LSU's High 5: What must happen for the Tigers to max out in 2019

BATON ROUGE — We are in the midst of a heat wave — literally. Temperatures have been soaring over 100 degrees recently in South Louisiana.

That and the fact that LSU folks are always in the midst of a mental heat wave this time of year, even if it was a pleasant 91, it means that it is doubly hot out there and in there.

MORE: Will this be the year LSU loses less than three?

In other words, LSU fans' brains are cooking:

• The Tigers will beat Alabama.
• LSU is two-deep on the offensive line.
• There are so many good tailbacks, the Tigers may use five in a game.
• Passing game coordinator Joe Brady is the greatest thing to happen to the pass since Joe Namath off the field and Tom Brady on it.
• Derek Stingley Jr. is already the best cornerback in LSU history, and he has not played a down.

Actually, that last one may have a chance of happening.

OK, turn down the AC, settle down, and let's look at LSU's 2019 season at the optimum 72 degrees, which is where they and Entergy try to keep the Superdome — site of the national championship game on Jan. 13, 2020 and home of LSU's last three national title bout appearances in 2004, 2008 and 2012.

Here are the high five LSU story lines for 2019: 

1. ALABAMA: LSU can beat Alabama. It has enough overall talent to do so. But the Tigers are not on equal footing in the trenches, though they may be moving in that direction. LSU's coaches tend to be psyched out before and during the game, and that flows to the players. LSU seriously needs to play Alabama without either team getting an open date beforehand. It is amazing that four times since LSU last beat Alabama on Nov. 5, 2011, the Tigers have beaten another SEC team that beat Alabama in the same season.

►In 2012, LSU won, 24-19, at Texas A&M on Oct. 20 before losing, 21-17, on Nov. 3 to Alabama, which lost to Texas A&M, 29-24, the next week.

►In 2013, LSU easily beat Auburn, 35-21, on Sept. 21, then Alabama easily beat LSU, 38-17, on Nov. 9, before the Tide lost to Auburn, 34-28, on Nov. 30.

►In 2014, Alabama lost, 23-17, on Oct. 4 at Ole Miss, which lost, 10-7, on Oct. 25 at LSU, which lost, 20-13, in overtime to Alabama on Nov. 8.

►In 2017, LSU beat Auburn, 27-23, on Oct. 14 and lost, 24-10, on Nov. 4 at Alabama, which lost, 26-14, to Auburn on Nov. 25.

So, LSU has enough talent and coaching to regularly beat teams that beat Alabama, but can't beat Alabama. And in two of the last three years, it can't score on Alabama. Solution? Close the open week, and get some therapy.

But this season, LSU could win every other game on its schedule but Alabama, and reach the College Football Playoffs at 11-1.

2. OFFENSIVE LINE: LSU is solid on the offensive line and has some depth, which could develop to maybe seven or eight, but not 10. Center Lloyd Cushenberry and left tackle Saahdiq Charles are very good, and true freshman guard Kardell Thomas may be great in time. But he just missed practice on Wednesday with an injury — the severity of which was not immediately known. Overall, this line could be above average at best, which could mean 11 or 12 wins.

3. TAILBACKS: There are five decent tailbacks on LSU's team — John Emery, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Tyrion Davis, Chris Curry and Lanard Fournette — but only one approaching great. That is Emery. He and either Edwards-Helaire or Davis will play the most. This will be a much-improved position for the Tigers.

4. JOE BRADY: LSU's new passing game coordinator could be the first great offensive coordinator at LSU since Jimbo Fisher … in time. But not this year. Remember this name: Billy Gonzales. He was LSU's new passing game coordinator in 2010, and was the talk of "One Crazy Summer." He was going to revolutionize LSU's passing game. There was no revolution. There was no passing game. There was no quarterback. Brady has a quarterback, and he may improve the offense. But Brady was a lower assistant with the Saints. They may pass very well. They're not going to be the Saints.

5. DEREK STINGLEY JR.: This talented cornerback/returner could be the next Tyrann Mathieu, which means he could be the difference in the Alabama game, or at least keep it close.

"That's something that I thought I would be able to do," Burrow said of taking advantage of a freshman like Stingley just once because he is a freshman.

"But you don't see anything like that with Sting," Burrow said.

 And this year, at last, we may see an LSU season not anything like 2012-18.