Lonn Phillips Sullivan
Sep 8, 20207 min
This weekend, the LSU bleeding stopped after continuous weeks of bad news:
First of all, college football is finally in the air and even being played at long last; second, a litany of magical recruiting talent (six from Geaux 247's Top 50, 11 Top 115 players, 20 amazing young Tigers-to-be in total) all arrived in Baton Rouge at the same time and stayed for the weekend.
Everyone we've talked to was extremely enthusiastic about their time in Baton Rouge, those sources include three big time recruits still on the fence and parents of two 5 stars who attended the Tigers Turnout weekend.
After all was said, done and enjoyed, this Tigers 3rd ranked 2021 class looks to be well on its way towards ripping the top spot outta Ohio State's cold dead hands.
Not only did LSU finish off a bad month within the recruiting dead period by grabbing 4 Star CB Nathaniel Wiggins and 3 star dynamo TE Jalen Shead on 8/28 & 8/30, these recruiting victories started the trajectory away from the hard news of Hurricane Laura's devastation, the rampant racial injustice, the allegations toward Derrius Guice, our single best player and three of our top 10 all opting out, some extremely good defensive talent transferring, Covid illnesses, and even a failed attack on Coach O.
But ohhh the good news kept on coming: joining the Tigers Turnout this last weekend was the first scrimmage of LSU's topsy turvy campaign...and though we were missing Chase, Shelvin, Vincent, Marcel Brooks, Neil Farrell, etc, Orgeron's Tigers made damn sure to absorb all absences.
Myles Brennan completed 74% of his passes, rocketing precise deliveries straight through traffic as well as ratcheting up the efficiency in the red zone / 3rd down. His timing over the middle to Racey McMath is second to none, he's finding Kayshon Boutte streaking over the top of the defense and he's able to escape collapsing pockets better than we expected.
Where he must improve most?
Identifying the secondary routes once the original play blows up or the timing is ruined....those are the moments that make or break any quarterback:
Will Myles stay loose, ready to take off and extend the play within the back field? Or will the lack of situational experience cost Brennan during his difficult first season as starter?
As for the WRs in the wake of Ja'Marr Chase' s opt-out, Terrace Marshall stands as the #1 target through and through, preying on the incorrect shoulder movements of DBs with a nasty first step and making sure he's rightfully recognized as the best WR in college football;
Kayshon Boutte looks poised to battle for major playing time, just as we expected. Boutte will be an unassailable aerial thundergawd when all is said and done (we predict 6+ TDs)...literally as we type this, Orgeron just said about Boutte on OTB: "The day after Ja'Marr left, Kayshon had his best practice...I don't wanna put too much on 'im but he seems to be the next one...next man up!"
Billy Bando's favorite, freshman WR Alex Adams supplies a gutsy, tough target full of endless pace;
Sophomore Trey Palmer could just be the major surprise, even when so much is already expected of him. #33 isn't hearing his name in the press too much, which has quieted some of the more intense expectations coming his way....perfectly setting the table for a 33 feast.
Although suffering a small injury, Koy Moore is turning upperclassmen DBs inside out and proving that he can take the Rummel High mantle from Ja'Marr Chase; Jaray Jenkins appears smoother than butter when catching the football, becoming yet another massive target for Brennan; senior Jontre Kirklin has grown into a vocal leader, assuming control of the group in lieu of Chase's maverick leadership.
WRs Coach Mickey Joseph hasn't skipped a beat, in fact, the Marrero-native stepped on the gas twice as hard the second Chase walked out the building.
The fact remains: even without Ja'Marr, LSU has the best group of WRs in college football and it's not even close.
Still, the passing game has evolved ever further in 2020:
TEs Coach Derek Shay has integrated his own philosophies within the attack-oriented, rip-your-face-off-until-you-beg-for-teeth Ensminger offense. Shay, Linehan, Sheridan, Joseph and Callaway are currently updating and polishing LSU's tight end routes....and the results are extraordinary so far.
Let me be straight with ALL college football fans who think LSU will fail this season:
When you have LSU's four most dangerous, NFL-ready pass-catchers lined up out wide (Terrace Marshall, Racey McMath, Kayshon Boutte, Trey Palmer) then combine those routes with Arik Gilbert in a one on one mismatch....there's going to be too much space for this passing game to operate, and there's next to nothing any team across the SEC (or otherwise) can do about it.
