get it they they don't like these classes I I think it's just because they didn't add a lot of guys but I would rather again back to Brian Kelly strategy I would rather add quality than quantity and they just don't have a ton of needs right now at LSU so on Three's got this as the 54th transfer class 247 Sports got it as the 43 transfer class but they got some potential huge impact here Shane from Liberty receiver CJ Daniels 106 catches almost 2,000 yards and 21 touchdowns for Liberty and this is a guy shade I don't know if you remember this but uh the Liberty Coach came out and said well by God we just can't match 300 something thousand do an apartment and a car like LSU so I'm not saying that because I I don't know that that's true that that really happened but the coach did cry about it and that gives you an indication just what LSU thinks about what it took to get him here CJ Daniels Big Time impact I think he may even start for the Tigers Shane they got zavon Thomas from Mississippi State he was not really correctly utilized in my opinion at Mississippi State 40 catches 500 yards and a touchdown last season but he's also a huge threat Shane on special teams 365 return yards he had a punt return touchdown he had a kickoff return touchdown another weapon for LSU's offense I love that addition our guy AJ Swan up there at vanderbelt shade yeah he is now gon to be in the mix here you know I don't think he's coming in here to unseat Garrett nus this this is Garrett nm's job but behind him they they have a red shirt freshman so it's good to have this kind of Veteran that has played in the SEC and you know we we think very highly of AJ Swan given the circumstances at vanderbelt was going to be very tough for any quarterback to succeed but he th he's thrown for 22 touchdowns nine picks 2,700 yards uh and then we added javar sugs Grand Valley State Shane 42 tackles 14 and a half tackles for loss eight sacks in 22 games up there uh Gio pz Lyman from Wisconsin 35 tackles in 32 games up there Jer Brown corner from Ohio State nine tackles three passes defended in his two seasons up there Austin Osberry from Auburn another safety he's played up eight Gam games up there and then Jordan Gil Jordan Gilbert from Texas A&M a former Elite recruit played 24 games for the yaggies 79 tackles two picks in his two seasons up there so again we we didn't add a ton of players because we didn't quite need them but I like that we're we're adding weapons we're adding help on the on the line of scrimmage and we're adding to the the secondary which has been quite frankly a a disaster the past couple of years well you went up to Ohio State and got you recruit last I think I know one guy that won a Heisman that did that route so I'm not not saying that happens but no I again I I don't think they were having a parade over this this uh transfer class but but there was some some big gets and and like you said in places that they kind of needed so right um yeah least I I I I like that wide net approach for for programs that got a new coach but when you see an established coach like coach Kelly and and what he's been able to do on the recruiting Trail this is what you want man that's what it was designed for is just to kind of amplify a spot that you're struggling in right and it tells me Shane that the coaches some of the guys coming up they may not be household names yet but they have confidence that that they will be that they're fit for the system that they'll be very productive this fall so that that's what it tells me and then they signed the number seven recruiting class in the country Shane that's number four in the CC and they got them a fstar on the defensive line come on Al she was going to have a festar lineman Dominic McKinley number five defensive lineman in the country it's uh hard to imagine him not playing in some capacity for the Tigers this fall and then they sign 19 four stars Shane and these are the guys that I think will make a impact this fall they've already been talking up as safety Shane number two safety in the country Deshawn McBride he he I don't think he'll start right away but he I think he may be a starter by the end of the season the way they're talking him up uh travez green the number two tight end Prospect in the country Brian Kelly loves his tight ends so uh I could imagine green hitting the field like the opposite of Mike Kaden Durham the number six running back in the country we we got a a a loaded running back room but again we could always use a running back at LSU Mike Turner the number nine receiver Titan Singleton the number 12 linebacker and kin bilot the number 13 receiver so mhm man I I we'll get to the receivers just a second Shay but uh this this is quite the collection of talent they got down here in Baton Rouge they always got a loaded skill positions you know what absolutely absolutely and and a lot of lot of lot of athletes period that I what you say 19 fourstar athletes you know I mean there's some kids there's some schools out there didn't get one fourstar you got 19 of them so yeah LSU will be fine and and it's one of the things you know too going into what is this year three for Kelly yep you know they don't not of yeah maybe one or two of them may have that impact but you don't have to have them some of these schools they have to have some of these these freshman hit you know right exactly but where they're not going to need any freshman sh let's let's get into the depth charts ranking the offensive position groups Far and Away offensive depth chart/position rankings in my opinion the best position group probably on the entire football team and again one of the finest in the country the offensive line yeah for LSU 75% of the returning Snaps are back led by our guy will cable shade he's he's probably the finest left tackle in the country he was first team allc last year uh he he allowed a sack as a freshman Shane he's not allowed a sack since that I mean my goodness he played 800 snaps last year he started all 26 games he started since the moment he got on campus I Bean my god he has nightmares every night for that one you know just the one that got away and then next to hip shade uh left guard Garrett Dillinger he's he's got 23 starts in his career started every game last year uh 797 snaps last year miles Frasier the Right Guard he's back another start 25 starts in his two seasons there at LSU and then maybe the best right tackle in the shade emry Jones 24 starts he was second Team all SEC last year uh I mean loaded loaded position group here and we got other guys like DJ Chester Tyrie Adams Paul Ming Christian stamps Bo borderline and oh yeah Shane just throw them in there just for good measure uh they signed a junior college guy that that should add some depth here so uh offensive Line's going to lead the way for LSU give Garrett NM time and these running backs running Lanes this if LSU does big things it's because this offensive line lived up to the hype you know every now and then Mike we have a season where the offensive line is just extraordinary you know what I'm saying and I love I I love offensive line obviously I'm a big guy myself so I'm a little partial to it but you know I think about like A&M and the Goon Squad and and and and all these different it's like this may be one of those units that we're talking about all time like if you're picking the all-time best offensive line from this program there's a shot that unless you has it right now surely they got a nickname they got to work on it if they don't have one right now we we got to come up with one right and to your point one that just stuck out to me uh like a sore thumb Shane last year missoui missou their their offensive line was outstanding and and that's that was