LSU Spring Football Depth Chart Battles: Linebackers
By Scotty Nola
With LSU Spring Football started up 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, including a pair of Kwon Alexander sized shoes to fill at one of the Linebacker spots.
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Big loss from last year:
The aforementioned Kwon Alexander.
One of the best pure athletes on the team, he really wowed the scouts at the NFL Draft Combine with his speed and agility.
That kind of playmaking ability will be tough to replace. Also gone is DJ Welter, who lost his starting job last year during the Auburn game.
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Returning Starters:
Kendall Beckwith who replaced DJ Welter midgame against Auburn last year will retain his starting role in the middle.
Senior Lamar Louis is a safe bet to keep his starting role as well.
There is a lot of talent at LB competing for the other starters job and the key backup roles.
Clifton Garrett was a very highly touted recruit coming in, he can Kendell Beckwith up in the middle or slide outside.
That will be one of new Defensive Coordinator Kevin Steele’s first major decisions. Duke Riley, Donnie Alexander, Ronnie Feist and Deion Jones will round out the LB 2-deep chart.
Watch Out This Fall : No one.
LSU was high enough on the returning group of linebackers this year, that they didn’t stretch on any recruits after missing their top targets.
No freshmen linebackers will mean some interesting recruitment battles next year, but right now the team is set, whoever is starting by the end of spring training is starting this fall.
Here is a session of LSU “Big Cat” drills posted to Youtube by Scott Long ofNew defensive coordinator Steele comes directly from Alabama, which of course was known for its 3-4 defense under Nick Saban. Word has it that Steele wants to eventually get the Tigers there.
Howver, LSU is likely to stick to a base 4-3 defense under Steele.
Steele has run a “4-3 under” alignment for much of his career, a formation that has the strongside linebacker line up over tight end and the strongside defensive end lining up right over left tackle.
While LSU will use a lot of that formation in Steele’s first year, you can expect to see a variation in defensive alignments, something several LSU players and the head coach have said in various interviews with the media since Steele’s hiring.
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