Les Miles Finally Releases An LSU Depth Chart…Sort Of
By Scotty Nola
The athletic department released the first official LSU depth chart of 2015, and finally all of our biggest questions have been answered. Except who will start at QB for the Tigers. Or who will start at CB opposite Tre White.
Or whether Freshmen Will Clapp and Maea Teuhema will start or not. Or who the place kicker will be. Or who will line up for Kickoff Returns opposite Leonard Fournette.
It wouldn’t be a Les Miles operation, without a little confusion.
He did resolve some of that with a late press conference last night, finally acknowledging what we have all known for months: Brandon Harris is the starter.
For now.
Other questions will remain until the Tigers step onto the field, but the depth chart does resolve many questions that have been simmering since spring practice.
Defense
One major nonissue was laid to rest in the depth chart release. Since Kevin Steele was hired from Bama’s 3-4 defense rumors have said Miles hired him to implement a 3-4.
The Steele hire may have said 3-4 but the personnel are still all 4-3. And so is the depth chart, it is laid out as a traditional 4-3 defense.
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We may see some 3-4 looks this year but expect to see 4 down linemen the vast majority of the time.
Defensive Line
The tackles are lined up exactly as expected. LaCouture and Godchaux starting with Herron Gilmore and Thomas in the rotation behind them.
If there is news on the D-Line it’s about the freshmen. Key will not start, at least not right away. Washington is on the depth chart, itself a victory for a true freshman but he is the last player listed at end.
Neal and Bower are starting at DE, as expected all along. Key and Teuhema are the top reserves, with Clark Washington and Patterson serving as depth.
Linebackers
Sep 27, 2014; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers linebacker Kendell Beckwith (52) returns an interception for a touchdown against the New Mexico State Aggies during the second quarter of a game at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
This one is lining up exactly as we predicted here with Louis Beckwith and Jones the starters and with Riley Feist and Alexander the backups.
Defensive Backs
This was one of the more interesting positions on the depth chart. We knew enough to accurately predict that Tre White, Jamal Adams, and Rickey Jefferson would start. After that things are a little different than expected.
Dwayne Thomas has not officially won a starting job. Kevin Tolliver II is listed as even with him for the spot opposite Tre White. Even more surprising, Ed Paris and Russel Gage are listed as the 5th and 6th Corners. Donte Jackson has passed both of them in the pecking order.
OFFENSE
Quarterbacks
Sep 27, 2014; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers quarterback Brandon Harris (6) stiff arms New Mexico State Aggies defensive back Adaryan Jones (19) during the second quarter of a game at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Brandon Harris was not named the starter on the depth chart released yesterday. He was then named the starter in a press conference held last night. Hopefully the confusion here was because Miles wasn’t sure if he wanted to go public and not because he still had doubts about which QB to play.
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The thought that Brandon Harris with all his talent still has not been able to create any separation from the very limited Anthony Jennings is a bit unsettling.
A situation where they share snaps or bounce back and forth as starters would be disturbing, and an indication that this is the typical team that has two starters at QB because they really don’t have one good one.
Offensive Line
The Tackles are still Hawkins and Alexander. No surprise there. One minor surprise: Ethan Pocic is listed as the starting Center, which means–actually, I have no idea what that means.
Out of a group of Will Clapp, Maea Teuhema and Josh Boutte 2 players will start at guard, the odd man out will be the top backup guard along with KJ Malone.
Right now Clapp is listed 1st at LG with Teuhema 2nd, Boutte is listed 1st at RG with Clapp 2nd. The either/or listings are not strictly alphabetical so I’m not sure what to read into that.
I don’t know who is in the lead or why. I also don’t know if Clapp loses out to Teuhema if he moves ahead of Boutte automatically or not.
I do know it is very late in the game to shuffle the O-Line. I also know that after multiple reports on how dominant Josh Boutte has been at camp it is very surprising to see his starting role listed as doubtful.
Running Backs
Nov 8, 2014; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) runs against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the first quarter of a game at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
No surprises here. Leonard Fournette is the starter. Guice and Brosette have not moved ahead of Williams as his backup, but LSU likes to rotate running backs so all 4 should get touches this fall.
John David Moore has the starting FB job, with Mouton Ducre and Upchurch listed behind him. If there is a surprise here it’s that 4 FB’s were listed, the depth chart is essentially a list of all the players we expect to see on the field after all.
Tight End
Senior Dillon Gordon is the starter, with Jeter Smith and Washington behind him. The real question here isn’t about the pecking order, it’s about usage. Since Cam Cameron arrived on campus we’ve been waiting for him to implement the Tight Ends into the passing game. Waiting…and waiting…and…
Wide Receivers
Sep 6, 2014; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers wide receiver Travin Dural (83) catches a touchdown over Sam Houston State Bearkats cornerback Ernest Payton (20) during the first half of a game at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
A little surprise here: Malachi Dupre was listed as starter opposite Travin Dural. Anyone watching the team play down the stretch would have expected this, but rumors had moving Dupre in to the slot and DJ Chark as the starter outside. So much for rumors.
John Diarse is next in the pecking order, and this is good news because it means the coaches are confident in his ability to make the right reads and run consistent routes. With his talent more touches will convert to more scores so this is a very good thing.
The last players on the chart are Trey Quinn and Tyron Johnson. The coaches like to use the full WR rotation so they should both see plenty of playing time. Q
Special Teams
This depth chart really only answered one question: Leonard Fournette is still going to take Kickoff Returns. Some speculated he might be moved off special teams as injury protection, that is not the case.
Tre White and Jamal Adams are listed1 and 2 for Punt Returner. Derrius Guice and Donte Jackson are the other possibilities at Kickoff Returner opposite Fournette.
We still don’t know who the Place Kicker and Kickoff man are. Jamie Keehn is the Punter, as expected.