Nobody knows what to expect when Les Miles steps to the podium for a press conference. At the media circus that is the Southeastern Conference Media Days, the chances of Miles making bold statements or challenging the English dictionary only increases.
The biggest takeaway from his 2014 Media Days appearance Wednesday was not a comical sound bite or drawn-out ramble. It was his steadfast confidence in a 2014 team that is going to look like anything but the one from the season before.
“I like us,” Miles said as he ended his opening statement. “I like us in every game.”
It may not have been drawn-out and eloquently said, but it didn’t have to be. Miles’ tone of voice told the audience everything about how confident he was. With the questions heading into week one, confidence is exactly what the Tigers need to hear.
The changes coming this season aren’t the usual ones about replacing starters from the year before. The real question is what offensive and defensive styles LSU will use, now that the experience level at different positions has taken a large dip.
2013 was the year of the pass, with Zach Mettenberger running Cam Cameron’s system with ease as he found the receivers Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham. All three of those players are gone now, and the most experience on offense lies in the running backs and the offensive line.
The battle between Anthony Jennings and Brandon Harris at quarterback is still ongoing and will probably be debated throughout the season. The recent transfer of Rob Bolden and return of baseball player Jared Foster to the position probably doesn’t help in terms of continuity, either.
The defense lost only four starters, but two of them were vocal leaders – linebacker Lamin Barrow and tackle Ego Ferguson. The secondary was supposed to be a strong point for the season, but that may have changed after safety Jalen Mills’ indefinite suspension from the team.
In the midst of all of this, there’s also an incoming freshman class with the most talent LSU has seen in years. The player talked about most at Miles’ press conference may have been Leonard Fournette, the running back who was ranked No. 1 nationally by most recruiting sites last season.
As anyone who’s embarked through finals week knows turmoil can lead to stress and dysfunction very quickly. If one doesn’t stay confident in one’s self or team, the stress can take over fairly quickly.
So to see Miles display assurance and field every question about Fournette or a possible quarterback controversy with ease was really something. Miles is entering his 10th season handling the pressures of this job, and Wednesday he seemed comfortable and natural about his team’s chances.
Miles receives his share of criticism about style of play and clock management, and some of that is deserved. But speak with any player, and they’ll praise Miles and their coaches on the environment created within the team.
The best example of that may be what senior offensive lineman La’el Collins said Wednesday about coming back to LSU for one more season.
“It’s just that one percent of my life that I’ll never get back, just doing this one more time,” Collins said. “I’ve got great guys around me, great coaches, there’s no better feeling.”
That doesn’t sound like turmoil to me.