I've heard that Josh Dworaczyk is up to 310(from 281) and trying to get up to 320. It also appears that Lonergan (300lbs) will start over T-Bob (285). In my opinion, all of these are improvements. Josh D. was far to lanky for an OG and T-Bob wasn't physical enough at 285. Lyle Hitt was 295 on the roster, which I think was generous. Will Blackwell is a definite upgrade. Overall, I think this year's O-line will be much better.
I agree, Im just not sold on Josh D. I think Hurst will be a monster on the line as well as Lonergan. However, Miles is recruiting some real beast on the line. Think about what could potentially be in this class. Collins, Robinson, White, Turner, Hart, and a few others, one of the best hauls on the O-line in a while. Also, including the guys we have gotten the last few years, Faulk, E. Washington, Porter(guard), and Williford.
I still think Josh D. would fit better at tackle than guard. But as far as the O-line talent coming in, we are FINALLY building quality depth at O-Line.
Hopefully Miles won't have to kick many of the new guys off the team for discipline problems this time.
Yes, the problem hasn't been so much recruiting them as it has been keeping them. Discipline has only been part of the problem.
This may sound ignorant, but what characteristics (Weight, Quickness, Height, Footwork, Balance, etc) makes someone suited more for tackle than guard? It used to be that guards needed to be more mobile and tackles needed to be more like an immovable object...I think. Have things changed or do tackles and guards need to be different types in different offenses. I've heard, in other threads, about zone blocking vs man blocking and I'm confused about what LSU even does. What do the other defenses do? Do the defenses dictate what the O line does or does the O line just do the same thing against all the SEC defenses? Does any defense in the SEC even do something very different from the rest? I never played the game, so I don't really have a clue; but some of you who played the football on the line may be able to talk about this...and what's different this year. All I know is that for some reason....our O Line was below par for the SEC last year. I'm sure I'm not the only one who doesn't know what's going on or what to look for during a game....so I don't mind asking the question. I'm looking forward to some responses that may educate me and the rest of us who basically follow the ball when we watch the games.
LSU went to a zone blocking scheme last season and it was a massive failure. Line was too light last year and lacked overall talent. Talent should be a little better this year and it seems they are beefing up which should stop some of the getting pushed around we saw last year. However they seemed so confused by the zone blocking scheme last season that there was a heap of busted assignments every game. Not sure if the scheme will be tweaked or changed, but hopefully more experience and better coaching will help. Either way the OL must make major improvements over last season for the offense to be successful.
I don't consider myself an expert on offensive lineman by any stretch. Last season I calculated the average size of DEs and DTs in the SEC (leaving out Bama's 3-4 defense b/c the characteristics are different). The average (starting) DE was around 260 and the average (starting) DT was around 299. So it seems to me that a 6-6, 281 lb. lineman would have more success vs the lighter DEs. In short ydg situations, he has no leverage against big DTs. Also, on Shep's 69 yd TD run. Josh D. was playing LT. Just my two cents.
I don't know whose brainchild that zone scheme was, but I'm still surprised Stud still has a job on this staff. I sure hope he makes something happen on that front.
i can tell you from playing offensive tackle in highschool that you want to put your best man at offensive tackle, most offensive teackles could probably outplay the gaurds. passblocking is more difficult for OT's because they have the outside rush by themselves (most of the time) and they have the speedy d-ends. so most of the time you want you taller longer armed guys with quick feet at OT and Gaurds are typically smaller and need more actual speed to get to linebackers and for pulling