a huge reason I know we give all the hype to Luther and Brady they deserve all the all the praise but they don't get there if they don't have that good offensive line you know what that's right man that's absolutely right we should just do a show with offensive linemen throwing it out there may be terrible ratings we may get like 50 views but they need the respect Mike all right next uh we'll save that for another day sh receivers uh again LSU's always loaded at receiver I don't care they just sent two first round picks of the NFL there're they're still going to be highly productive down here led the way by Kiren Lacy he's got over a 100 catches in his LSU career Shane nearly 1500 yards 17 touchdowns he actually led the team Shade last year in yards per catch 18.6 last season so yeah again they had some Elite guys but he was right there with them uh Chris Hilton big name in the spring he he's ready to step up 22 catches 415 yards three touchdowns in his college career Aaron Anderson transfer in last year from Bama he played in 11 games had two starts 12 catches 59 yards he's kind of that slot receiver Jitterbug explosive guy you know he'll be a dynamic guy Shelton Samson he shed last year but he was a five-star he's one of the top prospects in the country two years ago and then again those transfers CJ Daniels the million-dollar man down there according to Liberties coach whatever zavon Thomas throw them into the mix and the number nine receiver Prospect Michael Turner number 13 receiver Prospect kylin bilot again none of these guys may be household names today by the end of the season I bet you a couple of them are they will be and and and that's why you know a lot of people you mentioned DBU earlier and and I think they've kind of dropped off a little bit on that one they could pick it back up they got some dudes but but wide receiver you is the one when I put that out there it's like all the teams this is the one that keeps popping up because you think of the all-time greats even recently I'm talking Hall of Famers in the NFL right now Mike so it wouldn't surprise me if one or two of these kids aren't the same right and next I got quarterbacks Shane I I like this quarterback room again Garrett NM last season was the MVP of the reliaquest bowl let a comeback win late in a fourth quarter down I think 10 points and they and they won that game on the last two drives he's got over 1,700 passing yards he's played in 18 games in that bowl game Shane 395 pass yards three touchdowns 31 completions he's he's awesome Ricky Collins red shirted last year he was a four-star recruit so he's there along with AJ Swan and oh yeah Shay just throw in another fourstar quarterback coming here Colin Hurley how how about this Shane again he's at LSU he's 16 years old and he's one of the quarterbacks so uh I mean to be 16 and be at LSU particularly at the quarterback position you've got to be a prodigy you know what my I'm telling you one thing though people sleeping on AJ Swan I I I think that we were really high on him with Vanderbilt one thing he didn't have up there was an offensive line as he ran for his live so having some time he's very he's got some m ability to him he's a great looking athlete and I I think with giv the right opportunity brother this is one of those guys I'm not saying he's going to push Garrett for a starting role but you know if there is an injury or something like that don't don't be surprised if there's a little quarterback controversy coming into next season right and those are the additions Shane that go under the radar even LSU fans I bet they'd say well that's nice we got Garrett yeah but God forbid like you said not maybe it's just a series maybe it's a half maybe you know maybe it's Alabama game he he can't play the second half he got targeted or whatever in comes a guy like AJ Swan Wy the damn game that's going to be the pickup of the offseason if it if it results in a big time win you know what absolutely man and a guy that has SEC experience I mean how many of those were floating around last year in the transfer portal right right now again Shane likes to joke but I don't even have tight ends last on this team Shane we use a tight end down here at LSU and we're led by Mason Taylor I ain't even going to tell you who his dad you know his dad is do you know 27 starts in his two seasons down there Shane 762 receiving yards four touchdowns he's caught a pass in 16 consecutive games uh 36 career of catches Shane 15 of them first downs so damn near every every other pass he catches he converts to a to a first down and he will always be a hero to be sh because he caught a touchdown and a two-point conversion over Alabama as a true freshman to whoop Nick sa's ass so I love love me some Mason Taylor they also got Mark marway love that name 12 games last year is a true freshman uh here's another name for you Shane apologies camoran pimpon I love that name too eight games last year true freshman and then don't forget the number two tight end Prospect in the country he's on the team travez green so I I like this unit sometimes we roll out two tight ends at LSU and we got the bodies to do it this fall you like it but they're down there at the bottom again it's like who no I got one one more oh who you got special teams oh running backs special team water boy what is it again I I don't know I mean maybe it maybe this is unfair but when I think of running backs in LSU I feel like you know that's like world class athlete yeah and we haven't had that in a while so but I don't know we got to get that corrected these are not bad players by any stretch but uh most experienced back Josh Williams th000 yards 11 touch sounds in his career thankfully we we got John Emery back Shane he's had a real Rocky career there I think is a nice way of saying it you know will he be eligible he jumped in the portal he's out of the portal former five star but he is flashed he also has a thousand just over a, yards in his career 14 touchdowns Caleb Jackson last year 165 yards four touchdowns and then Trey Holly 110 yards and a touchdown he red shirted last year so I'm I'm not say sitting here saying this is like a bad unit I'm not saying it's it's uh you know we can't have success with these guys but again in my mind I think LSU I think a running back it's almost like you pencil in one of these guys for all conference and we haven't we haven't been able to do that in four or five years it seems like no that's a great great point I mean when it's funny I go round and round like with running backs you know I think a Georgia I think of LSU and the and and you know Faulk and forette and you know uh guys and all these guys that that just come through and just were World beaters and you just thought that pipeline would never dry up and then it it did and and then now don't get me wrong we've had some recruits come in and we thought this is the guy this is the guy that's going to put him so there was some swinging misses I feel like but uh yeah I think I think behind this offensive line how can these running backs not succeed and another one I I I don't think you said this the Clyde's deal remember even the Clyde he Wasa our last great one you know what yeah no I mean they've had man well yeah bring them back bring them back you all right now to the defensive side of the ball sh this this is a little bit tougher because again let's call it what it is you know there's not up to par not not up to LSU standard last year but that doesn't mean we're devoid of talent or anything so I'm going with the linebackers of course and it's basically because they got Harold Perkins who again I I don't think he lived up to the billing last year they're playing him out of position they some genius