LSU PRACTICE ROUND-UP

      LSU practices truly began on Monday August 17th with a full throttle, high octane, pedal to the metal course for Orgeron's young men to battle through...with the #1 obstacle being each other on every down.

          As if 7 months of bottled-up competitive fire and rampant intensity exploded on Monday, every Tiger was hell bent on making their mark.

          After months of waiting, isolation, infection, worry, introspection and days of doom and gloom, LSU's title-defense has now truly begun.

           Orgeron put his guys through a rigorous practice Monday and we saw some fantastic early indications of strength across the team:
 

            Against the best secondary in college football, Myles Brennan repeatedly dropped dimes to Ja'Marr Chase (in one on one battles vs Derek Stingley Jr), Terrace Marshall, Arik Gilbert while even Kole Taylor and Nick Storz got in on the act.

Trey Palmer stunned us with a few circus catches, demonstrating a supernatural athleticism and an iron will over the middle....a sure-fire starter and one of WRs / Assistant Head Coach Mickey Joseph's favorite young Tigers.

Another on Joseph's radar is 5 Star freshman Kayshon Boutte, a calculating speed demon and YAC machine who possesses big play potential; former Rummel High superstar Koy Moore has the hands, the build and the mentality to also become an absolute game changer. Fellow freshman Alex Adams showcased some riveting all-around talents as well, although it was difficult to ascertain what his major strength could be.

Sophomore Jaray Jenkins provided some sparks, showing up and showing out in the aerial game and rising to the challenge, putting his name above others in my book after only two days, ripping catches away from overwhelming, even illegal coverage.

Frankly Mr. Shankly, I could see Jaray Jenkins vault ahead into the group of starting five wide receivers.

            With blanketing coverage on the outside and at linebacker (Jabril Cox looks menacing in coverage), our defense were fighters, getting their hands in at the right times to deflect passes, only to see some of LSU's more physically dominant receivers / tight ends...well...dominate.

             Bo Pelini had his greatest moment during his second stint as an LSU coordinator, directing traffic for his new defense and leaning on veterans such as Jacoby Stevens and Damone Clark to assist his efforts by coaching their fellow teammates on the field. 

               Pelini would watch his guys, gather them in, make the group laugh and nod their heads, eating up his every instruction.

              He wanted his guys to work on their disguising of blitzes, running down the footwork for guys like Mo Hampton or Jordan Toles.

               Both players only needed a single lesson from Safeties Coach Bill Busch and Pelini before they mastered the shuffling, propelling footwork.

                Pelini has an exacting vision of this 2020 defense, a versatile group using a myriad of blitzes and unorthodox interchanging...we witnessed Jacoby Stevens aiming his way towards the line of scrimmage on virtually every play, rolling Mo Hampton over to strong safety and Todd Harris at free, using Stevens as an extra linebacker.

               There was an outrageous amount of personnel groupings, utilizing the talents of his squad beautifully and the linebacker position appears to be a major position of strength.

               Devonta Lee showed surprising range and pace, Cox looked breathtaking in everything he did, Clark is every bit as brutal as he is a football intellectual, Micah Baskerville is surprising and impressing everyone who watches him play, Josh White will be a fascinating freshman force of nature and Ray Thornton has shown up as a senior mastermind.

Still, we feel either Jacoby Stevens or Phillip Webb must be moved to SAM linebacker to bolster our line of scrimmage attack and prevent big plays in the rushing or short passing games.

                   This staff gushes over Curry constantly, addressing his natural hardworking example, his genuine humility and his assured confidence.

                  He's also become faster, stronger and is poised to become LSU's offensive #18...oh and Kevin Faulk is his Running Backs Coach....

                  This is going to be a great season for #24...I mean....#18...???

                  We saw LSU's Optimus Prime tight end in full flight, helmet and pads catching passes from Myles Brennan with his smooth hands and putting his magnificent physique on display.

                 Watching opponents attempt to cover Arik Gilbert will be hilarious, incredible viewing throughout 2020, especially when on the field at the same time as Chase, Marshall etc.

                 He's been a bully on the field...but in 2020, Gilbert should explode into LSU's own Transformer...Arik "Optimus Prime" Gilbert.

                 Turner has been cross-training as both center and right tackle, showing off his disturbing adaptability along the offensive line.

                  CT could end up becoming this year's Magee or Ingram, filling in and plugging holes, turning weaknesses into overwhelming strengths.

                  James Cregg and Coach Ed Orgeron are emphatic about Turner's capabilities and their trust has grown over the summer.

BY LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN

#BLACKLIVESMATTER

GEAUX TIGERS

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SHOUTOUTS: RASHAD DAVIS, 1971JIMBROWN, DON CANNON, MARYROSE BECAUSE, SUSAN C. GROSS, DORIAN, MARTY BERGERON, MICHAEL LEBLANC, JORDY CULOTTA FOR TAKING ON DICKY V, BUZZFEED UNSOLVED, RYAN CLARK'S SWAGGER, ADRIAN PERKINS' HILARITY, TONY TWO BETS MY MAN, CLAYETH!!! & SUSAN BRIGNAC