Silva: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for NFC teams.
SportsTalk: Albert Pujols signs with the Angels and Prince Fielder joins the Tigers. Which team is better now?
Ryan Callahan scored for the fifth time in four days and defenseman Ryan McDonagh snapped a second-period tie to lift the New York Rangers to a 3-2 victory over the Washington Capitals on Sunday.
Kobe Bryant hit a baseline jump shot with 4.2 seconds left and the Los Angeles Lakers wrapped up a six-game road trip by holding on to beat the Raptors 94-92 on Sunday, their eighth victory in nine meetings with Toronto
Arc's five up, five down: After No. 11 Michigan State's 58-48 upset of No. 3 Ohio State, you'd be a fool to discount the Spartans' national title chances now.
Miami coach Al Golden says the worst is behind him, but his headaches figure to continue now that former booster Nevin Shapiro, now in jail, says his involvement with the Hurricanes program will result in stiff penalties.
Eleven shots separated Phil and Tiger Sunday at Pebble Beach as Lefty secured his 40th Tour win. Jason Sobel had hole-by-hole reports.
The United States completed a 5-0 rout of Switzerland in the Davis Cup on Sunday, with 19-year-old Ryan Harrison and John Isner winning closing singles matches.
Zambia has won the African Cup of Nations, beating pre-tournament favorite Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties in a dramatic final at Stade de l'Amitie.
Tessa Worley of France fought off gusting winds to win a second consecutive World Cup giant slalom Sunday in the Andorran Pyrenees. Overall leader Lindsey Vonn was more than a second behind and finished eighth.
Robins: It’s the Year of the Dragon on the Lunar calendar, and this Chinese influence could extend to it also being the year of the Pekingese on the green carpet at the 136th Westminster Dog Show on Tuesday.
AP |
2009 record: 9-4, 3-5 (2nd in SEC West)
2009 bowl: Lost to Penn State 19-17 in Capital One
2009 final AP/coaches' ranking: 17/17
Coach: Les Miles (51-15, 6 years; 79-36 overall, 9 years)
Offensive coordinator: Gary Crowton (4th year)
Defensive coordinators: John Chavis (2nd year)
Returning offensive starters: 6
Returning defensive starters: 4
Location: Baton Rouge, La.
Stadium: Tiger Stadium (grass; 92,400)
2010 schedule: [view]
2010 roster: [view]
2009 statistics: [view]
Offensive: The skill-position lineup has thinned a bit, but LSU returns junior Jordan Jefferson at quarterback. In his second full season as the starter, Jefferson must step up and emerge as one of the SEC’s best players at his position. He will need assistance from the running game, although there isn’t a clear go-to back. Expect senior wide receiver Terrence Tolliver (53 receptions) to be Jefferson’s top target. Also watch for sophomore Russell Shepard, a converted quarterback who could settle into a do-everything role. Two starters return to the offensive line.
Defensive: Only four starters return to this unit, entering its second season under coordinator John Chavis. The secondary figures to be a major strength. Junior cornerback Patrick Peterson, an All-America candidate, already has a lockdown reputation. Senior linebacker Kelvin Sheppard, the team’s leading tackler (110), will play a prominent role while the others weather a learning curve. Up front, senior defensive tackle Lazarius Levingston is a major building block — and LSU will need to build around him until the other linemen prove their mettle.
Specialists: Senior place-kicker Josh Jasper is one of the nation’s best (17 of 20 on field-goal attempts). Senior punter Derek Helton had a 40-yard average, although Jasper is often employed as the “pooch punter.’’ The return game will miss lightning-quick Trindon Holliday.
Coaching: Les Miles has a national championship on his resume (from the 2007 season), but the last two seasons have been generally unfulfilling.
Heisman hopefuls: No one at LSU will have the necessary preseason buildup to sustain a serious campaign for the Heisman.
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Overview: It is essential for LSU to perform better in November, when the SEC West championship will likely be on the line. Overall, the Tigers have been 17-9 in the last two seasons. Not bad. But not enough to satisfy Tigers fans. LSU desperately needs a bounce-back season, although it’s never a bargain to operate in the SEC West.
Miami coach Al Golden says the worst is behind him, but his headaches figure to continue now that former booster Nevin Shapiro, now in jail, says his involvement with the Hurricanes program will result in stiff penalties.
CFT: Jordan Jefferson makes it clear he wasn't happy with LSU's game plan in the Tigers' BCS Championship Game loss to Alabama.
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Zambia has won the African Cup of Nations, beating pre-tournament favorite Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties in a dramatic final at Stade de l'Amitie.
Wesseling: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for AFC teams.
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