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Les Miles and Jordan Jefferson might be better off today if LSU had never recovered that late onside kick at Mississippi last season.
Few things could have galvanized critics of the coach and his quarterback more than the ensuing exhibition of clock mismanagement that left the Tigers unable to set up a game-winning field goal from the Rebels' 5-yard line as time ran out.
As the 2010 season approaches, LSU fans are still talking about the final 30 seconds of that 25-23 loss to Ole Miss last November, and Miles is still answering for it.
''I scrutinized the coaching - me and others,'' Miles said recently. ''Some of those situations I was - even though prepared for (it) - (I) had not envisioned the time constraints. So what we've done is we've added that to our game week preparation. Maybe we're a little more prepared, a little bit more ready to play in those situations.''
With the meltdown in Mississippi symbolizing the larger issue of LSU's slide from Southeastern Conference's elite, Miles and Jefferson enter a new campaign on the defensive.
For Miles, the good will he engendered by winning the 2007 national title has begun to fade after a pair of mediocre seasons.
During 2008 and 2009, LSU went a combined 8-8 against the SEC and 0-6 against rivals Florida, Alabama and Ole Miss.
Only games against non-conference teams helped LSU finish 8-5 in 2008 and 9-4 in 2009.
When the SEC released its preseason poll last month, LSU was picked to finish fourth in the conference's West Division.
''We deserve it, having a lot of young guys coming in and not finishing things right in the last couple of years,'' cornerback Patrick Peterson said. ''It'll give us motivation to fix things.''
LSU must fix an offense that ranked 112th among Division I Football Bowl Subdivision teams last season with averages of 123 yards rushing and 182 yards passing. Otherwise, it may not be just the SEC games that give the Tigers trouble.
In 2010, LSU has a tougher non-conference slate, opening its season against North Carolina in Atlanta on Sept. 4 and hosting West Virginia on Sept. 25.
Miles said having more experience at quarterback should help LSU handle the tougher schedule.
Jefferson, who'd shown promise in a pair of starts as a freshman in 2008, became the full-time starter as a 19-year-old sophomore last season. That marked the second straight year LSU had a young, inexperienced quarterback, a trend that began when Ryan Perrilloux was kicked off the team in the winter of 2008.
Last season, Jefferson was sacked 34 times, raising concerns about his ability to read defenses and be decisive. Still, he heads into 2010 as the projected starter.
''I do have a lot to prove, a lot of things I should've improved on last year,'' Jefferson said. ''My wisdom has gotten better from my failure in certain games, and I'm looking to be a leader.''
At 6-foot-5, and with quick feet and a strong arm, Jefferson has the physical attributes of top quarterbacks, if only he can conquer the intangibles.
''He's starting to realize that it's more than a position, that it's not just: Call the play and throw the ball,'' Miles said. ''It's a responsibility to function the offense and to give us an opportunity at victory, and to see the defense, and to understand the call.''
Miles expects Jefferson to have plenty of opportunities to throw with Terrence Toliver, Rueben Randle and Russell Shepard running routes.
Toliver's 735 yards receiving last season ranked second on the team behind Brandon LaFell, who's now in the NFL.
Randle, one of the top recruits in the nation in 2009, showed promise as a freshman and is expected to have a big year. Shepard came to LSU as a quarterback last season, but it became obvious to coaches that his all-around ability was being squandered.
''Now that he is in the receiving corps, it allows him to be on the field routinely,'' Miles said, adding that Shepard still takes some practice snaps at quarterback just in case Miles decides to have him make a few surprise throws.
LSU has depth at running back as well, starting with senior Richard Murphy, who missed all of last season with a knee injury. Stevan Ridley ran powerfully last season when he was forced into action because of injuries. Redshirt freshman Michael Ford was a standout in spring practice.
On defense, LSU will have new starters at both defensive end and outside linebacker spots, but the defensive backfield is expected to be strong with the return of Peterson, a junior, and sophomore cornerback Morris Claiborne.
Last season, Peterson was already covering top receivers one-on-one. This year, he'll also return punts and kicks.
Miles intends to make Peterson one of LSU's biggest stars. Naturally, Peterson is one of his coach's outspoken supporters.
''We love coach Miles,'' Peterson asserted. ''We have a tremendous amount of confidence that he'll have us ready to play on Saturdays.
''As a team, we have to play better to help defend coach Miles.''
