LSU Football: 10 Best Position Battles of Spring Practice
LSU is returning the bulk of their starters from 2010, but still have question marks at key positions.
With the exception of a few key players, roster spots were open to completion this spring.
The LSU Tiger spring game has come and gone, and now the LSU coaching staff has some game-like video to analyze to help make decisions on starters at positions that were up in the air as well as decisions on back-up roles.
As head coach Les Miles looks at the game tape and analyzes spring practices to put together his depth chart for 2011, he’ll hope that some of the great things witnessed this spring continue through the season, and hope that some of the bad things are left behind.
10. Defensive End
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LSU has loads of talent at the defensive end position, and regardless of who Miles and John Chavis decide to start, Tiger fans will see a steady rotation of the talented players throughout each game and throughout the season.
Veteran Sam Montgomery missed the spring game as he nurtures an injury, while 2010 starter Kendrick Adams led the team with six tackles, securing his spot as a starter.
Also in the mix at end is undersized but speedy Barkevious Mingo, who was quite impressive in the spring game as he used his ridiculous speed to be disruptive in the offensive backfield.
Tiger fans will also see heavy doses of Chancey Aghayere, Lavar Edwards, Jordan Allen and Justin Maclin throughout the season as Chavis rotates in fresh legs to utilize the speed and depth of the Tiger defensive ends.
9. Defensive Tackle
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LSU has historically been a factory for defensive tackles reaching the NFL, and 2011 will be no different.
With Drake Nevis departing for the NFL, LSU will be looking to fill a spot in the middle and like at defensive end, Miles and Chavis will have options.
Sophomores Bennie Logan and Michael Brockers had good showings at the spring game.
Logan tied Kendrick Adams for the team lead with six tackles, while Brockers had several explosive plays that drew attention from his head coach.
8. Cornerback
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Tyrann Mathieu and Morris Claiborne are certainly the starters at cornerback if they remain healthy.
Both have proven themselves to be solid cover corners with the potential to shut down most SEC wide receivers.
Mathieu had a great spring game, showing off his coverage ability as well as the ability to shed blocks and make tackles on the outside in the running game.
Another Tiger cornerback that had a great showing at the spring game is Tharold Simon, who made two huge defensive plays to save touchdowns.
Simon showed remarkable closing speed and a great ability to recover when he was beat.
Simon could play a similar role in 2011 to that of Mathieu in 2010, coming into the game as a nickel back on passing downs, as well as key third and long plays.
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7. Safety
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Sophomore Eric Reid, who had a phenomenal performance in the 2010 Cotton Bowl, will lead the LSU safeties in 2011 alongside fellow sophomore Craig Loston.
Despite the veteran starters, don’t be surprised to see redshirt freshman Ronnie Vinson get some playing time this season after a strong showing in the spring game.
With three of the four starters in the Tiger secondary being sophomores, expect the Tiger pass defense to go from great to greater during the 2011 season.
6. Special Teams
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Despite losing one of the best return men in the nation in 2010 in Patrick Peterson, and one of the best kickers in the nation in Josh Jasper, the Tigers will come into the 2011 season with little or no drop off in performance from their special teams.
Ron Brooks and Rueben Randle are likely to return kicks and punts respectively, and both guys have the speed and athleticism to take it the distance on any play.
Brooks had a couple of great returns in the spring game, but it’s hard to judge his ability when players aren’t allowed to hit him and were not going full speed.
The kicking game vacated by Josh Jasper is in good hands as junior Drew Alleman replaces him.
Alleman had a good performance in the spring game despite missing a field goal, but more importantly has had a very solid spring as a whole.
Australian punter Brad Wing had a great spring game as well, with punts having hang-time and distance.
Wing’s bad punts were still over 50 yards and he dropped a couple of punts inside the 20-yard line for good measure.
5. Offensive Tackle
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Redshirt freshman Chris Faulk has been working with the first team offense, and while head coach Les Miles is comfortable with Faulk starting, he was not ready to award the starting role prior to the spring game.
Faulk was in competition with Evan Washington, who did not have a great spring game.
Washington had a false start penalty which is inexcusable in the low-pressure, practice-like environment of the spring game.
He was also beat badly by Barkevious Mingo who not only sacked Jordan Jefferson, but also stripped the ball.
Incoming freshman La’el Collins, the No. 2 offensive tackle in the nation from the 2011 class will be joining the team and the tackle competition in August.
4. Linebacker
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LSU loses veteran leader Kelvin Sheppard to the NFL draft, but returns Ryan Baker and Stefoin Francois.
The Tigers will move safety Karnell Hatcher to linebacker in 2011 and hope to fill the vacancy with experience.
Behind these guys is a slew of freshmen and sophomores, including Kevin Minter, Luke Muncie and Trevon Randle, who will be joining the team later this summer.
While Baker and Francois are solid linebackers, the third linebacker may be the weakest position on the LSU defense in 2011.
3. Running Back
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After the spring game, there is no doubt as far as who will start at running back but the Tigers are known for using a deep rotation of running backs so Tiger fans will see several in 2011.
Spencer Ware dominated, scoring two touchdowns and showing great patience and vision on his runs. He also ran great routes in the passing game and looked like a seasoned veteran.
Jakhari Gore showed great speed and burst to the outside but struggled to run to between the tackles.
Alfred Blue did not have a great showing in the spring game with a mediocre performance.
Also in the mix at running back for the Tigers in 2011 will be Michael Ford and Kenny Hilliard.
2. Wide Receiver
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LSU returns Russell Shepard and Rueben Randle at wide receiver and both are almost certain to start as long as they are healthy and performing.
In the background, competing for the third wide receiver spot are several newcomers.
Kadron Boone showed versatility in the spring game as he made a great catch in traffic over the middle of the field as well as getting behind the defense and creating great separation on a 60 yard touchdown pass from Zach Mettenberger to start the second half.
Also making a strong showing in the spring game was freshman Jarrett Fobbs, who showed good route running and great ability to find open spots in the defense.
The Tigers also have two outstanding freshmen wide receivers in Odel Beckham, Jr. and Jarvis Landry who will probably see playing time this season.
1. Quarterback
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LSU needs more production from the quarterback position in 2011, and one way or another they will get it.
Jordan Jefferson started the spring game as the No. 1 quarterback and on his first series showed signs of growth and development from last season, leading the Tigers to a fairly easy touchdown, albeit against the Tiger’s second-team defense.
After his initial drive, Jefferson then struggled and looked much like the inconsistent quarterback that we saw in 2010, throwing bad interception in which he stared the receiver down the entire route leading the safety to an easy pick.
Jarrett Lee started the game with the second-team offense, stalling on his first drive and throwing a critical interception on the three yard line as the team was driving to score on his second drive.
Lee did not exude the confidence one would expect from a fifth year senior but rather looked rattled and nervous as he did for much of the 2007 campaign in which his performance was disastrous.
Zach Mettenberger had by far the best performance of the quarterbacks in the spring game, going 5-of-8 for 86 yards, including a 60 yard touchdown pass on the first play of the second half, the only points allowed by the Tiger’s first-team defense.
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