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Special Athlon offer for SI.com readers The Lowdown 2007 Schedule Coach: Les Miles (3rd season, 22-4) 2006 record: 11-2 (Beat Notre Dame in Sugar Bowl) SEC finish: 6-2 (t-2nd West) 2006 I-A offensive rankings: Rushing: 31st (165.8 ypg) Passing: 18th (251.7 ypg) 2006 I-A defensive rankings: Rushing: 14th (97.1 ypg) Passing: 3rd (145.7 ypg) Date Opponent Aug. 30 at Mississippi State Sept. 8 Virginia Tech Sept. 15 Middle Tennessee Sept. 22 South Carolina Sept. 29 at Tulane Oct. 6 Florida Oct. 13 at Kentucky Oct. 20 Auburn Nov. 3 at Alabama Nov. 10 Louisiana Tech Nov. 17 at Ole Miss Nov. 23 Arkansas Depth Chart: Offense 5 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. WR 9 Early Doucet Sr. - Terrance Toliver Fr. WR 1 Brandon LaFell So. 87 Jared Mitchell So. LT 70 Ciron Black So. 52 Cole Louviere Jr. LG 79 Herman Johnson Jr. 64 Matt Allen Fr. C 74 Brett Helms Jr. - T-Bob Hebert Fr. RG 65 Lyle Hitt So. 55 Andrew Decker So. RT 71 Carnell Stewart Sr. 67 Mark Snyder Fr. TE 89 Keith Zinger Sr. 82 Richard Dickson So. QB 15 Matt Flynn Sr. 11 Ryan Perrilloux So. FB 18 Jacob Hester Sr. 40 Shawn Jordan Sr. RB 5 Keiland Williams So. 22 Alley Broussard Sr. Depth Chart: Defense 8 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. DE 93 Tyson Jackson Jr. 49 Kirston Pittman Sr. DT 72 Glenn Dorsey Sr. 97 Al Woods So. DT 91 Charles Alexander Jr. 99 Marlon Favorite Jr. DE 84 Rahim Alem So. 47 Tremaine Johnson Jr. BLB 35 Luke Sanders Jr. 56 Perry Riley So. MLB 48 Darry Beckwith Jr. 54 Jacob Cutrera So. WLB 7 Ali Highsmith Sr. 11 Kelvin Sheppard Fr. CB 19 Jonathan Zenon Sr. 29 Chris Hawkins So. CB 21 Chevis Jackson Sr. 4 Jai Eugene Fr. SS 16 Craig Steltz Sr. 43 Harry Coleman So. FS 27 Curtis Taylor Jr. 44 Danny McCray So. Special Teams Ps. No. Player Yr. K 6 Colt David Jr. P 36 Patrick Fisher Sr. KR 9 Early Doucet Jr. PR 9 Early Doucet Jr. To order your 2007 Athlon Sports annual and receive $1 off plus free shipping courtesy of SI.com, click here.

Les Miles casually leans back and bounces from one subject to another, seamlessly and effortlessly talking about an LSU program that is now undoubtedly his.

Whether it’s breaking down a depth chart for an amazingly talented team or rehashing how close the Tigers came to battling Florida for the SEC championship, it’s clear that Miles is more comfortable at LSU skin than he has ever been.

The Tigers go into the 2007 season with lofty and realistic expectations of battling for the national championship. This season was already destined to be a defining season for Miles. Florida State lured offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher away, and offensive line coach Stacy Searels departed for Georgia. Those were the last leftovers from the staff Miles took over in 2005, and he plugged the holes with proven offensive coordinators Gary Crowton and Greg Studrawa.

OFFENSE

With a new quarterback and offensive coordinator, the Tigers will have a new look and a ton of talent to work with. Fifth-year senior Matt Flynn and sophomore Ryan Perrilloux will battle for the quarterback job. Flynn is the frontrunner after patiently waiting behind JaMarcus Russell for this chance. Crowton is known for operating a spread offense, but Miles says he will merge his offensive philosophy with Crowton’s to produce a hybrid.

There is no shortage of options in the backfield. Four backs return who played major roles last season: Jacob Hester (team-high 440 yards, 6 rushing TDs), Keiland Williams (436, 5), Alley Broussard (281, 4) and Charles Scott (277, 5). Redshirt freshman Richard Murphy emerged in the spring to muddle the situation even more. Murphy may be the fastest LSU back and led all rushers with 85 yards in the spring game.

Receiver Early Doucet could be LSU’s most dynamic player. Doucet had 59 receptions for 772 yards and eight touchdowns a year ago. Sophomore Brandon LaFell lacks experience but has a ton of potential.

Center Brett Helms, left guard Herman Johnson and left tackle Ciron Black return to form the nucleus on the offensive front, and all three are All-SEC-caliber blockers.

DEFENSE

LSU’s D has been one of the country’s top units the last few years, and this year's group may be the best yet. Senior tackle Glenn Dorsey and junior end Tyson Jackson form a dominant tandem and will anchor a front four that will set the tone for a defense expected to be among the nation's best.

All three starters return at linebacker — Luke Sanders, Darry Beckwith and Ali Highsmith — to provide the backbone of LSU’s defense. Linebackers in coordinator Bo Pelini’s defense will play a major role this season because of a rebuilt right side of the line and two new safeties.

Seniors Jonathan Zenon and Chevis Jackson are back at the corners. Zenon and Jackson have blossomed into top-notch cover men the last two years and should allow Pelini to use as much man-to-man coverage as he wants.

Senior Craig Steltz will finally be the starter at strong safety after filling in much of last season and in nickel and dime formations. Steltz matched Zenon for the team lead in interceptions with four.

SPECIALISTS

Doucet and speedy Trindon Holliday will tend to the bulk of return duties, giving the Tigers lightning-in-a-bottle potential whenever they set up in return formation. Colt David returns as the primary kicker after connecting on 8-of-13 field goals and 50-of-51 extra points a year ago.

FINAL ANALYSIS

After consecutive 11–2 seasons and impressive bowl victories over Miami and Notre Dame, the Tigers go into the 2007 season with lofty but realistic expectations of battling for the national championship.

A suffocating defense, a revamped coaching staff, a third straight top-10 recruiting class and a favorable home schedule (Auburn, Florida and Arkansas) give Miles plenty of reason for optimism.

“We’re going to have a very good football team,” Miles says. “We’re looking forward to this season and feel like we’ve got a chance to do special things.”