No. 1 -- Will QB Zach Mettenberger be the man? Yes. First of all, he does not have to be that good to be better than what LSU has had the last four seasons. Mettenberger threw for 2,678 yards and 32 TDs at Butler Junior College in 2010 and got his feet wet last season at LSU (92 yards, 1 TD) as a sophomore. "He's got a great skill set for throwing the football," QBs coach Steve Kragthorpe said. No. 2 -- Can the Tigers recover from the devastating loss to Alabama in the national title game that left a cloud over the program? Yes. "I don't think there is any question that it is a pain we have endured. I understand what our fan base has gone through. We're ready to get back at it," coach Les Miles said. "It was a night that we want to not forget because weant want to get back to that game," QBs coach Steve Kragthorpe said.
No. 3 -- Will LSU return to the BCS national championship game? Yes. The Tigers return most of a team that was 13-0, and the loss of the senior QBs is more welcome than concerning. The O-line returns five who have started. All the RBs are back. A WR or two needs to step up, but the talent is there. The defense will lose two first rounders in CB Morris Claiborne and DT Michael Brockers, but there continues to be enough talent to continue to be great.