August practice is coming

Discussion in 'The Tiger's Den' started by red55, Jul 17, 2015.

  1. LSUDad

    LSUDad Veteran Member

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    He was playing the position in the Spring game. Caught a pass out of the backfield, it went for 13 yards.
     
  2. LSUDad

    LSUDad Veteran Member

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  3. Don Castavez

    Don Castavez Still liking scotch

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    image.jpg
    Sunk? As in....
     
  4. LSUDad

    LSUDad Veteran Member

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    LSU fall camp preview: OL

    LSU has a veteran offensive line returning that should be a strength for the Tigers in 2015.


    Let’s take a look at offensive line coachJeff Grimes’ group heading into fall camp.

    Roster
    C – Will Clapp 6-5, 295, Fr.
    C – Andy Dodd 6-4, 336, So.
    OG – Joshua Boutte 6-5, 340, Jr.
    OG – Maea Teuhema 6-4, 323, Fr.
    OG – Garrett Brumfield 6-4, 309, Fr.
    OG – Adrian Magee 6-5, 366, Fr.
    OG – K.J. Malone 6-4, 289, So.
    OL – Ethan Pocic 6-7, 301, Jr.
    OT – Jerald Hawkins 6-6, 309, Jr.
    OT – Vadal Alexander 6-6, 320, Sr.
    OT – Toby Weathersby 6-5, 303, Fr.
    OT – George Brown Jr. 6-6, 283, Fr.
    OT – Jevonte Domond 6-6, 310, Jr.
    OT – Jonah Austin 6-4, 336, Sr.
    OT – Chidi Valentine-Okeke 6-6, 315, Fr.


    2014 Rewind
    LSU finished the 2014 campaign with one of the more physical offensive lines in the SEC. But, the Tiger front did not start the season in that fashion.

    Early on, LSU did not look like the veteran front that returned four starters.

    The Tigers were beaten up badly by Mississippi State and Auburn. Like the rest of the team, it faced a crossroads when it sat at 4-2 with a trip to Gainesville on the horizon.

    LSU was 0-2 in league play and the Tiger front was also 0-2 after beatings it received from Mississippi State and Auburn.

    Against the Bulldogs, LSU averaged just 2.5 yards a carry and gave up three sacks. The results were better two weeks later against Auburn, but still far from what was expected of this unit.

    The O-line rebounded against Florida, and from that point on it flexed its muscle every week with the exception of the Arkansas game.

    The good news is that LSU returns three regular starters this season. The downside to that, if there is one, is that all three will be playing a different position.

    3 Keys to success in 2015
    1. Find your best 5
    It usually takes longer for the offensive line to gel than any other position group on the field. That is especially the case when one factors in a new offensive line coach to the equation.

    With Jeff Grimes going into his second year at the helm, the acclimation period should be much shorter. The players are familiar with the terminology and know what Grimes expects of them as a unit.

    The biggest task facing Grimes is putting his best five on the field because it is not as clear-cut as it has been in previous years.

    Jerald Hawkins moving over from right tackle to left tackle makes the most sense, and sliding Ethan Pocicover from right guard to left guard gives the Tigers an athletic left side.

    There is some debate as to whetherVadal Alexander is best suited to play right tackle or guard because of some struggles he had on the edge in 2012 and 2013. He has slimmed down and wants to show NFL scouts that he can play there on the next level, so that experiment is one to monitor.

    Sliding Joshua Boutte in next to Alexander at guard gives the Tigers a right side of the line with two true road-graders. Last year, it was the left side with Alexander and La’el Collins, but expect LSU to run a lot more behind the right side in 2015.

    Will Clapp ended the spring as the starting center and goes into camp holding it down.

    Those guys will be pushed in fall camp and keep an eye on K.J. Malone andGarrett Brumfield. Both are listed as guards, but if one or both prove that they belong on the field then you could see some guys shifting around.

    2. Sixth man
    One thing that Les Miles likes is having that offensive lineman that is versatile enough to play multiple spots along the front should one of his starters go down.

    Last year, Evan Washington filled that role once Ethan Pocic took over for Hoko Fanaika at right guard.

    This year, K.J. Malone will be that guy with experience playing all five positions during his career at LSU.

    Miles loves what the 6-foot-4, 289-pounder brings to the table from an athletic and physical standpoint.

    3. Physical
    LSU finished ninth in the conference last season with 25 sacks allowed, but placed fourth in rushing offense with 224 yards a game.

    The Tigers showed how physical they could be against some talented defensive fronts such as Florida, Alabama and Ole Miss. LSU won the battle at the line of scrimmage in those contests.

    While the Tigers expect to be more balanced in 2015 with an improved passing attack, it is not going to get them to Atlanta.

    It will definitely help, but LSU’s run game is going to be what this offense has to be built around, and it all starts up front.

    LSU has an offensive line that should be more physical than last year’s unit, and the Tigers need to find their groove a lot sooner with two SEC matchups in the first three weeks.
     
  5. LSU_4_LIFE

    LSU_4_LIFE Founding Member

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    Quite possibly the strongest offensive line that the hat has ever fielded.
     
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  6. LSUDad

    LSUDad Veteran Member

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    An final getting some depth.

    This OL is starting to get some really good players.


    Now the DL has taken a major step back, we have some really good players, but lack the depth. With only two players coming in, the signing next year will come into play. The good part, the offense seem to do well with time of possession, keeping the D off the field.

    Looking back when Chief came into LSU, a look at his roster, that was some talent, too many great players. Bo left us with some great players.
     
    Last edited: Aug 3, 2015
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  7. Don Castavez

    Don Castavez Still liking scotch

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    Will they be able to block 9 man fronts due to Huey and Lewey at qb?
     
  8. LSU_4_LIFE

    LSU_4_LIFE Founding Member

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    Agreed. I have serious concerns regarding our D-Line. Starting with a bigger DE than usual in Neal. I think Godchaux will be a beast this year and hopefully LaCouture takes a huge step forward. But the rest of our guys are question marks in my opinion, and hopefully Coach O has them ready with their ears pinned back and we can get in opponents backfields and cause problems this year. The Chief's pass rush was getting worse and worse each year until it basically became non-existent last year.
     
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  9. LSU_4_LIFE

    LSU_4_LIFE Founding Member

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    The hope is that either huey or lewey develops and that isn't as much of an issue as last year. I can understand the hate on Jennings, but to count Harris out is pure ignorance. Give the kid a chance........ he was a true freshman last year.
     
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  10. LSUDad

    LSUDad Veteran Member

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    Very good observations. A good friend told me about Goudchaux before he got here. Like I said before, you don't miss on that many players. An recruiting along the line, along with LB's has taken a hit. There are some new sheriffs in town, haven't checked on Bain, but O has laid down the law. Look at the players he has sent into the NFL, he's doing it right. The D has fallen off a little at a time each year. Bo was a great DC. Steele brings knowledge, making reads, being in position. Too often last year, in crunch time, teams knew what was being defended. Nothing changed.

    As for the DL, OLT Hawkins, coming out of high school was a very good DL, same with Joe Barksdale, will someone move over? Don't know, you can look back, so many have come in straight from high school and played in the SEC, we'll see. They just need guys to spell minutes, not play an entire game.

    Steele likes to use multiple fronts. Let's get into the season and see what they do, Corey's sitting high with the DB's. We can't let a QB sit back with no pressure, then we can't let him know where the pressure is coming from.
     
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