How good does Zach Mettenberger need to be for LSU to win a championship?

Published August 4, 2012 - 10:00am

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LSU has one thing on the brain entering 2012: win an SEC Championship and get back to the national championship. And they think they finally have the quarterback and surrounding cast to do just that.

Now, I’ll admit, this league is known for its physical defenses and downhill power running games more so than quarterback play, historically.

Mettenberger takes over the reigns of the Tigers’ offense, and the anticipation is very high for him to give the Tigers a downfield passing game that has been noticeably absent for the last several years – four years, to be exact – since Matt Flynn was the quarterback.

Now, there’s a whole lot more that goes into being a quarterback than just producing on the stat sheet. We all know that. You can have all the talent in the world, but it does no good if the players around you can’t reciprocate that talent.

The Tigers are predicted by most to win the SEC and play for all the marbles again.

Supporting Cast

The skill players around Zach Mettenberger will get the most publicity – mainly the four-headed monster at running back. But maybe the best thing that Mettenberger has going for him is the depth and experience returning on the offensive line. Four starters return, including tackles Chris Faulk and Alex Hurst and center PJ Lonergan, and they will provide ample time for the pocket passer to read the defense.

The running backs are the deepest set of backs in the SEC, maybe the country, for 2012. Spencer Ware, Michael Ford, Alfred Blue and Kenny Hilliard will all see significant time at the position, and it will be interesting to see how the coaching staff keeps everyone happy.

Two starters at receiver return in Odell Beckham, Jr and Russell Shepard. Both are experienced starters, and Beckham looks like he’ll be a first rounder in a couple of years. Shepard is the senior trying to make an impact, finally. Sophomore Jarvis Landry steps in to fill the other vacant receiver position left by Rueben Randle.

So, there’s plenty of talent around the quarterback.

The Situation

Could it get much better than this? I don’t think so. In fact, there is not a better situation for any quarterback to step into in all of college football. But, obviously, there’s a lot of pressure. And the hype of being ‘the man’ before he has even taken a snap is there, and it is continually mounting – warranted or not.

All he has to do is just play the position like he knows how; just like he’s played it his whole life.

Mettenberger threw for 2,678 yards and 32 touchdowns in JUCO.

Why the ‘Meltdown’?

Why did LSU lose to Alabama last year? What a loaded question. Besides the Tigers’ horrendous gameplan, the quarterback play was atrocious. The Tigers lacked complete ability to play the position. They had no inkling of a downfield passing game, and Nick Saban released the hounds.

Teams cannot be one-dimensional and win big football games. You know this. However, gameplanning against dual-threat quarterbacks is Saban’s specialty. In order to return to a championship, Alabama looms again, and that same Saban-coached defense is waiting.

But Mettenberger brings the pocket presence and the face of at least a threat of a downfield passing game to keep defenses honest.

And he doesn’t have to do too much.

Here is a chart that takes a look at the past eight SEC national champions and their respective quarterback numbers:

All four quarterbacks under 200 completions – Cam Newton, Greg McElroy, Tim Tebow and Tee Martin – had incredible running games, and all were on primarily running teams. And LSU will be just that.

Do you think Mettenberger can produce the average of those quarterbacks this year? I do. But he needs to have better numbers than Tee Martin, 190 to 200 completions and complete 60 percent of his passes. Then, you’ll have to decide whether to take the over or under on the touchdown passes at 23.25. I’ll take the over.

Mettenberger doesn’t have to be Tyler Wilson for the Tigers to get back to the national championship, he just has to be himself.

Tags: Les Miles, Nick Saban, SECCGRematch, Zach Mettenberger