My brother had an apartment on Ned before it turned hood. He moved after his neighbor got knocked in the head with a stick and robbed.
Anything goes in free speech alley, it is essentially un-moderated. Free speech is free speech and you don't have to go there if you don't want to hear stuff you don't like. If a racist wants to make that clear and sound off, FSA is the place. But we can't have it derailing football threads and offending people who come here to talk football. Some of us are black, you know. I will be warning people to move political and inflammatory speech to FSA and posts will be deleted if they are inappropriate on the sports boards.
BOT: LSU's versatile Ethan Pocic anchors interior offensive line Ethan Pocic could start at all five offensive line positions before his LSU career is over. (NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune archive) By Jim Kleinpeter, NOLA.com on August 18, 2015 at 4:58 PM Call it hitting for the offensive line cycle, or the grand slam plus one, LSU's Ethan Pocic might become the first Tiger O-lineman to start at each position before his career is over. Pocic, a 6-foot-7, 309-pounder from Lemont, Ill., is scheduled to start at his third different line position in three seasons as the projected left guard. But it isn't out of the question that he starts at the remaining two tackle positions before he is done. Pocic's versatility highlights the interior of the LSU line, which will feature newcomers to the starting lineup at center and right guard. Junior Josh Boutte's feats of strength are earning him raves at right guard and redshirt freshman Will Clapp (rhymes with snap) is the odds-on favorite for center. Right behind that group are redshirt freshman Garrett Brumfield, who has taken snaps with the first unit, and K.J. Malone, who moved from tackle. It's likely the backup center is Pocic, who is on the Rimington Trophy watch list for the nation's top center. He could also be the backup at either tackle positions. If he manages this tricky feat, he might be the last to realize it. "That's a question for (offensive line) coach (Jeff) Grimes," Pocic said at Media Day. "It doesn't matter to me, just whatever. Once you've got it down, you've got it down. Just try to prepare for it." LSU OL coach Jeff Grimes likes his group's versatility | Video LSU offensive line coach Jeff Grimes talks to the media. The days of designated backups on the offensive line are gone, if they ever existed. The mantra coaches preach is finding the five best guys. When an offensive lineman gets hurt, it often results in someone sliding into that position from another starting spot and then bringing someone off the bench. It's not an easy gig. It requires a full set of tools few linemen have. "Ethan is very, very, very unusual," Grimes said. "I don't know if I've ever had a guy who could legitimately play all five positions. That starts with his intelligence, passion for the game, desire to learn how to do new things and willingness to do whatever we ask. I can't say enough about the kid. He's got a really unique skill set. "Some tackles have his height and length, no way they could play guard, much less center. And most guys who can play center don't have the things you are looking for out on the edge." Pocic gives Grimes the luxury of bringing the sixth best lineman off the bench. He's yet to play tackle but also has performed well whenever called upon. His maturity is evidenced by the fact he enrolled early as a freshman and started one game when starting center Elliott Porter was hurt. In the final game that season, he again replaced Porter and snapped the ball on LSU's 99-yard game-winning drive to beat Arkansas with another freshman, Anthony Jennings, at quarterback. Pocic moved into the starting lineup last year and missed one game with an injury but played 743 snaps and didn't miss a play in the final five games. Like most of the zone-blocking LSU offensive line, he says it's a matter of learning the steps. The rest is about the same. "I'm working on one thing at a time," he said. "Once you master it, work on the next thing. We're big into working on pass protection and run blocking, how to handle different defenders. I've been bouncing around a little bit, left guard and center." What about playing tackle? "That's a question for Coach Grimes," he said. LSU might be priming Pocic to move out to right tackle in 2016 to replace senior Vadal Alexander. He could also wind up as the left tackle if Jerald Hawkins decides to come out a year early after the 2015 season. Or Pocic, armed with his versatility, could take the NFL plunge himself, although he would more likely improve his draft position with a year at tackle.
Part @: Whatever happens position-wise, one thing that won't change is that he's the line's anchor and will be called upon to help bring Boutte and Clapp along, if they hold their jobs. Boutte, who is from New Iberia, has been impressive as a physical specimen. Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron said he could move a truck with flat tires and head coach Les Miles often comments on his size (6-5, 342) and strength. "I'm getting a feel, going against the best guys," Boutte said. "I don't have the job right now but I'm headed in the right direction and getting better every day. "I'm a little bit nervous but I'm getting comfortable with it. We get after it every day. (In the scrimmage) we were playing to the whistle." Grimes laughed when asked if Boutte had ever lifted a Volkswagon. "Sometimes he lifts people out of their stance," Grimes said. "We like that. Josh has grown so much as a person and a player. He's gone from a big kid in a man's body to a guy who is going through that stage of becoming a man, learning how to play and do things consistently on a daily basis." Clapp (6-5, 303) is another big body but has been impressing coaches with his head and willingness to compete with the older players since he stepped on campus. Another injury and he might be a sophomore instead of a redshirt freshman. "When he got here he showed us the intelligence, toughness and competitive will to step into a drill as a true freshman and compete as hard as he could," Grimes said. "I kept him on the ready list, knowing he probably wouldn't play with some of the older guys we had. But getting him ready for this year knowing he'd been in position to help us, he had a great spring and he's really gotten better this summer. I'm pleased with where he is." Clapp is gaining some of Pocic's versatility, getting some reps at guard in the spring but it appears he will get first shot at the center's job. A tackle in high school, the position is relatively new to him. "It was a change last year but I got tons of reps," said Clapp, whose father, Tommy, was an LSU defensive end from 1984-87. "I've gotten comfortable there. It's been exciting for me, working hard and trying to get good. I'm the guy that makes all the calls. "Ethan helps me by staying on top of me. The center is supposed to be the leader of the offensive line, get everybody lined up. He stays on me about taking control, not just making the calls but being a vocal leader."
LSU transfer solidifies Nicholls offensive line The Nicholls offensive line runs drills during a recent practice. Abby Tabor/Staff Teddy Renois Published: Friday, August 21, 2015 at 10:25 a.m. Last Modified: Friday, August 21, 2015 at 10:25 a.m. Jonah Austin has made a big impression on Nicholls State University's impressive offensive line. Austin used his 6-foot-6, 330-pound frame to help running back Michael Henry have gains of 13 and 12 yards to begin the red-zone drill in last week's scrimmage. Austin caved in the right side of the defensive front allowing Henry to go virtually untouched into the end zone on the 12-yard run, the second play from scrimmage. Quarterbacks Tuskani Figaro and Landry Klann benefitted from having Austin protect their backsides, as Klann finished the scrimmage 9-of-16 for 100 yards and two touchdowns, while Figaro was 3-for-8 for 18 yards. With Austin protecting at left tackle, both quarterbacks felt little pressure and stood tall in the pocket making reads and not mistakes down field. While Nicholls first-year head coach Tim Rebowe said he was impressed with the offensive line after the scrimmage. After evaluating the film, he is even more pleased with the performance. "I thought they came out early and they set the tempo in the red zone. They were moving the line of scrimmage and that made it easy for our backs to run," Rebowe said. "I thought our first unit played well together with some good communication and, of course, having Jonah at left tackle helped us out."
