2014 CB Chris Hardeman Decommits

OK, I'll take that statement back and replace it with this one - "something that LSU didn't have LAST year". Seems like a couple of years at least.

 

You should have quit when you could LSU has been loaded with playmakers Reid, Simon, Claiborne,TM7 and Loston to name a few. No body is saying that Hardeman is not a playmaker but his height in todays world of 6'3-6'5 WR is a "big" concern. TM7 was not great in coverage mostly due to his size and other coaches went after him with tall WR for this very reason but his ability to get his hands on the ball and create havoc is second to non. I think we all are wishing the kid the best but to say LSU has been lacking playmakers is just plain absurd!!

 

Sorry, but I wouldn't call Reid or Simon playmakers. Good players maybe, but neither had a good season last year. Sorry, but no they did not! Claiborne and TM7 weren't here last season. Loston showed flashes, I'll give you that, but still. You're right, TM7 wasn't that effective as a CB, because of his height, but he excelled at that nickelback spot and LSU plays a LOT lot of nickle. That's where I think Hardeman would have fit in. Speed to blitz, hardnosed and physical enough to play the run, and good enough to cover backs out of the backfield. That would have been nice last November. He said in an interview right after he committed that he was being recruited specifically for that. Micah Eugene played that position last year and was certainly no playmaker either (no he wasn't). Tajh Jones is back this season and maybe this will be his breakout season.

 

Matter of fact I'll go so far as to say the defensive backfield as a whole underperformed last year and I'm including Micah Eugene in that group. The star of the whole group was a TRUE FRESHMAN! I'm thinking (and hoping) things will be better this year because of the experience and because of the addition of Tahj Jones who I think will stay on the field at all times. He may turn out to be a playmaker.

 

You realize Tahj Jones is a Linebacker right? I'm assuming you're making the connection between improved LB play and the secondary. But even then I don't see the connection because the LB play was very steady last year even with the uncertainty at the Sam due to injuries. The secondary was pretty good. They just weren't playmakers (I know that's your point for wanting Hardeman) like we were accustomed to. They weren't bad though. They got burned when trying to make plays instead of playing the ball.

Eric Reid is going to be a pro-bowler within three years because he will be able to just play the position without trying to do too much. With four games per year against Carson Palmer and Sam Bradford, I like his chances to just make plays that come naturally at Safety without forcing the issue. Those two will give him plenty of opportunities!

As for Hardeman, with Hootie and Brown still on the board (and hopefully on board), he's expendable. Just the way it is...

 

Yes, I know he is a linebacker, but he's 205 lbs and very fast and I think he can probably fill whatever role is needed, depending on who they are playing. That's what I meant by him staying on the field at all times.

Anyway, I was disappointed with the Hardeman decommit, but I'm over it now.

 

Don't worry I plan on dressing as a Priest and telling him "God wants him to play for LSU' !!!!