Tight end Richard Dickson takes on role of teacher

TigerBait3 · Apr 16, 2009

Stolen from LSU News. Ive always liked #18. Glad he got some pub.
Ignore the name of the writer.

BATON ROUGE — A player-coach is rare in college football. It was rare even in the old days. But LSU has had a virtual one during spring drills.

Tight end Richard Dickson, who will be a senior next season and has started 25 games, has moved aside for most of the spring session so some depth could be developed at the position. He has no serious threat for his starting job.

"Two things happen," LSU coach Les Miles said. "One, you get the information transferred to the young players. But two, the veteran doing the coaching, rethinks yet again how he categorizes his process. I think Richard's probably improving just in the teaching, just in the coaching."

Coach Dickson is also coaching new tight ends coach Don Yanowsky, who just joined Miles' staff in February.

"I'm like a tight ends graduate assistant," Dickson said. "You sit back and see so much that it really helps you mentally."

Dickson has been a coach's dream on the field. He tied Brad Boyd (1972-74) for the school record for career touchdown passes by a tight end last season with 10. Dickson caught 31 passes for 324 yards and five touchdowns in the 2008 season. In 2007, he set the record for touchdown catches by an LSU tight end with five and tied it in 2008. Of LSU's returning receivers at all positions, Dickson's 63 catches over the last two seasons is second only to wide receiver Brandon LaFell.

"We expect him to continue with the level of play he has established here, which has been great play," Miles said. "There's a lot of knowledge that needs to be passed, and he's enjoying it. He is a team guy and has great leadership. When he speaks, the young guys hear it."

Catholic-New Iberia High's Mitch Joseph, who will be a sophomore in the 2009 season, is the only tight end on campus other than Dickson who has been on the field. Joseph did not catch a pass, though, through 13 games as Dickson's backup last season.

Other young tight ends are Alex Russian, a redshirt freshman last season from Round Rock, Texas, Matt Branch, a 2008 signee out of Sterlington High in Monroe, Jake Bryan, a walk-on from Pollock, and Ronnie Turpin, a walk-on from Baton Rouge.
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CajunlostinCali · Apr 16, 2009

"Guys who haven't played yet need confidence," he said. "That's what I try to do. I try to tell them how it's going to be. I try to help them."
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"They're coming around," Dickson said. "They're learning to get caught up with the speed of the game. They tend to think too much."
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Jr. Leadership has almost never not worked in ANY discipline. It develops the jr. players better hearing it from a successful peer, it pushes the teacher into a higher grade because they don't want to deliver a turd. Using the #18 to lead that example can and will produce results. This only furthers the legacy being fulfilled for that jersey. I wonder already who that jersey will be received by after Richurt moves on.

captainpodnuh · Apr 17, 2009

Richard Dickson is a class-act. He will be successful both on and off the field. I truly expect this kid to continue to grow as a person and a player, and will be a highly sought out TE come the draft next April. He is both a coach's player and a player's player. He works hard and leads by example, all the while, keeping his mouth shut. He's everything a coach wants on his team.

No relation. Just a big fan.

red55 · Apr 17, 2009

If LSU isn't pushing him for pre-season All-American, something ain't right.

QBLuke · Apr 17, 2009

"But two, the veteran doing the coaching, rethinks yet again how he categorizes his process."
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What the hell did Coach Miles just say?

offshoretrash · Apr 17, 2009

QBLuke said: ↑

What the hell did Coach Miles just say?
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He said Visualize an attack.

BAY0U BENGAL · Apr 17, 2009

I really like #18. One of my favorites. Great attitude :thumb:

stevescookin · Apr 18, 2009

QBLuke said: ↑

What the hell did Coach Miles just say?
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Man, I forgot the question you just asked me because I can see the golden girls practicing through the window you're standing in front of!!

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Tight end Richard Dickson takes on role of teacher

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stevescookin Certified Who Dat

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