A week before the first game of the 2004 season, LSU receiver Skyler Green suffered an ankle injury, that limited his play for most of the 2004 season. Although Green was named to the 2004 All-Southeastern Conference team by the Associated Press, the senior receiver is looking to return to his form from LSU’s championship season in 2003.
Stepping in his sophomore year to lead the nation in punt returns with an 18.5 yard average, Green accumulated 519 yards on 48 catches with five touchdowns.
With the 2005 season approaching and Green at full strength, the senior receiver has a great deal of confidence for this year’s receiving corps.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that we’ll go out this year and make big plays,” Green said.
Craig Davis, last season’s team leader in receptions with 43 catches and 659 yards joins junior Dwayne Bowe, who returns after scoring five touchdowns on 39 catches with 597 yards in 2004.
For the 2005 season, LSU will feature a new passing coordinator in new coach Todd Monken
“[Monken] really watches and sees how the passing game is going and how it affects each player and makes suggestions that he’s got,” Miles said. “Giving him that position allows him to add some strength to the offense.”
Xavier Carter completed 2004 with five receptions for 118 yards and one touchdown, alongside Early Doucet’s 257 receiving yards on 18 catches with two touchdowns.
“We have a different attitude,” Carter said. “Going into the games, we’ll be more aggressive and just have fun.”
Freshman Brandon LaFell has also raised some eyebrows during fall practice.
“Brandon is doing pretty good,” Green said. “He’s picked up with running good routes and is making catches.”
LaFell caught 46 passes for 1,116 yards and 16 touchdowns his senior year at Lamar High School in Houston.
LSU is returning 98 percent of its receptions and 99.7 percent of its receiving yards from 2004.
But, according to Green, the 2005 receiving squad has made a lot of strides from last season.
“This team is much faster,” Green said. “Guys understand the game and there’s more maturity. Everyone really understands the fundamentals of the game.”
At tight end, senior David Jones returns from a 2004 campaign in which Jones caught nine passes for 147 yards and one touchdown.
Junior Keith Zinger and sophomore Mit Cole will serve as LSU’s No. 2 and No. 3 tight ends, respectively.
And when it comes to how LSU’s offense will come through this season, it is all about looking in the past for Green.
“I just look back at 2003 and say ‘I want that Skyler Green back,’” Green said. “If I get that Skyler Green back, I can be a big playmaker and help this team as much as I can.”
Contact Jeff Sentell at [email protected]