PRACTICE NOTES FOR THIS WEEK

by LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN

@LonnPhillips

As the Tigers continue to plow their way through opening Spring practices, I've had extended time finally (after a whirlwind last few days) to study my own personal footage from practices, as well as the tape of other media members......here is some big things sticking out to me lately:

Mike Denrock's offense will greatly focus & feature our running backs in the passing game; Time after time after time, we witnessed scripted plays setting up underneath passes for the Tigers' running backs, using the O-linemen in creative ways in their blocking schemes....

I had a firsthand view at how well John Emery Jr continues to excel in the passing game, however we are paying keen attention to Corey Kiner, Armoni Goodwin & Tre Bradford's own improvements.

I may not be 100% confident about who will win the starting running back spot, but one thing I can tell you:

Denbrock and Kelly will make sure whoever wins the starting job won't just catch the ball out of the backfield, they'll be a threat on every single snap.

After studying the footage, it appears fourth year (third year on the field) OL swingman Charles Turner & freshman Fitzgerald West Jr took the bulk of snaps under center, although we know Brad Davis also has his eye on a few other options playing the role....

Davis has talked about trying Tre'Mond Shorts, Garrett Dellinger and Xavier Hill at the spot, but now that I've seen "Scooter" Hill ironing out a spot at guard, while Dellinger is still recovering from his torn meniscus, and Tre'Mond Shorts seems to be locked up at guard, as well, LSU's O-Line Chief isn't wasting precious time waiting for other options to appear:

Right now, he's loving the verve & tenacity Charles Turner continues to show out there; plus, freshman Fitz West is taking big time snaps far faster than most analysts were projecting;

As of today, you have to say Charles Turner is looking solid at the spot, providing precise snaps (I am yet to see a single wayward snap from him during the hour we've seen);

Center appears to be a job no one wanted last year, a task Liam Shanahan accepted thanklessly........but in 2022, Brad Davis has given center its proper dues, finally, attaching the significance it deserves:

Unless some other candidate moves out of position to challenge #69, I believe Charles Turner should & will be LSU's starting center Week 1 inside the Superdome vs Florida State.

With Deion Smith out the door to Ole Miss, Malik Nabers unavailable due to injury after an operation, and #1 WR Kayshon Boutte nearing the final phase of his recovery process, LSU have a gap they must bridge at wide receiver.

Cortez Hankton's WRs group are stocked, locked and loaded, brimming with talents deep on their depth chart to the point gems such as Evan Francioni can barely get a rep during the season;

But right now, I want to know......who will start chipping away at Kayshon Boutte's #1 role?

Which LSU Tiger WR won't be afraid to challenge their potential #7?

Thus far, Jaray Jenkins appears more stout, ripped & physically potent than ever before, Brian Thomas Jr & Chris Hilton Jr are both looking like they've gained the proper amount of weight, boosting themselves due to an elite caliber of strength & high grade polish, as in-coming transfer wide out Kyren Lacy is both ambitious & multi-faceted through the air, while Jack Bech continues to exceed every expectation set in front of him, Hankton will have no shortage of options......and the battles out wide, mano e mano between DBU and WRU, will keep sharpening their collective iron.

I have my eyes firmly trained on Jenkins, Thomas Jr, Hilton Jr and specifically Bech....but I'm also keeping constant tabs on Kyren Lacy, who I feel could really light it up in 2022.

After a few practices, it's still very early days at DBU....of course, it's a mystery as to who will take over at each cornerback slot, and who may partner alongside Jay Ward at safety....yet we've received a few clues:

Recent transfer Greg Brooks Jr isn't shy, flying in headfirst through traffic to snatch a bobbled catch out of the air for an interception, ripping the ball straight from the grasp of an LSU receiver; the former Arkansas DB kept a high rate of physicality throughout, also being utilized as a blitzer off the edge, or playing nickel.

I've seen Sage Ryan all over the practice field, although I feel the young man must be given a true home on the field....either cornerback or safety.....he can't just be deployed at nickel....Ryan is an every down type of player......and while he may not currently boast the experience or know-how to play all defensive snaps of an SEC game, I think by the end of summer, LSU's five star DB will be ready for that workload.

He must be turned into a cornerback, full-time, or give him his own legitimized free role as a pseudo-nickelback / cornerback / roaming safety......aka the Tyrann Mathieu position.

LSU shouldn't be afraid to deploy 3 safety formations either, in 2022, and gaining the most from Ryan's multi-faceted abilities would greatly help Matt House's first season as an SEC defensive coordinator.

Starting & finishing strong during his first game against Florida, the moment will never be too big for Sage Ryan, either.

Joe Foucha looked good out there, offering some nasty side-to-side angles and pace, chewing up ground all over the field with ease; Foucha's experience, versatility and hellhound playmaking could see him become the prime candidate for LSU's starting safety job opposite Jay Ward.

Sadly, new transfer Jarrick Bernard-Converse went down with an injury during Saturday's practice.......and while I wasn't necessarily given a straight up answer on whether his problem was serious or not, the tone felt like JBC could be out for at least a month or two.

JBC looked solid for the most part, getting his feet wet; Now, it looks like his settling in period will be extended thanks to a horribly timed injury....

I feel bad for Jarrick and I'm hoping for his speedy recovery.

Which QB is ready to really take hold of their destiny....right here....right now???

After talking to Myles myself & witnessing his practices, I can tell you Myles Brennan is more dialed in than at any point in 2021.

Myles is fighting for more than LSU's starting job, he's really fighting for the future of his football career.

That can be an unstoppable opponent for LSU's other 3 QBs to fight off....a grown man battling for his very footballing life....Joe Burrow went through that same gauntlet....never will I say Brennan or any LSU quarterback is or could ever be Joe, but the parallel hunger of their situations is evident.

Simply put, Myles Brennan's rise or fall at QB will decide the shape & tone of LSU's season: unfinished business for familiar #15 or will the 2 year Jayden Daniels era begin in earnest?

by LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN

@LonnPhillips

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