I've always thought the center was the most important position on the offensive line and yet we haven't recruited a good center prospect in the last several years. We've got a good one this year and a good backup, but T-Bob graduates this year and Lonergan next. Who replaces Lonergan when he graduates?
You really don't have to recruit a center. High school guards can easily transition to playing center.
Oh, you think so? Recent example of a guard that "easily transitioned" is James Stone of Tennessee. Disaster. Before that Pouncey of Florida. Another disaster. The three top centers in the SEC, Lonergan, Vlachos, and Jones of Ga all played center in HS.
:geaux: Thought I read somewhere earlier that Corey White and possibly Elliot Porter have been working at center. Don't have a link 'cause I can't remember where I read that. :shock: White did play guard in HS and I'm not sure what position on the OL that Porter played. Anybody else hear anything about these two? :LSU231:
LSU/Studs likes to crosstrain OC and OG, then OG and OT. Many teams/coaches do this. LSU has had players play all 5 positions on the OL before. Then one of the higher rated OC out of high school played a number of positions along the OL. Only to start 3 games while at LSU. But a valuable player.
The reason why pure centers are not as common as other positions on the line is simply a numbers game. Not many to choose from live up to the billing and HS coaches usually put their better players at OT and OG. Or on the dline like with Elliot Porter.
Does anyone know when Lonergan is expected back? I can't say I concentrated on T-Bob during the game, but the one play they showed where his man drove him deep in the backfield was concerning. We kept trying to run the ball over left guard for very little gain in the first half. Why we can't seem to run the ball effectively until the second half in most games is also a concern.
The second Pouncey had trouble snapping on the shotgun/spread. Pouncey was a great blocker. We don't really want to many linemen who come from teams that play mostly spread. So I think training a center might be our best option. The ability to block and having agility is what our coaches look for more than being able to snap the ball.
Cameron Fordham is supposed to be the next big thing at Center. He'll be the smaller, more athletic-type kind of like Wilkerson. I'm not saying that he'll be as good as Wilkerson, but he's a converted TE so he's going to offer a lot of options at the position with his athleticism.