decided to play him as a coverage even though he's got maybe the most dynamic pass rusher in the country but he was still second Team all SEC last year Shane 21 starts in two years 147 tackles 26 tackles for loss 13 sacks seven force fumbles two interceptions imagine if they utilized him properly what his stats would be but defensive depth chart/position rankings do you think let me get and and we're hoping that they figure it out this season but do you think that there's a shot that we look back at Perkins like maybe you're watching him in the NFL and you're just like I can't believe that dude's on our team we did not do right by him you know do you feel like there's a real shot that we kind I think of like Tennessee and Alvin chra and uh you know some of these other athletes that just they were really good but it just felt like they were never in the right place in college yeah no I mean I think that definitely would have happened had we brought back Matt Matt house Shane but that that's a big reason why Blake Baker he's a linebacker coach he's defensive coordinator now we' seen him at Missouri he likes to bring exotic pressures from all over the field MH that should fit Perkins to a te so I'm hoping that doesn't come the case but yeah if they don't utilize him he will certainly fit into that category you know what exotic pressure I've not heard that one I like that oh yeah that's why i' size up a chair before I sit down because it's about to get some exotic pressure we next to Perkin show we got Greg penb back experienced starter 37 games 27 starts 178 tackles 20 12 and a half tackles for loss four sacks and two interceptions so hell of a trio or or Duo right there in the startings and then how about this shade this is wild I don't know if you're aware of this but they got two brothers at linebacker oh wow Whit weeks and West weeks they the family loves W up there I guess but uh Wht played in 11 games last year as a true freshman had 49 tackles three and a half tackles for loss and then his older brother West he's played 38 games one start he's got 75 tackles four and a half tackles for loss two and a half sacks and let me ask you Shane because I know you got a brother who's uh you know you guys were highly competitive kind of sounds like to me Whit the younger guy was a little bit more productive than his older brother last year really how would you take it if uh you know I I know you and your brother used to be on the same football team if he began to surpass you as did that even happen how would you handle it no no no I I I mean anybody that's met the fly in Hawaii knows uh you know we we are we are not built the same I always I always say we're the exact opposite uh he's tall he's skinny like mov twins yeah that's right I got all the good stuff I'm the Arnold he's the Danny deito you know but uh but no he was always the fastest one so I couldn't compete with him to I mean up to a certain extent you know I had some Mobility but then all of a sudden he just passed me but you know strength you know what I'm saying once I caught that little bastard you know it was all like Donkey Kong yeah one of the funniest parts true story one of the funniest parts about my brother was we used to practice long snapping in the uh in in the front yard you know so I always figured hey if I can't make College you know doing a offensive lineman because I'm never going to be 65 you know but maybe I could be a professional Long Snapper my brother ended up winning that job so I guess in a long run it was funny because in the high school you're not able to you're not allowed to cover up the Long Snapper so here's this you know 4 five40 kite just running down he's almost catching the damn ball so I don't know that college should probably look into that start having some more wide receivers slon snapping so sorry we went down to Rabbit Hall there yeah well speaking of liveage Shade that's where I'm going next for l use defense I I got the defensive line second on my unit rankings here Savon Jones is back 38 games he's played 16 starts 59 tackles nine and a half tackles for loss and seven sacks as an LSU Tiger a and one guy that Brian Kelly was over the moon about in the spring Shane this potentially could be the next star on the defensive front for them LSU Tigers Jacobi and giloy 39 games just three starts but 51 tackles two tackles for loss and and if he's taken that next big step again he's going to be the starter I would think on that defensive line and they got some depth in Jaylen Lee he's played 32 games with four starts we've got Braden Swinson he's he's played 42 games also two starts 70 tackles in his career Deshawn wac true freshman last year but he played in every game Paris sand 37 career games 59 tackles 10 and a half tackles for loss seven sacks and then the transfers javir Suggs from Grand Valley and Gio PW from Wisconsin and oh yeah sh just throw in a five star Dominic McKinley true freshman so we're this is this position group is an unknown right now but there's plenty of bodies to work with and that's that's exactly where you want to be is that why you have them so high just because of the the the amount of athletes we have there well yeah that and just kind of the anytime these coaches give us any kind of nugget in the spring I maybe I overreact to it but uh you know I always stay very locked into what they're saying and I know Brian Kelly was he made it very evident you know we we've got to add people in this second portal window and that was where the famous comments came from so they whiffed on a couple guys but uh again if if they had landed those guys this is probably the number one unit for me if that makes sense yeah I got you I was just curious now last and least I guess you'd say defensive backs again I can't even believe I'm saying that with LSU but that's that's where we've been Shane now we got some quality starters back but again these are the same guys getting toasted the last two years major Burns 27 games 23 starts I think they're moving him from safety to Nickel that should help 156 tackles in his career Sage Ryan 31 games played 12 starts he's got 71 tackles Z Alexander started eight games last year after transferring in from Southeast Louisiana so was big step up in competition but the fact that he started that's a promising sign and we're bringing back Austin stamps as well he played 11 games as a true freshman Jayvon Tano 13 games three starts Jordan Allen 11 games kylin Jackson five games last year as a true freshman and then they signed a guy Shane transfer portal last year they were very high on him but he got hurt in Camp never was able to play JK Johnson I I think he was a borderline five star played at Ohio State now hopefully after missing last season he'll be able to contribute and he's got a former teammate down there at Ohio State now his teammate at LSU Jer Brown Austin aubre from from Auburn and Jordan Gilbert from Texas A&M so oh and and don't forget the Freshman Deshawn McBride who I told you I don't think he'll start day one but I think he'll be a starter by the end of the season based on what I've heard number two safety Prospect in the country yeah a lot of talent a lot of moving pieces but that's kind of been the story the last couple years at LSU they added via the portal to to to a assist but it's just so weird kind of like our going back to our conversation about the running backs you're used to LSU just a pipeline a defensive backs and it's not been that uh last couple years for whatever reason yeah it's kind of wild to have running backs at the bottom and now defensive packs because you know growing up it was the opposite that's that's exactly where you're going to find those freaks so right uh and I say freaks in