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LSU Football: 5 reasons why the Tigers will struggle in 2017

By Andrew Miller

BATON ROUGE, LA - OCTOBER 15: D.J. Chark #82 of the LSU Tigers celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles during the third quarter at Tiger Stadium on October 15, 2016 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. LSU won the game 45-10. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
BATON ROUGE, LA - OCTOBER 15: D.J. Chark #82 of the LSU Tigers celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles during the third quarter at Tiger Stadium on October 15, 2016 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. LSU won the game 45-10. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /
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It may be hard to believe, but LSU football could have another season of not reaching a double-digit win total for the fourth year in a row.

The LSU Tigers have found themselves ranked in the top five, at some point each year, over the past three seasons. However, each season saw them win no more than nine games, definitely not good enough to finish in the top five.

LSU has a little bit different pattern than most teams that get extraordinary amounts of hype built around their program at one point or another. Unlike the Tennessee Volunteers, Notre Dame Fighting Irish and USC Trojans that seem to fall apart early, LSU actually puts together great runs during one portion of their schedule. That leads the poll voters to actually think that something may have changed with the Tigers.

The annual rivalry game with the Alabama Crimson Tide has been the kryptonite for LSU of late. Alabama holds a six-game winning streak over LSU at the moment. Things could change in 2017 but the odds are against the Tigers once again.

Second-year head coach Ed Orgeron brings some momentum from the end of the 2016 campaign and a new contract extension that he signed during the offseason. LSU dominated the Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson and the Louisville Cardinals in the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl.

LSU can never seem to take advantage of the vast amount of athletes on offense. When it comes down to it, the best they seem to do is heave up a pass toward the sidelines and just hope one of their immensely gifted receivers can pull it down.

The narrative is a bit different for their running backs. Former superstar LSU running back Leonard Fournette was the most talented rusher in college football during his time with the Tigers. However, he chose to sit out most of the 2016 season. That left All-American running back Derrius Guice in the spotlight.

Now, let’s take a look at five reasons why the LSU Tigers will stink in 2017.

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