I feel for Phil as he has to weigh production with projection for these things. He's been taken to town by every fan base -- most notably Tennessee's for putting rising sophomore DE Derek Barnett on the third team despite him generating 10 sacks and over 21 tackles for loss as a true freshman. But as you said, it's just an opinion and nothing to get bent out of shape about. I wonder who will emerge from the Tigers' O-line to make the first- team...I'm extremely high on Pocic. Wish he could've gotten the call at right tackle with Vadal playing his more natural LG spot (or RG)..
Lindy's Pro Football Preview is at the stands. As for LSU's next years draft, a couple made it. Dural is the #8 WR, Dillon Gordon, yep, the # 3TE, as for OT, #9 Hawk and Jonah Austin at 13, the number one OG Vadal Alexander. On the other side of the ball, two Free Safeties made the list, Mills at #2 and Corey Thompson at #9. The number one punter listed is Keehn. A name left off was Pocic, who could leave after this year, but has a great shot to move over to LOT, his value on a team is added, being able to play any position on the line. I think Alexander will be given a shot at Tackle, the loss of weight will help. After looking at the Spring game if Clapp and Boutte can hold down positions, those five would be a great line, the first player I could see off the bench would be KJ Malone. Now when the TF arrive, all bets are off, we will see who makes it into the two deep. Too much talent coming in. Like I've been saying, Hawk and Alexander could both go in the top two rounds of next years draft. If Boutte learns his position, the sky is the limit for him. Clapp is another, learn the position, and go from there.
LSU Dad, I completely understand where you're coming from, however, playing guard is not at all as bad as people make it out to be. Just a few drafts ago we saw two guards go in the top 10: Jonathan Cooper (North Carolina) and Chance Warmack (Alabama). The fact that many teams were looking at an athletic stud like La'el Collins, who has the prerequisite, feet, size and athleticism of a tackle, at guard let's us know the type of skills it takes to be a tackle in the NFL. Seeing maybe a couple of explosive 6-techniques or stand up LBs on a schedule in college is nothing than seeing even better ones on a weekly basis in the NFL. Even with 30 pounds of weight loss I'm not sure Alexander has NFL feet for a tackle position on a full-time basis. I'm quite sure he'd have to be a right tackle if any at all. Where as I feel like Hawkins has the build and feet of an NFL tackle and I think Pocic fits the bill, too. Him moving over to LT next year should be a must -- as you indicated. By standard, I'm interested in seeing who grabs the LG spot as I expect plenty of Power concepts this year and that person should be able to block in space --- I think Pocic is that guy, too. He's just as versatile as I've had to study and I can't wait to watch him work. Great stuff, my man. Check out last offering on what I saw from Jennings: http://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/ls...lsu-will-undoubtedly-improved-qb-play-season/ I'm doing an overview of the O-line and certain concepts next...
I never knew about Bradshaw doing that, TT. SMH at him. Man, bro, can you imagine being a QB with that amount of experience around you and you have relatively none yourself? I never knew why most didn't point that out. The Tigers will be better from that aspect alone. And I'm like you, I don't know if Jennings will start, but he sure took some undue criticism to be pretty much a freshman. But great minds think alike, TT. Thanks for the props on the article. Hopefully you'll check out my Tiger Football show on the Vsporto Network (Tiger Sports Radio) dropping in the next day or so, too.
The problem wasn't that CLM didn't open up the passing game. The problem was that when he did the QB and WRs completed less than half the passes. In 2011 Mettenberger threw 11 passes so by this standard he was a freshman in 2012. Let's compare: Anthony Jennings 111-227-7 48.9% 1611yds 123.9 rating Mettenberger 207-352-7 58.8% 2609yds 128.3 rating Jennings isn't that far off from Mett in his first year. Here's the difference. Mett had a much higher ceiling and in 2013 threw for over 3000 yds at 65% completion and a QB rating of 171.4. In Mett's first year where he sat the bench behind JJ/JL, he posted a QB rating of over 170 on his 11 attempts. In 2013 while backing up Mett, AJ managed a QB rating of 101 on about 30 attempts. So in 2 of Metts 3 years he posted a QB rating of 170 or higher. AJ has yet to top 125 in two years. I'm a bit skeptical that AJ is going to pull a 170 QB rating. I realize using the initial years of mop up duty in comparative stats is flimsy but it is what it is. It's still indicative of how they performed even in limited duty. Harris, as horrible as some of you say he was managed a 175 rating last year. I think Jennings will improve this year, he has nowhere to go but up. But improving over last year isn't saying much for either QB. Jennings will be our starter and I will be pulling for him to play lights out, I'll be cheering his successes. He's the guy so I want him to succeed. But seeing is believing. And don't forget we have a very talented freshman QB in McMillan. I hope AJ has a great season but I think he is the third best QB on the team based on potential. Harris and/or McMillan needs to get some game experience this year. I'm not saying sit AJ or make Harris/McMillan the starter, I'm saying let them play.
McMillan will be lucky if he gets to build for place kicks. We can only hope that Harris has got it in him to step up and make it so obvious the even Miles will have no choice but to start him.
I like Alexander, if he can hold down the ROT position, this helps in the Pro's and draft, they can always move him inside. If Clapp holds down the center position, he could get help when needed from a guard, I liked what I saw from him in the Spring, Boutte moves well and can get to the second level real quick. Since 2001 LSU has only had 5 players drafted into the NFL, I said that we would have 5 drafted in the next 2-3 years, having La'el undrafted hurt, but there is still a good shot. As for OL Coach Grimes, I've talked with a few guys that have coached with him, I even talked with the coach that signed him out of high school to play at UTEP. He is teaching those guys to play the position, I like the direction they are heading. We have never had depth like this on the OL, and it gets better each year. One scout I was talking with thinks Alexander is the best LSU OL coming out this year. Some say he is the best OG coming out period. Hawkins was the lowest rated OL signed in his class, now looking to be picked in the top two rounds of next years draft.