a good way because these these a lot of these kids coming through there especially in those I look at U the honey badger just the other day I st I stumbled across a video him talking and just the maturation of of him from when he was at LSU to where he's at now I mean he was he's a few he's a he's an ambassador for that program I mean they they create some serious Legends so I would imagine uh two or three of these kids are going to emerge and and I think LSU gets back on the right track but like you said it's a lot of moving pieces a lot of new names uh but I I think there's T I mean there's Talent there Mike they're super talented uh they they'll they'll find the right goo right and then last Shane real quick special teams we're solid at kicker Damien Ramos is back 22 of 29 kicking field goals 132 of 134 Pats we got to clean that up we canot miss Pats but i k but uh you know he's solid and then pton Todd this will be his first year punting but don't need him we're solid at special teams yeah yeah we're good we're good there all right now four top 10 players Shan in the EA Sports upcoming college football video game from the MSU Tigers no surprise Shane top 10 highest-rated Tigers in video game right off the bat left tackle Will Campbell almost gave him a 9 di should I give a 9 di I was thinking 98 let's give a DI cuz he's so damn good I know my rule is Junior's 98 but he's got to be a 99 if if he ate a 99 we don't need to have 99s in this damn game you know what absolutely finally big boy getting some love and then Harold Perkins I got him next is a 98 right there at linebacker again if he lives up to potential he's probably a 99 as well receiver Kiren Lacy breakout star 96 I'm giving him overall uh emry Jones the right tackle 94 so again two beasts at left at at offensive tackle Mason Taylor tight end love him 93 overall how about this Shane a little wild card here CJ Daniels the transfer from Liberty I'm giving him a 92 so we could have two receivers over a 92 on LS choose roster and we just said two guys in the NFL Welcome To Life as a LSU coach uh Greg Penn linebacker giving him a 91 quarterback Garrett NM 91 as well uh Chris Hilton the other receiver giving him a 90 Shane so we get three receivers at 90 or above and then major Burns defensive back giving him an 88 so this is this is a topheavy loaded roster that uh again they can compete with anybody in college football that's that's the the the beautiful thing and we're going to get in the schedule here in a second it's like in the years past you could make an argument that LSU may lose this game but I I I would venture to say we're going to have quite a few toss-ups coming up right oh yeah without a doubt we'll get to that just a second Shay real quick the fall Camp biggest questions for me how big of an impact can can this reworked defensive coaching biggest fall camp questions staff make I mean that may Define the season and I and I'm saying I mean heck I I'm not saying they're going to win the national championship I said that last year look like an idiot so I I don't think I'll say that again for a while but um you know if they can work some magic back there this is a team to contend for a national championship truly so how how does that look how how big of a step back does the offense take because every nice thing I've said Shane I think it's highly unrealistic to say they're going to be as good as the best offense in the in the entire country last year they they may be the best in the SEC but but even that I think is is a little bit of a a leap so again not saying they're going to be horrible but you know if if they're top five in the SEC I I think they can win a hell of a lot of games if their defense improves so how big of a step back do they take on offense and do they need to change anything uh to better prepare for season openers that that is something that I think really needs to be looked at down there because if we lose our third season opener in a row nationally televised uh man I mean again we we ain't fine Brian Kelly but something needs to change yeah I mean you got hit the ground running and you know a lot of that has to do with with the coaching staff so I mean yeah you got you got some of that switching over you you would think that there may be some rusty rusty plays uh some giving up three and out type situations so it's not an easy game I I mean we're going to get to it here a second but you know it's not uh witch itah State you know what I'm saying you're you're opening up with another Power five Conference Team here and uh yeah I I get behind that I think for me man it's just kind of getting back your identity uh we talked about the running game we talked about these defensive backs um I just that's LSU man and and that's what a lot of these kids grew up to and that's what you're recruiting for right now so uh you know wearing that seven that's that's a big deal you know and usually I see it floating around back there with a guy that's going to be a future Hall of Famer right yeah the solution to fixing the week one W can't be let's schedule mcnees that that can't be that can't be the solution I don't think oh no absolutely not but I mean he did try to get out of the damn game let's let's call it like it is he got out of the old miss one but he couldn't quite get out of the LSU game all right shade schedule breakdown how how we love to do these if this is your first time watching one of schedule breakdown: win, loss or toss? these win loss or toss tossup for LSU and and I'll throw up a schedule here for you but I got a lot of games on here Shane that I think should be wins let's let's go through them real quick uh week two Nicholls I mean come on that's a pick your score type game at South Carolina that should be a win UCLA at home should be a win in my opinion South Alabama also at home should be a win at Arkansas oo at Florida and Vanderbilt at home if if you're if you're LSU these are the games seven games Nicholls South Carolina U UCLA South B at Arkansas at Florida Vanderbilt any of those that you would not put into a should be a win game uh no I think all the ones you've mentioned should be wins okay now I've got none Shane that are should be losses I don't I don't I don't see a game on here if we're LSU that we can't win now here's the tricky part Shane I just said there's none that they cannot win yeah but I got five that are toss-ups in my opinion Shan so again you could lose all these toss-ups if something don't go right so I go Southern Cal and the opener I know we got no respect for Lincoln riy and all that but I don't know I got a bad feeling about it particularly with with your defense and their offense they may be able to score like crazy on you now you probably score like crazy on them but back and forth on the road I don't know that's tricky Old Miss Even though that is at home that's a tossup to me at A&M they hate your guts rivalry type game who knows what we're getting from Mike ELO that's a tossup Alabama even though it's at home they they beat you about as often at home as they do on the road uh so that's a toss and then Oklahoma last week of the season that's a home game but I got that as a so I got five toss for LSU well we've talked about LSU schedule before and and and we said that these fans are in for a ride because I I think every it's you're going to have a couple blowouts and we we're going to get to those here in a second but but there are like you said some toss-up games that you could argue they're going to win and that mean but you could also argue they could lose so I think there's going to be a lot of emotions tied up to this LSU football team this year and there's either going to be a lot of butt hurt fans or there's going to be a