Lonn Phillips Sullivan
Jun 10, 20203 min
Updated: Jun 14, 2020
The following is another excerpt from
2020 TIGERS ALMANAC
By LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
@LonnPhillips
#24
6'0
215
LEHIGH STATS:
2,984 YARDS
364 CARRIES
28 TDs
2019 STATS:
189 RUSHING YARDS
38 CARRIES
3 CATCHES FOR 23 (7.7 per catch)
Played in 14 Games
In the lead-up to the Oklahoma game, the major question should've been "Can LSU score 100 points on the Sooners"; instead, the No Fun Media's corporate buy-out headlines focused on Clyde Edwards-Helaire's health.
The best running back in the country tore his hamstring only days after the awards ceremonies, throwing Clyde's future availability for either the semi-final (or title game) in serious doubt.
With LSU's offensive attack reliant on the speedster, either through the air or on the ground, this had to be bad news for LSU....right?
Thanks to Chris Curry, those doubting LSU's freshmen were proven horribly wrong.
Coming into the 2019 Peach Bowl (much like the 2020 season), many suspected John Emery Jr or Tyrion Davis-Price would assume the starting role, maybe even sharing the spot; However, the 15th rated running back in the country took full control and dealt unbridled punishment unto Oklahoma's emasculated defense.
Chris Curry took the brunt of the carries throughout the Peach Bowl, rampaging the Sooners up the gut and torching Alex Grinch's "men" on the stretch gives, lowering his pads into all-comers, most shying away from Curry's feverish contact as if he had leprosy:
Whether you wanted a hit from Curry or not, he was comin'....this swift Charles Bronson-ing of Oklahoma had to be exactly how Coach Orgeron, RBs coach Tommie Robinson, and OC Steve Ensminger drew it up.
Rushing for 90 yards from 16 carries, our freshman sensation took control of proceedings, exploding out of the backfield with a rugged pace and sensational swagger, Curry's dreadlocks flowing as he de-faced all in his way, leaving scores of Sooners hobbled in his wake.
The Peach Bowl is a perfect lesson for what we should expect for 2020: Expect nothing...
With three top class backs vying for a single starting spot, and a fourth, largely unknown contender out of Texas, the best man will win out...
Predicting who that will be is never an exact science, however, Curry's heart, steely confidence and football IQ were the biggest reasons he secured his place in LSU's backfield prior to such a critical game.
Emery and TDP weren't trusted in that moment, yet Chris Curry was...
How will his powerhouse performance vs Oklahoma position him on this year's roster???
Curry possesses many of the same attributes as Emery or TDP, minus some of the more supernatural qualities of Emery or TDP, adding the visceral destruction the other two haven't developed yet. With an additional red shirt year of experience, Chris's lengthier stint in Baton Rouge may set him above equal footing.
Comparing Curry vs those two, we'd say CCRider displays far more power and intensity in the burst, shows relatively more comfort when split out wide (Burrow and Brennan motioning Curry out of the backfield vs Oklahoma on many occasions), and has proven himself to be the best running back in protection.
Things can always change, but we feel Curry deserves a chance to lose that spot...despite the duo of great backs on either side of him, we feel the first running back has to be Chris.
PROJECTIONS: Given his confidence, experience and the coaching staff's previous belief in his abilities, we feel....
WANT WAAAAAY WAAAAAY MORE ABOUT LSU'S 2020 RUNNING GAME?
GET...
Created by Yours Truly
SHOUTOUTS:
I wanted to tell everyone:
Peace, Love and Understanding always wins.
But racism, hatred and violence are things we will never tolerate. We don't pay lip service, we act. Support our young men in life, as well as the field.
Let's do this together, Tiger family!
Let's do this