On Friday, Gilbert made sure no one forgot what number he wears as he left scores of LSU defenders in the ashes of his wake, breaking numerous tackles, bouncing off two would-be tacklers and exploding into the end zone, scoring 2 touchdowns on Friday.
This isn't hype: it's just gravity, math and physics.
If you place a strong safety and LB on Gilbert, Myles will either have another receiver or two open, maybe Gilbert breaks free of the double team, or there will ALWAYS be a running back open in the flat...a fourth option being a quarterback sneak.
Also, when Myles is surrounded by four out wide plus Gilbert, the all-action drama of the routes drag the defense further away, leaving a huge 25 yard gap in the middle of the field for Brennan's feet to exploit....#15 must be hip to the open space.
Gilbert's presence also bolsters the mighty running back group, hosted by LSU's wild-eyed legend Kevin Faulk, gaining the RBs extra seconds after the catch in the passing game, and yet another reliable blocker on the edge.
Faulk's RBs look to be the second most explosive collection of RB-talent ever at LSU, just behind Clyde Edwards-Helaire and the freshmen trio's combined 26 rushing touchdowns and 2,083 rushing yards last year (the team ran for 32 total TDs...in a season where Burrow threw 60 TDs!!!).
Curry was a steady force on Friday, Tyrion Davis-Price "carried a few guys 25 yards" Orgeron described and John Emery Jr's incredible burst will exploit teams on the outside: while Curry & TDP wear down defenses, Emery and Tre Bradford will be utilized to gas em.
If Emery, the possible 3rd choice RB is considered an "every down back" by Coach Orgeron, then what does that say about LSU's current state of competition?
Maybe this 2020 group won't top Clyde's one man starting wrecking crew, but as a rushing unit featuring above and beyond speed, punishing steel and a big ol' bite of finesse, this running game could be impossible to stop in combination with LSU's passing frenzy...
If LSU can perfect the RPO action in time for September 26th, this offense will be frenetic, intolerable and once again, surprising to the entire college football world.
CURRY, EMERY OR TDP, TERRACE, MCMATH, ARIK, PALMER, BOUTTE...WHO ARE YOU GOING TO STOP?
On every play against any team, at least multiple guys will find themselves open....it's up to Myles to read everything and think a few steps ahead.
There is no question just what kind of impact Arik Gilbert will have on this team. If Chase stayed, the 2020 unit could've shot up close to 2019...without the #1 WR, LSU's offense may go down a gear...let's say down to the second tier...ya know... breaking pre-2019 records like it's breakfast with Mr. Bean.
Throughout Friday's scrimmage, there were only 4 total penalties, the coaches and players were constantly fired up (knowing they'll need to supply the energy and crowd enthusiasm this season);
"I told our players we're gonna have to provide the energy this year...I believe the team who has the most energy on the sidelines will have an advantage (this season)..." Orgeron spoke to OTB.
On defense, Pelini's LBs Damone Clark and Jabril Cox flew all over the field, DEs Travez Moore and Andre Anthony had a great scrimmage, and my fellow Salt Lake City-native LB Soni Fonua impressed everyone with multiple tackles for loss and a bevy of bullish hits or tackles.
At free safety, Todd Harris returned to full football activity for the first time since September 14th 2019.
When LSU starts the season on 9/26, it'll have been a full year off the field for Harris. Though redemption seems to be the choice word here for me, his teammates prefer to use "ready" when thinking about Todd.
Despite most of our O-line guys being absent through Covid the last few weeks, the entire crew is back and looking bold out there during the scrimmage.
Cregg's unit held up well, keeping Myles upright (save for a few miscommunications leading to blown protections) showing some rust in their pulling, a little less speed in the stalk blocking, however some of the O-line's less considered young men have risen up:
Versatile OL Charles Turner has made his presence known, red shirt freshman and National Champion Kardell Thomas just celebrated a birthday this weekend after performing admirably as of late, Marcus Dumervil is ready for the spotlight, Marlon Martinez shows strong potential in his underrated quickness, and Ed Ingram has shown why he's one of the top 3 guards in college football.
Overall, the Friday scrimmage showed an improving LSU ignoring the outside noise completely, keeping their heads down, leaning into their grueling work, and barreling through anything or anyone in their path, not concerned with a damm thing but 9/26...opening Saturday peeking just over the horizon....
by LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
GEAUX TIGERS
COPYRIGHT 2020 UNINTERRUPTED WRITINGS INC LLC
SHOUTOUTS TO: MARK ROGERS, MARYROSE, MY PARENTS AND JAMER