lot of prideful fans saying hey here we go Game-by-game record predictions we got a chance to win a naty right so let's get into it Shane game by game breakdown for the LSU Tigers and as always we're doing this with our purple and gold glasses on here we're we're kind of you know op completely optimistic best case scenario so um let's start with the openers sh and and why I'm I'm have again I have this as a tossup I I haven't looked at the spreads in a while but I I don't think this is like a massive of spread I think it's like three and a half yeah so again the odds odds makers are kind of thinking somewhat of a toss even though LSU is favored but I wonder sh we've talked a ton about uh and we don't got to spend a ton of time talking about Florida right here but you know all the pressure that's on Billy Napier and and all this to win week one at Miami I don't think it's it's not near the the same level but you can make the case to me that there is a lot of pressure I think on LSU to win week one against Southern Cal because a lot of people look at this schedule and just like I just did and said seven eight nine should be wins but I think I think that all goes out the window if you lose the opener which you've done two years in a row against a profile you know a high-profile game nationally televised uh Lincoln Riley you know he's going to have to hear for eight nine months how he's an awful coach how he's losing it yet all he does is produce number one picks Heisman quarterbacks on and on and on I mean I I feel like he's going to have some stuff cooked up for a first year defensive staff I I really strongly give the edge to Lincoln Riley and his offensive system just in that phase of the game with with all that I'm throwing that at you would you agree that LSU is under pressure because again we we think they'll win most people think they're going to win but that's when you get pressure Shay when you lose these games you're you're supposed to win well I I see what you're saying but I think there's a little bit less pressure coming into this season than years's past you know because you you just had a Heisman quarterback so there's a natural like let's let okay that team and this is just Outsider this isn't an LSU fan talking here this is just outside noise right now nobody's there are people talking about LSU but not like they're talking about Georgia or Old Miss or even Missouri or Texas you know oklah you know you're it seems like LSU the team that's I mean look how many national championships they won in their lifetime people are kind of [ __ ] on them right now they're not talking about him and I think that's a good thing people talk about you after you open up a can of wol pass on a team like USC which I think they have the shot to do but this also is a year that if you lose this season opener you're not out either you know so that that added pressure that LSU's had in years past like damn we dropped this one we got to win out to to make a college football playoff you know so I think a little less pressure uh is going to be on on coach Kelly but personally you know he wants to win start I mean two two seasons 0 and two right absolutely would love to have a win here yeah all those things I just said Shane unless you wins by 10 come on now come on now this is one of my favorite bets cuz like you said it is kind of close uh and I'm not tipping my hat for lock of the week anytime soon all right calm down LSU fans but I do think that this is one of those those games that LSU kind of wakes everybody up and says hey we didn't lose that much in fact we may have gotten better right and then week two come on that's that's a pick your score against Nicholls so you know 50-point win if they want to have it probably even more than that so we're off to a nice start Shane 2 and0 but then we get into uh you know interesting matchup here at South Carolina I I was just listening to a a South Carolina guy Shane talk about their quarterback Lenor sers who I I know he's not started a game yet but he said he thinks this guy's going to be a first round NFL draft pick now I've heard a lot of guys are going to be firstr draft picks and then uh yeah let's just say they don't turn out to be so again H Linsky exactly exactly so again take out with a grain of salt he's not saying today he's going to be a first round pick but but that's the Buzz that and it's not him it's it's you know that's basically what the coaches down there are thinking so I think this is a a unique game it's I think they've already announced Shane uh that it's going to be an early kickoff tough place to play again I think this is a sneaky sneaky game particularly um if if some of these flaws are exposed week one but uh I I think it's a lot tougher you know this is where where we really you know are or knowledge if you want to call it I don't know how much knowledge we truly have shade but just the the you know we know we talk about these teams all day every day South Carolina will be coming off a huge game yeah against Kentucky which if they win it it's it's at Kentucky that'll give them a ton of momentum but they're they're already listed as an underdog I I think you know if we're we're being quite honest we would probably favor Kentucky in that football game so let's say Kentucky wins it uh this could be a hurt South Carolina team so again there there's a lot of factors that play into this but I have to go LSU but but this is a classic Trap game to me particularly early in the season without knowing a ton about what the Gamecock offense is going to look like with a new quarterback they bring back a ton on the defensive side of the football uh but LSU should win but it it may not be as easy as people anticipate no that's a good point Mike and and I think you kind of hit the nail in the head there this is one that you've brought up several times on this show that you don't like it as an LSU fan you think that it could sneak up and bite them and and I and I see exactly why I mean everything you said is correct and and you know one of the things about damn Colombia man sometimes crazy things happen and uh I've we've I've been on the receiving end of that one brother so I the the flip-flop of the schle schu you start out lot of momentum USC then you kind of take your foot off the gas with a with a nickels and then then all of a sudden you're like hey let's go over here let's steamroll these Gamecocks and then all of a sudden you're you're in a fight you're in a battle so yeah I I think that it's close for like a quarter and then LSU just beats the breaks off of them so yeah give me a three and 0 start here Mike yeah three and0 rolling into UCLA comes town now again I don't know a ton about UCLA I know they got a new coach but our good buddy Steven lasson say this this is going to be one of the worst teams in the in the well I guess they're in a big 10 I God I can't even keep up what league they're in but he basically said whatever League they're in they're going to be one of the worst teams in it so uh I ain't messing around with this one Shane I I I talked up Southern Cal I talked up South Carolina this could be a blowout right here give give me LSU big over UCLA Stephen's the the smartest person I know so if he says they suck I say they suck so give me four and0 Mike yeah and all of a sudden I mean if it starts out this way you you see all this momentum that's going to be built in Baton Rouge then they'll they'll start climbing the rankings they'll be in the playoff discussion another home game Shane South Alabama their head coach just left to be Alabama defensive coordinator so uh I know Kan Wick he did a decent job down there but they they did not exceed expectations last year so I don't expect them to