Phil Steele's Top 40 for 2013

[ALA2262]

Can anyone tell me the number of returning starters at LSU. I missed his write up on them. Number had to be revised down from his list in January. Don't know why he doesn't wait until after the NFL draft to put out that list.

 

[KrAzY3]

Can anyone tell me the number of returning starters at LSU. I missed his write up on them. Number had to be revised down from his list in January. Don't know why he doesn't wait until after the NFL draft to put out that list.

If I recall correctly they are returning 12 starters, but that includes special teams.

 

[RollTide1224]

If I recall correctly they are returning 12 starters, but that includes special teams.

That sounds right. I think he also mentioned whatever number they do have coming back is only 1 less than us.

 

[KrAzY3]

That sounds right. I think he also mentioned whatever number they do have coming back is only 1 less than us.

That's correct. Alabama is returning 13, which is ordinarily a rebuilding year.

But, Alabama returned 13 last year... and yeah that should have been a rebuilding year for any non-Saban team.

 

[RollTide1224]

That's correct. Alabama is returning 13, which is ordinarily a rebuilding year.

But, Alabama returned 13 last year... and yeah that should have been a rebuilding year for any non-Saban team.

The returning starters can be very misleading. It depends on what positions the starters are returning and how experienced their backups are. Our biggest concern as far as returning starters would probably be OL but the guys we have coming in to replace them have been in the program for several years. We also have a 2 year returning starter at QB which is huge. LSU's concern to me is that almost all of the players who are gone were on defense. We kind of had our losses spread out between the offense and defense.

I think we did an excellent job last year of playing young defenders in significant non starting roles. Hopefully that pays off this year. We also had many opportunities to get the second string OL in.