crawfish
08-23-2007, 08:56 PM
I like how things are going together with less than a week now before the opening kickoff with the Bulldogs. Here's a nice article in today's Baton Rouge paper about how the LSU starters are coming into focus. :thumpsup:
The LSU Tigers don’t have a lot of question marks. That’s a big part of the reason LSU is No. 2 in the preseason polls. There have been a few positions in question all through preseason practice. Some are coming more into focus as far as starters go, some remain cloudy. The latter isn’t necessarily a bad thing considering LSU’s depth, but at least the top candidates to get that first start a week from today at Mississippi State are becoming more defined as kickoff draws near.
Tailback: Charles Scott appears to be getting more work with the No. 1 offense than fellow sophomore Keiland Williams, the favorite to be the starter going into August. If Scott takes the first snap against State it won’t be a surprise. What will be a surprise is if Scott, Williams or any tailback averages more than 15 carries a game. Jacob Hester led the team with 7.2 carries per game last season.
Offensive line: The starting five finally appears to be set: Sophomore Ciron Black at left tackle, junior Herman Johnson at left guard, junior Brett Helms at center, sophomore Lyle Hitt at right guard and senior Carnell Stewart at right tackle. The experiment to make Will Arnold a right guard — or even a right tackle — seems to be dead. But Arnold, still trying to recover from last season’s knee and ankle injuries, is at best a backup to Johnson. The concern is the right side. Stewart played a backup role last year with just 84 snaps and Hitt was converted from the defense in midseason last year. Backing up Hitt is true freshman Josh Dworaczyk, while true freshman Jarvis Jones is in the mix at left guard. Arnold remains the wild card. Frequently held out of practices this month, he will be counted on for only spot duty for the foreseeable future. If, as Les Miles would say, Arnold “returns to health,” you could see him pushing Johnson out of the way at left guard. But that seems unlikely now.
Tight end: LSU in effect has two returning starters: sophomore Richard Dickson and now healthy senior Keith Zinger. Gary Crowton’s new offense will be expected to mix and match their talents depending on the situation — and to feature them more in the offense. “We’ll be first or second looks instead of just decoys,” said Dickson, at least until LSU’s receivers mature.
Defensive end: While Tyson Jackson has the “left” end spot nailed down, the “right” end spot remains a three-cornered contest between sophomore Rahim Alem, junior Tremaine Johnson and senior Kirston Pittman. For what it’s worth, Miles mentioned Alem first when asked about the spot Tuesday, and Alem does appear to be the heir apparent from what has been seen at practice. Experience goes to Pittman, but it’s a long time back to when he played in 2003 and 2004. Alem and Johnson only had two tackles each in 2006, but Alem’s talent and motor appear to make him the guy to beat. Even if he is, LSU fans shouldn’t fret too much. (Source Credit: SCOTT RABALAIS
Advocate sportswriter)
The LSU Tigers don’t have a lot of question marks. That’s a big part of the reason LSU is No. 2 in the preseason polls. There have been a few positions in question all through preseason practice. Some are coming more into focus as far as starters go, some remain cloudy. The latter isn’t necessarily a bad thing considering LSU’s depth, but at least the top candidates to get that first start a week from today at Mississippi State are becoming more defined as kickoff draws near.
Tailback: Charles Scott appears to be getting more work with the No. 1 offense than fellow sophomore Keiland Williams, the favorite to be the starter going into August. If Scott takes the first snap against State it won’t be a surprise. What will be a surprise is if Scott, Williams or any tailback averages more than 15 carries a game. Jacob Hester led the team with 7.2 carries per game last season.
Offensive line: The starting five finally appears to be set: Sophomore Ciron Black at left tackle, junior Herman Johnson at left guard, junior Brett Helms at center, sophomore Lyle Hitt at right guard and senior Carnell Stewart at right tackle. The experiment to make Will Arnold a right guard — or even a right tackle — seems to be dead. But Arnold, still trying to recover from last season’s knee and ankle injuries, is at best a backup to Johnson. The concern is the right side. Stewart played a backup role last year with just 84 snaps and Hitt was converted from the defense in midseason last year. Backing up Hitt is true freshman Josh Dworaczyk, while true freshman Jarvis Jones is in the mix at left guard. Arnold remains the wild card. Frequently held out of practices this month, he will be counted on for only spot duty for the foreseeable future. If, as Les Miles would say, Arnold “returns to health,” you could see him pushing Johnson out of the way at left guard. But that seems unlikely now.
Tight end: LSU in effect has two returning starters: sophomore Richard Dickson and now healthy senior Keith Zinger. Gary Crowton’s new offense will be expected to mix and match their talents depending on the situation — and to feature them more in the offense. “We’ll be first or second looks instead of just decoys,” said Dickson, at least until LSU’s receivers mature.
Defensive end: While Tyson Jackson has the “left” end spot nailed down, the “right” end spot remains a three-cornered contest between sophomore Rahim Alem, junior Tremaine Johnson and senior Kirston Pittman. For what it’s worth, Miles mentioned Alem first when asked about the spot Tuesday, and Alem does appear to be the heir apparent from what has been seen at practice. Experience goes to Pittman, but it’s a long time back to when he played in 2003 and 2004. Alem and Johnson only had two tackles each in 2006, but Alem’s talent and motor appear to make him the guy to beat. Even if he is, LSU fans shouldn’t fret too much. (Source Credit: SCOTT RABALAIS
Advocate sportswriter)