April 20, 2017
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THE WIZARDRY OF OS
Assistant Basketball Coach and Head Swimming Coach at Central High
Is this the most excited you have been for a Spring Game in years? If you answered yes, then you are like me. Of course, that isn’t saying much.
I am not overly excited because it is still just a spring game. Nevertheless, I am certainly interested and that is more than I can say for the past few years. Truth be told, I don’t know the last time I made an actual plan to watch the LSU Spring Game. So, if you are in the same boat as I am, here is your guide to the 2017 LSU Spring Game.
The first thing to remember is that you should not waste your time focusing on scheme. Coaches are trying to evaluate players, not schemes. Sure, LSU will look very different on offense. There will be more shifting, motion, formation, and targets to tight ends and running backs. Still, you will probably see the most basic versions of these features in the offense.
Focus on the one on one battles. Last year, the LSU tackles could not block Arden Key off the edge. That led to two conclusions. LSU was going to have a tough time blocking speed rushers and Arden Key was going to have a big year. Both were true.
The lack of game planning gives everyone a chance to see who the real playmakers are on the team. Neither the offense nor defense will make their calls based on tendencies or taking advantage of matchups. On most plays, the successful team will be the one who is able to win one on ones. Running backs that can make players miss, defensive backs that provide tight coverage, linebackers that get to the gap before the blocker, so on and so forth.
Here are the positions I will pay the most attention.
I don’t care what the numbers said, LSU was not effective at offensive tackle last year. Weathersby was hurt and Malone was a first year starter that struggled at times. With all the injuries at defensive end, LSU’s offensive tackles should be able to handle the young but talented defensive ends. This battle is easy to watch since it is on the end of the line of scrimmage. Obvious passing downs are a great time to watch the ends.
LSU’s defensive backs had a difficult time finding the ball and making plays on fade routes last year. Specifically, Jackson and Toliver struggled. Tiger fans will get a good look at other cornerbacks completing for playing time like Savion Smith and Kistian Fulton. With big receivers like Davis, Sullivan, and Anderson I am hoping LSU tries some fade routes. These types of plays will be a good test to see how the receivers compete on these routes and how the corners are able to stand up against big receivers.
LSU is lacking depth on the offensive line, while the interior defensive line has plenty of depth. I am not sure how the coaches will address this issue, but at some point LSU should have very talented players going against inexperienced offensive lineman. Players like Ed Alexander should be very effective, and that is definitely something to look for on first down on short yardage.
The safeties are very young and talented. I would say to watch this position closely, but that is a tough position to assess. Sometimes it is hard to know their assignments, while at other times, the action just doesn’t get to them. Nevertheless, safeties have to diagnose plays quickly and make tackled in the open field. Should the offense break some big plays it would be a good idea to see what happened at safety on those plays.
Of course, most Tiger fans will pay close attention to the quarterbacks. The problem is the quarterbacks are dependent on all the other positions I just mentioned. Besides, I think we have all seen Danny Etling’s capabilities. Of greater interest will be who looks the most prepared to be his backup.
The NFL draft next week will highlight how much talent LSU is trying to replace. This year’s Spring Game should have a number of players trying to prove they are ready for that challenge.
HEY REF
O. K., let’s get the small stuff out of the way. I’m only mentioning this guy’s name since so many people still cannot believe he would kill another human being. But as we all know former New England tight end Aaron Hernandez turned out to be just another punk. A gangster wanna-be that had everything to live for but threw it all away because he wanted people to fear him off the playing field. Can’t say I’m surprised since many of the felons wearing NFL jerseys are nothing more than thugs, thieves, murderers and/or women haters and abusers.
I’m not sure if its sports imitate life or the other way around but you can be assured one thing’s for certain in today’s professional football locker rooms many of those putting on shoulder pads and helmets will wind up in prison yards once they leave the game. And as we’ve seen many of those individuals, Aaron Hernandez to be the more recent one, are adored by a public that’s turned a blind eye to the problems that doom them once their playing days are no longer. Ordinary I’d just say “Rest in peace” but this guy can turn over in his grave for all eternity before I’d give him another thought.
I’d like to get on to the real important things that really matter. With just a week to go before the 2017 NFL draft all hopes in getting back to the Super Bowl hinges on one very important pick. So much has been written and talked about from city to city concerning who should be the Saints’ first choice. Before I put my two cents into the debate let’s agree on the position that remains the only one (in Hey Ref’s world at least) that should be commanding most of Coach Sean Payton’s time and attention; QUARTERBACK! Even if we’ve got to trade-up then don’t hesitate, get-r-done, Sean…
That’s right, there is no more urgent a need in New Orleans than bringing in a fresh, new, young talent that can take the reins and not miss a beat when much beloved Drew Brees goes down. If we’ve learned anything in just the past year it’s this; a veteran player can get hurt early on or even go down for a great deal of a season. But if you don’t have a man that can step up under center and run your offense without the slightest hiccup then the season is a lost cause.
Case in point: Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys. If what happened in Dallas were to be repeated in the Big Easy the most fans could hope for is to sell their season tickets before the bottom were to fall out and they’d be unable to find anyone that would take them off their hands much less sell them and hope to break even. So, if I could get my readers to agree with me on this issue then let’s take a look at the choices we could be facing.
So without further delay let me present “HEY REF’s FINAL FOUR”. Ole Miss QB Chad Kelly is a good prospect but he comes with baggage but who doesn’t. He’s had a few issues off the field and needs to control that behavior if he expects to make it in the NFL. Scouts love his arm and have said he can make all the throws he’ll need to make in order to get a roster spot. So, keep him on your radar.
Another arm getting heads to turn belongs to Miami’s deep thrower Brad Kaaya. He also is said to be able to make all the throws but the kink here is he’s too slow setting up for the quick throws but some scout said they can overlook that since his long balls are on target and he gets them out usually before the pressure commits. He’s been meeting with teams and the rumor mill says it looks like he could wind up in Houston but again will he still be available at number 11? I don’t think so but stranger things have happened.
My next possible QB is Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer. I’m an Irish fan from way back and even though South Bend produced the likes of Joe Theismann and that other Joe (Montana), Kizer is nowhere close to either of them. As I watched him I couldn’t understand how he even made the team much less was the quarterback. He’s too hyper in the pocket for me. Pressure destroys any hint of power or accuracy. And we all know when you play with the big dogs if you can’t handle the pressure then you’d better sit down. But for some reason the NFL scouts have him going in the late first round or early second. New Orleans would do the right thing and pass him up if he’d still there after ten picks.
My final, final four member is my choice to wear the black and gold; Clemson’s Deshaun Watson. No, I’m not crazy and if you paid attention to him the last time he was on a national stage the maturity he displayed in the title game sold me as a sure complete professional player. He can fit in at receiver if needed but I look for him to be the next Dak Prescott. The only drawback that I’ve read is some teams think he plays to his opposition. They explain he’ll play with little effort when his team plays anyone of a lesser caliber. But on the other hand if he’s in a playoff or title game he’s the one guy they all want handling the ball. So a minor attitude adjustment is needed and he’ll be a winner at any city even Cleveland. Alright, nobody will win there so I’ll close by saying look at the position New Orleans has to fill before Brees turns 90 and you’ve got to say, we’ve got to get us a DAK!
Till next week…
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