exceed much down here in Death Valley so give me LSU probably by 30 points here oh yeah at least at least I I'd like to see that offense open up you know by by now we've we've established an identity we know if this defense is legit or not I mean there's been a lot of questions answered up to this point because they weren't all nickels you know they there was some there's some good quality opponents in here and this is why I think LSU is getting their money's worth because we got a big game the following week with them Old Miss Rebels right yeah and and now this may be the game in the year up to this point Shane college game day SEC Nation what have you this is going to be one hell of a showdown we anticipate Old Miss will very likely be undefeated going into this football game they essentially have three games they got to win or three tough games and they got they got to win at least one of them if not two to make the college football playoff and this is going to be it and and this going to be a Revenge game this going to be a tough hardfought match I mean it was one of the most entertaining games last year if you hate defense you know what I mean it was back and forth offenses all day long I don't I don't know that either unit got more than two stops in that football game good should be a different story this fall Shane but this is this is a tough one Shane uh Old Miss has only won one time in Tiger stadium since 2002 so this has been a house of horrors they they've already announced it's going to be a late late kickoff around 9:00 a.m. I think 8:30 9 or 8:00 a.m. 8:00 p.m. 8:30 900 P p.m. type kickoff here this game's going to run till day midnight could be a 5 hour game with these offenses going up and down the field Shane but LSU do they get their Revenge no I I don't think so shade Gibby Old Miss and and maybe I'm just drunk old Lane kein juice or whatever whatever they're trolling with down there but uh I I really think that old bis going to be National Championship type contenders and I don't quite see LSU in that realm however if they if they win this game at home I'll I'll completely do a 180 on that take but I just think I think this will be a top 10 team versus a top five team and I'm I'm I'm going with the team I think is a better team as fault yeah I mean om Miss is loaded locked and loaded brother and it's a scary team and and and I get everything that you're saying Mike uh I I just again when I look at this schedule and we're doing this part of the show I look at it as a fan and up to this point there's no question in my mind we could beat every team that we've that we've had on the schedule yeah Old Miss may be a different tune because of like what you said and not to mention what we've seen from Old Miss up to this point because by now Old Miss two is undefeated most likely and they're blowing them out you're looking at this SC you talk about that there's that tricky little Kentucky game that we discussed the other day but you got Ferman MTSU Wake Forest Georgia Southern UK these boys are rested Mike because they're not even playing complete games so when they go down there to Death Valley are you expecting them to to just you know go toe-to-toe with LSU and and I just Mike I try to be optimistic here I really am but I just don't see the Old Miss Rebels winning this game oh man I'm just as a fan brother as a fan here LSU is not afraid you just you just set a stat they haven't lost down there what two since 2002 right one time one time it's 20 years Mike that's 20 freaking years and so you're like oh yeah pencil that is a loss hell no get that team off the schedule bro brother I think LSU starts out 6 and0 looking good and Shane again we this is something we talked about on our old Miss preview again go check it out if you missed it but what happens if there's adversity in Oxford yeah what happens if they again I I don't think they will but if they drop a game if if you know a key player gets hurt where's the chemistry where's that locker room with all these Fresh Faces how many guys will will particularly if they lose like two games how how how many guys will opt out or or God knows what if you know two tune out whatever you want to call it um I I mean I think everything's on the table for Old Miss this fall and uh you know who knows kein tweets the wrong thing and all of a sudden there's a scandal or God knows I mean all that could happen which which to your point uh yeah I mean I I would not be stunned I'm just I'm just going with the the team that I think will be a little bit better and I could be completely wrong you know what yeah no and I could be too and and but again it's you're predicting how good LSU is going to be or bad LSU is going to be and how good old Miss well like they got the pieces I get that but by week six are all those pieces as nice as we thought they would be together we don't know that you put together a puzzle that that may be missing a few so I'm just right now I I look at track record I look at what Kelly's bringing back you know they got a I mean it's going to be awesome this is going to be one of the wildest games of the year Mike uh I would God it'd be awesome to be there at this one but I just think right now as an LSU fan I think we're better and then the following week again we we should not overlook this game I I bet most LSU fans chalk this up as an easy W on the road at fville Arkansas here um we've not previewed Arkansas yet but we continue to hear great things about their transfer quarterback ton green they got Bobby tro back to call the offense uh this this is a and you know I think there's something to be said for for matchups like is Shane where technically it's a rivalry but one School Arkansas considers it a rivalry and one LSU kind of doesn't I always like the team that considers it a rivalry yeah you know because they want to prove hey this is a game that if we win it you know we we can we can make k a rivalry we can show you that we're a big deal we can save our coach's job these These are the games that are very very tricky should not be overlooked I I don't think that this is going to be I know I have it chocked up as a should be win but it could be a loss no doubt I mean there's there's a lot that goes with that but that be Z SH come on come on man come on I got to pick LSU it's on the road though so this is tricky tricky one here I like LSU not by a ton but give me LSU and particularly if they're coming off a loss you got to make sure that doesn't beat you twice that could also be a complication but I like LSU at worst case scenario sitting here at six and one after seven games well and another thing too Mike it it could be one of those games that the wheels have already kind of started falling off uh there I'm not you know I don't want to pile on Sam and and Arkansas but you know as optimistic as I am there's a lot of pessimistic fans and and and outside viewers looking at that team as oh yeah potentially a a dumpster Fire by the end of the year you know but a game like this really kind of Kindles that you know that fire if you will because if you come out here and beat them by 30 then all of a sudden you're like man we're not even in the same realm um I think it's a closer game than than maybe what I'm kind of with you Mike I think that it could be a close game yeah uh toward halftime but I just think LSU has too much Firepower now the following week at A&M so again tricky back-to-back Road games for LSU this stretch should not be Overlook Shane year one Mike ELO it's very hard to predict what the the agies will be with their staff turnover with guys hitting the portal with the portal additions they've made just a very unpredictable team uh I still think A&M's like a top 10ish type roster