This is the 2 deep I came up with a few months back (I highlighted the biggest position battles): Offense QB JR Mettenberger, RSFR Randall RB SO Hilliard, JR Ford FB JR Copeland, JR Neighbors WR-X JR Wright. JR Boone WR-Z SO Beckham, SO Landry WR-Y SR Shepard, JR Boone TE SR Clement, SR Edwards OT JR Faulk, SR Hurst, SO Collins, RSFR Washington OG SR Dworacyzk, JR Williford, RSFR Turner, RSFR White C SR Lonergan, JR Domingue Defense DE SR Edwards, JR Mingo DE JR Montgomery, SO Rasco DT JR Logan, DT Ferguson DT SO Johnson, SR Downs OLB JR Jones, SO Randle OLB JR Muncie, JR Barrow MLB JR Minter, SO Welter CB JR Simon, RSFR Collins CB SO Martin, RSFR Jenkins NI JR Mathieu DI RSFR Jenkins SS JR Loston, SO Gibson FS JR Reid, SO Sibson Wide receiver position is wide open. Even with Beckham doing so well last year, Landry will push him at the Z, unless we move one of them to the X. Running back by committee once again. Not really that meaningful who starts. I do see Hilliard getting more carries than Ware this season. Blue will see lots of PT as well. Magee will be the 4th guy in the rotation, allowing us to save Hill's redshirt, if we so choose. Offensive line is set with potentially one of the best O-lines we have ever seen at LSU. We could see Collins at the guard spot if Dworacyzk isn't ready to go. I expect Dworacyzk to be ready, however. Collins will be our primary backup and see a lot of PT, at a minimum. I see the D-line set as well with Logan and Freak manning the DT spots, Ferguson and Downs rotating in. Montgomery and Edwards at the DE, with Mingo and Rasco rotating in. Just like the RB spots, doesn't matter who starts, as all 8 of these guys will be a big part of what we do in the trenches on the defensive side of the ball. As far as linebackers, Tahj Jones should cement his OLB spot. I think the other OLB spot will be the one contested with Muncie and Barrow battling it out, with maybe even Randle in the mix as well. Kwon Alexander is an interesting prospect here, but with his ACL injury I just don't see us putting him on the field as a true freshman. Usually takes an additional year before a player gets back to 100 %. Watch for him in 2013. I list Mathieu in the nickel as I think that's where he will mainly be (would be a waste at starting CB). So the battle for the other starting CB will be interesting, with Martin having the inside track (although don't count out Jenkins). I have Jenkins in that dime spot that Brooks played so well this past season. One other thing to think about is Mathieu at SS, if Loston and Gibson don't progress. But I see that as a last ditch option. Mathieu would make a great SS, even as small as he is, since he plays much bigger.
I would like to see La'el Collins move up to that LG spot. He's bigger, stronger, moves better and has more upside that Dworaczyk imo. I'd hate to recruit a guy like that and only use him for one year.
I believe Dworaczyk will start. The defense will have athletes but may need time to jell. I believe we really will miss Claiborne the most. Our offensive coordinator will have to coordinate an offense this season.
Dworaczyk is a four-year starter. If he's healthy, I doubt Collins will take his job. I'd like to see him get more game time, though. I wish that we rotated our offensive linemen like we do our defensive linemen.
Yeah, definitely. Of course, we don't have as much depth on the O-line as we do on D, but it would serve good for the present and future to get these guys breathers/extra playing time.
We don't have as much depth because we don;t play them and allow them to get some experience. I don't like the job Stud has done on the O-line. If he stays at OC, we need a new O-line coach.
