LSU Spring Football Depth Chart Battles: Defensive Line
By Scotty Nola
With the LSU Spring Football schedule it’s time to start thinking about all the roster battles we have set up going into this fall.
While we won’t see the kind of wholesale change we did after LSU had 9 players drafted in both 2013 and 2014 there are some major position battles shaping up, with defensive line probably the biggest competition on the team.
Big loss from last year Both starting ends are gone. Danielle Hunter smoked his 40 at the NFL Draft Combine and Jermauria Rasco is hoping to make a splash at his pro day workout.
The biggest weakness on last years defense was the lack of consistent pressure and both starting defensive ends are headed to the NFL. This is a real problem, one the Tigers have to solve if they are going to bounce back from last years disappointing season.
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Returning Players One good sign is the amount of returning depth at defensive tackle. Christian LaCouture showed flashes of real potential last year, Travonte Valentine was originally projected as the other starter inside, but with him out of practice it looks like LaCouture will be joined in the rotation by Davin Godchaux.
Some combination drawn from Trey Lealaimatafao, Frank Herron, Quentin Thomas, Greg Gilmore and Maquedius Bain will fill out the inside. All were top recruits, it’s just a matter of who emerges. That position should be fine.
Nola.com posted this video of newcomer Ed Orgeron working with the Defensive Line:
Of course Travonte Valentine is the biggest question mark here right now. He is unquestionably one of the most talented athletes on the team, a player that projects as a first round pick when, and if he can ever get on the field.
Les Miles statement on valentine was telling. Amid rumors that Valentine was in the dog house for academic issues Miles said “Valentine is not a guy that we are counting on at this point.”
This is Miles code for “we gave him a specific checklist of things he has to do to get on the field and he slacked off instead.” Valentine is still enrolled in school, and hopefully he will get his head straight and focus on academics. Until then he wil stay in the doghouse.
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Defensive End is another story. They didn’t produce as well as expected last year and lost their best two players. Tashawn Bower, Sione Teuhema, Deondre Clark and Lewis Neal will be competing for the two open positions. The 2 deep chart should be some combo of these four- going into fall that is.
Watch Out This Fall: DE Arden Key was one of the top high school players in the country last year, and a very strong possibility to play early for LSU this year. Les Miles has never been shy about giving a freshman a chance to play, and the door is wide open at DE.
He was considered one of the top players in the country by all the major recruiting services and he has the kind of talent that screams Danielle hunter/Barkevious Mingo clone.
The one thing Arden Key needs to do is add weight, he was listed at 220 pounds as a high school senior and that just won’t make it in the SEC. If he can bulk up quickly his pass rush ability will earn him game reps early.
Also, look out for Travonte Valentine.
As I said above the talent is all here, he just needs to get the off the field stuff straight. If he can prove himself to the coaching staff and earn some playing time — he can be a difference maker.