right there if they're not top 10 they're they're just just outside that yeah and I love Conor wigman the quarterback I think he could be you know we we did our most underrated quarterbacks breakout quarterbacks he was one of the two guys I selected so they got a lot going for him at A&M they'll have a 100,000 strong going crazy in the stands doing their swing shoulder swings what have you uh but again Shan if if this was if this was Mike Elko year two Mike Elko year three I'm picking A&M to win this football game but what what will they look like year one will they still be trying to figure things out there's a little too much uncertainty for me to to go ahead and pull the trigger on A&M I I again I think this will be a back and forth type ball game but give me LSU here too shanea backto Back Road wins that's very difficult to accomplish in this conference but I think LSU can do it oh I absolutely can do it and and you know I'm kind of tipping my hat here Mike I think this next two games slate they drop one um and I'm trying not to get too far ahead because we're going to talk Alabama next I do like how there is a bye between these two games but there's a shot man that you're overlooking A&M looking for that by bye you're talking about the playoffs at this point you know um I you're looking forward to that Alabama game and you're just thinking hey A&M up and down right now but if A&M hits with the talent that they currently have you're you're losing and and so that's I'm going to put them down as a win here but I wouldn't be surprised if A&M pulls off up it's just it's it's almost impossible Mike to go undefeated during a regular season so when I look at this I'm like where's the one loss probably uh I think Old Miss is an easy answer but that A&M isn't and and so I think it's tight maybe it's that game but I'm going to for for this segment sake I'm going to go Bama for the first loss of the year yeah yeah no I I feel you Shane you you stole my thunder there because I I I think this will be again each team has two weeks to prepare the SEC does that on purpose every year because they want a dayn war between Alabama and LSU the Nick sa thing is out the door with him no longer coaching but again I I'm not I like to poke and all that but I I truly don't think B's going to take a huge step back under Kay board hell I I think he you know he he could turn out to be the best thing for him because he's an offensive wizard he he's barely lost any football games in his entire coaching career um it's crazy to I'm not calling him an upgrade or the greatest coach of all time but it you know it's just different and and maybe for the pieces they have right now with a guy like Jaylen milroe who's just such a dynamic a I'm fascinated to see what he could potentially look like in this offense but again LSU where are they weak Shane they're they're weak on the defensive side of the football and you tell me cayb Dort and he's got two weeks to prepare with all the talent he's got at Alabama manad this this game would mean everything to to LSU fans you want to flip this series back you you want to put the Nick Sabin demon behind you but I think I I think Alabama wins this game I hate to say it shade even though it is in Tiger stadium here give me uh give me Alabama so that that to me is their second loss of the season but then again Mike we look back if they win this one it wouldn't surprise me if that A&M doesn't sneak up and bite them too so right it's just it's just a you know I I look at LSU schedule and one of the things I love about it why I'm so high on them and maybe Vegas too is you're looking at the two toughest games Old Miss and Bama um they each one of those they've got a week to prepare for it you you know so I I think the bi-week placement is perfect you know a lot of people want to talk about missou schedule but you know LSU got a pretty nice hand here as well especially the the the swing games the tossup games you're talking about it most of them are at home so uh right yeah I just it's going to be entertaining but I think we drop maybe one or two uh during the regular season I'm just going to go with our first loss here with Bama and then you got to really really be careful Shane the following week at Florida this is another the one where rivalry game LSU's owned it won five in a row now but LSU has lost games like this Shane coming off aama loss yeah that has derailed their season to to teams like Arkansas or old miss you know that that don't have near the talent they've had in in years past so that could catch you uh this could be a a game that saves Billy Napier again it's one of those type games too and and here's something to consider Shane again we got the schedule up here Old Miss Arkansas A&M Alabama back to back to back to back leading up to this this Florida game I mean this is going to be a beat up football team yeah at this point and and I realize there's a bu weekend there so uh you know you do have that before Bama but again I think that could really take its toll and and we've we've already done the Florida preview go check that out if you if you haven't but you know I I think there's a outstanding case to be made that Florida is going to be the biggest surprise team in the could be this year's Missouri for for all I know but you know I'm not saying they're going to win 11 games or anything but I think they take a big step forward so this oh Shane I I almost want to pick a loss here but I'll give it to LSU but only by a by a you know razor's edge here I mean this is like a 5149 type ball game there's a lot of reasons to like Florida in this match up now again same thing you said about sa P Billy ler could be fired about a month ago and they could be in sham take I take everything back I I just said but I don't think that'll happen but this is not a game I truly don't think that LSU fans should be sitting here today in mid June and be saiding oh this is an easy win I I think this this is going to be a war down here you know it's funny you have Florida as one of your uh biggest surprise teams of 2024 Mike right I I would say the biggest surprise for me is if this damn thing's a ball game by the end of the second [Laughter] quarter you know I I'm right there it's a rivalry and there some of the heated most heated games I've ever seen but it was between these two programs and there's years that you're scratching your head and like I can't believe LSU is hanging into this or I can't believe that LSU is is is not just running away with this thing it's it's kind of crazy it doesn't really matter sometimes about the roster dynamic or the scheduling or anything this is just an ugly game at times which usually comes down to the wire but sitting here in freaking June and me trying to convince you that an optimistic LSU fan is scared of the Florida Gators [ __ ] I got ocean front property in Arizona to sell you Mike this is not a football game uh LSU wins Big already I a National Championship now I ain't talking vanderbelt shed I'm talking Florida Gator we tell back to back man back to back so vanderbelt the next week my goodness sh come on down to Tiger Stadium we don't uh talk about a program that could be in shambles by the end of the season I hate it but uh there there's not much of a shot maybe less than 1% that vanderbelt walks into mighty Tiger Stadium and gets us a win for some reason every time I think about these two I always think about LSU coming up there and drinking all of Vanderbilt's beer you know so yeah this is not a not a football game at all man yeah and then season finale it's weird that this is the season finale now but the new look SEC trying to make this a rivalry now Oklahoma at LSU so again I I think Oklahoma is being undersold