This is the 2 deep I came up with a few months back (I highlighted the biggest position battles):
Offense
QB JR Mettenberger, RSFR Randall
RB SO Hilliard, JR Ford
FB JR Copeland, JR Neighbors
WR-X JR Wright. JR Boone
WR-Z SO Beckham, SO Landry
WR-Y SR Shepard, JR Boone
TE SR Clement, SR Edwards
OT JR Faulk, SR Hurst, SO Collins, RSFR Washington
OG SR Dworacyzk, JR Williford, RSFR Turner, RSFR White
C SR Lonergan, JR Domingue
Defense
DE SR Edwards, JR Mingo
DE JR Montgomery, SO Rasco
DT JR Logan, DT Ferguson
DT SO Johnson, SR Downs
OLB JR Jones, SO Randle
OLB JR Muncie, JR Barrow
MLB JR Minter, SO Welter
CB JR Simon, RSFR Collins
CB SO Martin, RSFR Jenkins
NI JR Mathieu
DI RSFR Jenkins
SS JR Loston, SO Gibson
FS JR Reid, SO Sibson
Wide receiver position is wide open. Even with Beckham doing so well last year, Landry will push him at the Z, unless we move one of them to the X.
Running back by committee once again. Not really that meaningful who starts. I do see Hilliard getting more carries than Ware this season. Blue will see lots of PT as well. Magee will be the 4th guy in the rotation, allowing us to save Hill's redshirt, if we so choose.
Offensive line is set with potentially one of the best O-lines we have ever seen at LSU. We could see Collins at the guard spot if Dworacyzk isn't ready to go. I expect Dworacyzk to be ready, however. Collins will be our primary backup and see a lot of PT, at a minimum.
I see the D-line set as well with Logan and Freak manning the DT spots, Ferguson and Downs rotating in. Montgomery and Edwards at the DE, with Mingo and Rasco rotating in. Just like the RB spots, doesn't matter who starts, as all 8 of these guys will be a big part of what we do in the trenches on the defensive side of the ball.
As far as linebackers, Tahj Jones should cement his OLB spot. I think the other OLB spot will be the one contested with Muncie and Barrow battling it out, with maybe even Randle in the mix as well. Kwon Alexander is an interesting prospect here, but with his ACL injury I just don't see us putting him on the field as a true freshman. Usually takes an additional year before a player gets back to 100 %. Watch for him in 2013.
I list Mathieu in the nickel as I think that's where he will mainly be (would be a waste at starting CB). So the battle for the other starting CB will be interesting, with Martin having the inside track (although don't count out Jenkins). I have Jenkins in that dime spot that Brooks played so well this past season.
One other thing to think about is Mathieu at SS, if Loston and Gibson don't progress. But I see that as a last ditch option. Mathieu would make a great SS, even as small as he is, since he plays much bigger.
Click to expand...