by Lonn Phillips Sullivan
Now is the time for experimentation all across the team…looking for roles and responsibilities to befuddle even the best coordinators…and when it comes to scheming confusion, chaos & winning control, look no further than the madcap magic of Bo Pelini’s upcoming kick to the face defense:
This defense will become more prone to violence (in the name of defending law & order) than a 20 year old Nick Saban at a Grateful Dead concert…
On Saturday, Pelini looked assured, quietly observant, and confident at the helm, spending most of his time coaching up the linebackers in a toned-down intensity.
Clearly trying to identify their best roles, Beaux deployed a trio of Damone Clark as the anchor, while Micha Baskerville and Ray Thornton stalked the outside, much to the surprise of many expecting Damone Clark to occupy the C and B gaps…although placement could all just be experimental until Pelini-disciple Jabril Cox arrives on campus.
The North Dakota State phenom chose the Division II masters over Pelini’s Youngstown State a few years ago, chief rivals for the DII crown year in and out, however you’d be remiss to feel Pelini’s recruiting didn’t have an effect on the young Jabril, as he now follows him 3 years later to Baton Rouge.
According to steadfast local reports, Pelini and Bill Busch also shuffled through personnel at safety, giving Maryland high school star Jordan Toles the majority of the reps at SS.
The hard hitting, menacing Toles has been high on many an LSU fan and reporter’s list for guys we’re most excited for, but he’ll need to edge out returning side to side freak Kary Vincent Jr for the spot.
At free safety, Bill Busch will most likely deploy returning S/LB hybrid (and likely #18 candidate) Jacoby Stevens, however National Champion Cam Lewis or LSU outfielder Mo Hampton’s athleticism, dexterity, and his dual abilities in coverage, the middle of the field or the line of scrimmage could see a riveting competition for Bill Busch’s two safety positions when he returns after baseball season (& a recent injury on the diamond).
We had a peek at superfreak Elias Ricks, debuting in his #12 after a week of de-commitment panic and Orgeron announcing he would miss Spring practices, it appears Ricks talked his way into taking part, nursing his shoulder via a non-contact yellow jersey.
Elsewhere, when you consider the personnel along Bill Johnson’s impressive and deep defensive line, the switch to a 4-3 defensive attack couldn’t come at a better time.
While our depth at linebacker remains low, to the point we went to Division II to grab NDState’s Jabril Cox and moved WR Devonta Lee to his second high school position at LB, our defensive line boasts a myriad of options…not only in the personnel groupings but in how they’re utilized.
In our defensive preview, we went all in on Tyler Shelvin, Glen Logan, Phillip Webb, Andre Anthony, Jacquelin Roy, and East High’s Siaki Ika, but we neglected to go in deep on one of the most impressive, yet underrated:
T.K McClendon.
Like defensive lineman Aaron Moffitt, T.K was first recruited as a tight end prospect as well, catching a single pass for 12 yards vs Georgia Southern over the 2019 season;
But when the National Champion was asked by Orgeron to become a defensive end, McClendon’s team first attitude appears to have jettisoned his impact along the front.
The Soperton, Georgia-native not only impressed the assembled media during Saturday’s padless drills, he drew a lot of attention from Orgeron himself on the practice field, Ed giving him pointers, tips, and long bouts of attention observing T.K’s three-technique, as well as his abilities on the edge.
Throughout his Thursday press conference, Orgeron highlighted respective players and their potential impact on the team, and one of those names alongside safety Jordan Toles, linebacker Micah Baskerville, and left tackle Dare Rosenthal?
We heard T.K McClendon’s name mentioned many times, Ed appearing “high” on the fumes of T.K McClendon’s dank versatility and willingness to help out the team.
Read the entire article at LSU SPRING PRACTICE OPENS WITH A VENGEANCE
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