as well I think Oklahoma's going to be a good team this year I like the the coordinator changes what I've seen from Jackson Arnold I think Oklahoma's going to have one of the better defenses in the entire sec in their debut season the problem Shane the problem is they'll be coming off Alabama bazou o miss all these Elite matchups leaning into this game and throw in Texas in there as well so I mean they have got a damn Gauntlet to close out the season and I quite frankly I think they're going to be walking into a buzs saw coming into Tiger Stadium uh I I think this potentially a blowout give me LSU I and I so I'm giving LSU a 10- win season here well what I like too about this rivalry game is it it could be it could be a playoff spot on the line here Mike you know we I'm optimistically got them as a one loss right now but they may have two and for a 10 and two team to get in they have to close out the season strong so this rivalry game may have a lot on the line even for Oklahoma so I just think uh right now uh LSU got the upper hand too much Talent too deep um I I especially on that I just don't think you talk about offensive Firepower some of these teams like an old Miss or or an Alabama I'm like okay they can go toe-to-toe they can go back and forth but a team like Oklahoma right now I think they've got the defense to slow them down a little bit but we how many times have we said that you know with this LSU team and next thing you know there's 40 points on the board so uh give me LSU here so if they do as well as you you and I think they're Poss you know 11 10 win type season does that cement Brian Kelly you think as maybe the sports second best coach behind only Kirby Smart oh buddy I mean cuz that would be I think I 31 wins in three seasons you know I think it's always like sexy to pick the younger guy that's up and coming that's doing well but you know coach Kelly if you look at his track record even like you said you you take all of his games that he's won he's just a proven winner and you know some people don't like how he's got there but he's got there he comes in the SEC he plays for an SEC championship year one if we're talking the way I'm talking right now maybe even you Mike we're talking a college football playoff spot year three and going into a year four that I think you're putting together possibly one of the best recruiting classes you've seen down there in years so right yeah I I would definitely I don't want to say definitely but I would say I would argue that he would be the second best coach uh if now he's got to beat old miss you know that was like because that's who I'm comparing I Lan kein and and Kelly those are the ones that I kind of go back and back forth um you know I think Sark could be there yeah U but he's he's still got he doesn't have the history that's that that coach Kelly does you know right well speaking of s let me ask you this too if they go 11 to1 I assume that means they're punching their ticket to the SEC Championship game um and let's assume that it's probably going to have to be someone they have not faced yet yeah on the schedule so probably the usual suspects would be Georgia obviously Texas missou Tennessee so um I don't know who you want to pick there but let's let's let's run the gauntlet then let LSU Georgia in the SEC Championship who who who would you take in this scenario i' buddy again I'd love to pick you Tigers but I'm going Georgia Bulldogs in that scenario all right how about LSU vers Texas now that one I may go the opposite way I don't think LS you know because LSU's short memory of Texas is a lot of wins or a couple wins so so I think they they would be uh I'd be thinking that they're going to have that one how about LSU maou versus Zoo um I I think I mean no I I don't think that I don't think I think I think they were upset that it was close last year you know what I'm saying they they expect to uh to win missou and so then last and tell us what you really think here LSU vers Tennessee well I mean I cuz I'm an LSU Homer right now I'm going to say no they they I think it's everybody but Georgia I mean when you at the endend of the day it's uh the Georgia I think it's one of those that they'd go in hoping to win and the other Most important games ones they would expect to win right and then a final thing here most important games for LSU this this fa to win um I I feel like we're going to have some disagreement here but I I win Alabama number one what do you think about that selection Alabama number one no I'm going to disagree Mike I I I do think that USC important um even though you said and I kind of argued with you yeah it it's just you you got a shot you got a playoff team coach Kelly's got a playoff team but you drop USC you no longer have a playoff team because I do think realistically LSU is going to hover at that 10-2 Mark n nine and three LSU is not getting in right well so I got Number Two Old Miss that that's going to be critically important as well would you agree with that selection oh miss I got three I got Bama number two cuz I'm kind of with you you know kind of get that Nick Sabin monkey off your back and kind of hand over the Reigns oh miss I've got the three spot just because you've got the momentum there's a real shot you you finish October 4-0 and um all of it's derailed if you lose at home and get your teeth punched in by Lane kein you know right oh I agree everything but but I I would say though I got ad A&M as number three because I think that is all these nice things we just said about Brian Kelly yeah I think it all again we don't want to put it so much on one game but I think all that goes away if you're losing the year one Mike ELO yeah and all of a sudden we'll sit here and say my God maybe Mike ELO is this you know not the second best coach in the game obviously he's he's not been around long enough to do that but maybe he would he's the guy that's going take A&M where we think they can go eventually you know what I mean so there there's a lot going with that game too no I I get you and they're they're close I told you how important I think that football game is going to be in fact I told you there's a real good shot that not a good shot but there is a shot that that's a game you lose and then all of a sudden Everything Changes you know Alabama gets a little bit more important Oklahoma gets a little bit more important you know you everybody's got that penciled in as a victory but you can't you just can't do that anymore Mike it's not like it's not like the SEC teams that we grew up to the the the the M there was no no middle there was top and bottom you know what I'm saying there is a middle there is a slew of these teams and that's why why I think 20124 is going to be so magical because these fringed teams are competing for for something that some teams have never know we're talking about missou potentially going to a college football playoff we're talking about o Miss as a college football playoff team we're talking about LSU as it could be a you know so it's like all these teams somebody's got to lose you know so somebody's going to be pissed off at the end of the day right but on this show we saying it ain't Ain going be LS but all right hey that's perfect place to end usw buddy uh again a fall Camp preview series rolls on we got uh about six seven of these in the banks we we're about halfway through almost but uh that's going to do it buddy on this episode I appreciate you for for all you do and appreciate each and every one of you for hanging out if you made it this far as always like subscribe share that's all we ask of you we don't ask for much but that's all I got we'll catch you on the next one all right see you guys go [Laughter] tagers I always [Music]