Football coaches don’t like revealing more than they have to.
LSU coach Les Miles and his counterparts from around the country protect the secret intricacies of their respective programs like it’s their first-born child.
The Tigers roll into Arlington, Texas this weekend to kickoff their season against TCU, but Miles and TCU coach Gary Patterson are withholding information about playing time for key members of each squad.
Possibly the most important question mark on either roster is TCU’s quarterback battle. Patterson maintains his stance of a game-time decision for senior Casey Pachall and sophomore Trevone Boykin, which leaves the Tigers pulling double duty in the film room.
“I think both are athletic and I think both can throw,” Miles said. “It’s the same offense, it just might be a different skill set.”
Miles added he thinks Pachall might be a slightly better passer particularly down field, but Boykin runs the ball a little better.
Pachall will likely receive the bulk of the snaps on Saturday night despite leaving the team to attend a drug and alcohol abuse center after being arrested for a DWI last October.
The senior quarterback was on his way to a standout season in 2012 before the arrest, throwing for 10 touchdowns and 948 yards in four games. Pachall also lays claim to a 15-2 record and a 35 to 8 touchdown-to-interception ratio as a starter.
“[Pachall] is the most — as far as arm wise — passing quarterback,” said senior linebacker Lamin Barrow. “He’s got a great arm. He can also run too from what we’ve seen of the film from a couple of years ago. I think a guy like that who hadn’t played a full season last year is trying to get back and make some big plays.”
Boykin, on the other hand, is known as more of a running quarterback, which Barrow said he and his fellow linebackers are anxious to see on the field.
“I don’t know when we’ll see [Boykin], but if I was a guessing guy, I would think some short yardage and see him kind of running,” Barrow said.
Barrow thinks Boykin adds a second dimension to the game that Pachall potentially doesn’t through Boykin’s ground game. Barrow knows Boykin can take it between the tackles and could be dangerous on option and sweep plays.
Boykin only produced three wins as a starter in 2012, but Patterson said in recent press conferences Boykin has improved since his freshman campaign.
Miles has been slightly more forthcoming with his depth chart for the Cowboys Classic, confirming most positions outside of running back. The status of sophomore running back Jeremy Hill remains in question following Hill’s reinstatement to the team following a violation of his probation earlier this year. Hill’s arrest came after a fight outside of Reggie’s Bar in April.
Miles has yet to rule out Hill as an option at some point in the game, but confirmed senior running back Alfred Blue will be the starter on Saturday.
The closest thing to an explanation Miles gave on the subject was a vague, “I would not be surprised if [Hill] made the trip [to Arlington].”
Hill led the Tigers last season with 755 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns on 142 attempts compared to Blue’s 40 attempts for 270 yards and two scores. Blue’s numbers are tainted, however, thanks to a knee injury sustained in the third week of the 2012 season against Idaho.
“It really doesn’t [make a difference who plays] because an open hole is an open hole,” said sophomore left tackle Vadal Alexander. “We have great running backs, from Kenny to Blue to Jeremy to Terrence Magee.”
Patterson recently voiced his disapproval of Miles’ decision to let Hill back on the team following a team vote on the matter. But in a surprise move, Patterson reinstated sophomore defensive end Devonte Fields who was expected to sit out of the first two games for a violation of team rules back in May.
Patterson didn’t say if Fields will play against LSU this weekend, but he confirmed that Fields will dress out and be on the sidelines for the game.
“We’re going to block them where they’re at,” Miles said, downplaying the decision.
Miles also added that the offensive game plan won’t change depending on where Fields lines up.
Fields led the Horned Frogs with 18.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks in his freshman season and received All-Big 12 First Team honors as well as the AP Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.
“He is a great player,” said senior LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger. “Last I heard, he was suspended, but if he does play we’re looking forward to that challenge. We always want to play against somebody’s best and he’s definitely a great player.”
The Unknowns: Uncertainty surrounds both rosters entering Cowboys Classic
August 29, 2013