http://theadvocate.com/sports/lsu/3545368-123/lsus-tharold-simon-working-to Simon led the LSU football team with 10 pass deflections last season Simon says the stat is a mark of frustration, not pride. “Most of those pass deflections should have been interceptions,” Simon said. “I’m not at all (satisfied). I have to come down with those.” “I have to be like that,” Simon said. “Last year, I could have been, like, second in the conference in interceptions (he had two). But I dropped a lot. This year, I have to be more confident and go get those balls.” “With the last two corners who went to the top (Peterson & Claiborne both won the Thorpe and both went Top 6 overall in Draft), I’m having to prove myself now and fit into their shoes.” “I feel like I’ve got to step up a lot more,” Simon said.
the TP had more to that quote: "I have to be a better playmaker," he said. "I could have been second in the conference in interceptions. I dropped a lot of them. I've got to be more confident and go get them balls. I use them all as motivation. I've been running receiver routes just to work on my hands." interesting to hear he's been running routes as a WR also the TP quoted veteran NFL scout Chris Landry (who was also on the LSU coaching staff in the mid to late 1980's before he went on to become an NFL scout)... Landry said Simon is not quite in the class as Patrick Peterson and Morris Claiborne, but he has a future at the pro level, if not a year from now then certainly in two. "Claiborne and Peterson probably have a little more natural ability, but Tharold is a player with some size and athletic ability to be a good player in his own right," Landry said. "He's got good length and good ball skills. He's got some ability to be a good press cover guy. "He works real hard and he's an instinctive enough player that he can be a productive playmaker. He'll have more chances to make plays in a more front-line role than in the past."
Let's hope in 2 years. I mentioned that LSU only had 10 scholarship seniors and how can they sign over 20. I did a little looking down the JR/RS SO roster. The bad news is LSU will be LUCKY not to have 9 guys declaring early...could be as many as 12. You'll see QB (Mettenberger)RBs(Ware, Ford), OL(Faulk for example), DL(Montgomery, Logan, Mingo), LBer(Minter), secondary people(Mathieu, Simon, Loston), P Brad Wing who most expect is gone after this season (RS SO). Anyway, we can worry about that next year but I surely hope Simon stays until he is TR SR.
I got to watch this kid play alot in highschool, 20 minutes from my house, he is a very good ahtlete with all the tools, was a very good reciever and all everything his senior year, I always said that with good coaching this kid will be special on the defensive side of the ball. I really hope he has 2 years left at LSU.
Tharold has been one of my favorite players to watch ever since the bama game in '10. Brandon Taylor got hurt, so we bring in this true freshman, ice cold off the bench, and line him up opposite Jew-leo Jones. Of course, bama goes right after him. What does he do? Reaches right around Jones and swats the ball away. Jones' body language was like "WTF? Where did that arm come from?". Until then, I didn't realize that we had a guy at 6'3" playing corner. What he may lack in quickness he more than makes up for with his long arms & legs. I've noticed that he kind unintentionally of baits the QB into throwing to his man. The WR may have a step on him, but he closes the gap instantly with his go-go gadget arms.
