Lonn Phillips Sullivan
Sep 22, 20207 min
Updated: Sep 23, 2020
So...you may have survived the visceral criticism and accountability of TELL THE TRUTH MONDAY, identifying where you must improve and how little time you have to do it, but do you have what it takes to tough it through the players who stand behind you during Competition Tuesday's bloodborne grind????
Competition Tuesday, otherwise known as LSU's most intense day of practice, is all based around "bump combo" drills, man on man outside coverage where every rep is played to the maximum and revolves around jaw-removing hits...any victory worthy of bragging rights, of course until the next rep...
These are the battles which made Stingley vs Chase an instant college football blockbuster, easily worth the price of admission time and time again...D.J Chark vs Tre'davious White...Odell and Jarvis vs Patrick Peterson, Morris Claiborne and Tyrann Mathieu...the list geauxs on and on.
2020 has been no different and to demonstrate, we GEAUX through the key battles which will decide LSU's future fate:
Evans is a new bruiser on the scene, impressing the coaching staff mightily with his desire for interior combat; Apu Ika will most likely be the starting disrupter 3 tech, next to Logan or Farrell;
Evans could absolutely make a splash and grab the "Shelvin role" as his own, battering guards and centers with quick hands, deceptive moves and O-line anticipation...but do we buy Coach Orgeron's hype?
We think Coach O may be stroking Evans' ego, yet we've seen these confidence-boosting quotes supply his players with confidence before....a nation-leading 16 consecutive game win streak full of assured precision, WR / DB incision and trench brutality.
Will Evans be an LSU starter over Apu Ika? Whether they share time at the wrecking ball spot or not, something's gotta give and one of these guys will take the job.
We Believe Andre is the improved talent Orgeron has hyped him to be: much is expected of Anthony, so much is to be delivered...thanks to opt outs and transfers, LSU has a depleted edge rush from this standpoint...but if Andre could explode for an even better campaign than we're projecting above, LSU would find themselves in fantastic fettle for the long haul against contending SEC teams (Florida, Bama, Georgia).
There's also every chance Andre's lack of mass could be exposed, causing Bill Johnson to turn to Ojulari / Webb straight up out of necessity; There's no doubt Orgeron & Johnson will find out whichever pass-rusher is best for the Tigers before the Florida game (in Week 4). That game must be the deadline for figuring out every position on the roster....most of all solidifying your starting pass-rusher.
Will Andre hold off the youth brigade??
Check out our profile of Andre Anthony to find out.
On the other side, Gaye has recently locked down the left side DE spot, backed by Travez Moore's continuing flight up the depth chart, appearing solidified as Orgeron's first choice option.
The battle to start Week 1 has already been won by Cordale Flott, but don't count out #1 freshman CB Eli Ricks to play a big role if LSU are to win another National Championship.
Ricks is a big play guy who's already hauled in an interception during LSU scrimmages and appears to be settling perfectly into the team.
There will be times we see both Flott and Ricks on the field at the same time, covering empty backfield sets; watch for how Ricks or Flott equally handle high octane passing attacks (Alabama, Florida even Miss State during Week 1 as my man Tony Two Bets pointed out).
We projected a big freshman season from Eli, and yet Cordale Flott owns the position, holding 2019's lowest completion percentage in the SEC and batting down three passes in three consecutive games during a few amount of reps.
Flott deserves the start, but watch out for Ricks...he's not far behind.
While Todd Harris fights his way back from injury, Week 1 vs QB A.J Costello's Miss State is now set up as a potential breakthrough opponent for Mo Hampton.
Hampton started brightly last season vs Arkansas, appearing in lieu of an injured Grant Delpit; in Grant's role, Mo was named SEC Freshman of the Week as he hauled in 6 tackles, 4 solo and broke up 2 passes.
Again vs Oklahoma, Mo started and wreaked havoc upon QB Jalen Hurts, pummeling the Heisman nominee early in the CFP Semifinal.
Still, Harris' pedigree is unquestioned and Todd was still a candidate for the #18 Jersey despite the questions over his fitness. He's made it through most of the recovery from his ACL tear vs NWState (9/14/19), but if he starts on Saturday he'll be thrown into the fire after a year and 12 days out....
Look for Hampton and Jordan Toles to lock down the free safety spot during the first three weeks, but expect #4 Todd Harris to reclaim that spot at some point during the campaign, with a Saturday battle in the Swamp posted as a perfect starting return for Harris.
Or could Mo seize control of the free safety job and never let geaux??
We'll tell you in our starting lineup choices and season prediction piece at the end of this week.
This isn't really a question of who's better than the other: regarding our running backs for 2020, it's all about how and when they're deployed.
Given their complimentary brilliance, all three are interchangeable and supply a wide range of different attributes:
Curry is a powerhouse brickhouse, Emery has the home run ability to take the ball to the house on any play and Tyrion Davis-Price may be the best of both worlds.
Kevin Faulk and Steve Ensminger will no doubt have an intriguing playbook set up for their running and short passing attack, spreading opponents out with our receiving threats and using our backs' pace and yard-consuming abilities to wear down any defense.
Pointing out each backs' crucial value:
If LSU are at 4th and 1 on the goal line, we give Curry the ball.
If Myles is about to get destroyed on a long 3rd down, only a RB in his range, we want John Emery making that catch and wiggling his way for 11-15 yards.
If we need to burst through the tackles and grind down the linebackers / secondary, Tyrion Davis-Price is our guy, bullishly exploding into the second level before using his cutthroat agility.
We are blessed with such numerous talents at wide receiver it's outrageous...LSU will have an illustrious passing attack, there's no doubting this obvious fact...
But the question is...Who will receive the most passes, reps, targets and appearances out there with the first team offense?
Racey McMath is touted as the big #2 of this passing attack, only behind Terrace Marshall. In regards to his physicality and height, few can match Racey...but as far as pure receiving talent, Racey is now a senior and with no Chase or Jefferson in his way, it's time for #17 to deliver.
If he can't, 5 star freshman Kayshon Boutte is waiting right in the wings. The Louisiana local legend is a true superstar capable of scoring from anywhere on the field, possessing a pair of "pure catcher's hands" according to WRs Coach Mickey Joseph;
Then there's #5 Rummel High Raider freshman Koy Moore chomping at the bit for the 3rd or 4th WR spot, as sophomores Jaray Jenkins and Trey Palmer try to hold serve and assume control of their "rightful place" if you geaux by seniority.
The order for Week 1 will be Terrace, Racey, Kayshon, Trey, Jontre, Koy and Jaray...though if you geaux by that, our 7th best WR would start for any team in the country...buckle up.
LSU's internal competitive intensity will improve their overall levels across the board, eventually taking the Tigers over the top:
"Iron sharpens iron" they say and no display of this truth is more potent than our current squad.
2020 is one of the most impossible LSU groups to quantify in the program's recent history, moreso after 2019's juggernaut rollercoaster...we simply must wait and see what happens on the field week to week, game by game as the intensity builds from Miss State, Vanderbilt and Week 3 vs Missouri before finally things get serious in Week 4 when we face Florida at the Swamp.
Our coaching staff will use squad depth with specific matchups in mind (certain players deployed against specific opponents, for example how we said Ricks will join Flott in games against 4 or 5 wide sets or how Pelini may randomly throw in some 3-4 defensive sets in an attempt to break 4-3 tendencies and force offenses to deploy an extra blocker, etc).
Through Orgeron's intensive recruiting and his program's inherent belief that "competition breeds greatness", Louisiana State possess many luxuries throughout their recent roster history, culminating in this 2019-2021 era: a shot at history for a second straight year.
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