With the LSU spring football game Saturday, here are some important positions to keep an eye on.
Quarterback
If this is surprising to you, I can’t help you because you should know the drill by now. It’s the same one that was happening this time last year, except the fans are more restless than optimistic.
Ridiculously high expectations surrounded freshman Brandon Harris heading into last year’s spring game, leading most to believe Harris would beat incumbent Anthony Jennings for the starting spot.
Harris went 11-for-28 for 195 yards with three passing touchdowns and one on the ground, while Jennings posted 9-for-17, 157 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. The eye test was obviously in favor of Harris, but it was Jennings who started 12 of LSU’s 13 games.
I’m not recommending anyone to watch which quarterback separates himself from the other and looks like a potential starter. The stats from this game mean nothing and Les Miles and offensive coordinator Cam Cameron won’t decide on a starter until sometime during fall practice anyway.
Instead, watch for progression from last season’s mistakes, like going through progressions, reading defenses, checking at the line of scrimmage, pocket awareness, etc.
Wide Receiver
This is the most interesting position on the offensive side of the ball by a long shot.
That’s because LSU has enough offensive linemen to be great across the front regardless of who plays where. Meanwhile, rising sophomore running back Leonard Fournette could rush for six yards in this game, and I wouldn’t be concerned.
But wide receiver is a different story.
Last year, Travin Dural, John Diarse, Malachi Dupre and Trey Quinn had to replace the production of Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry, which just wasn’t going to happen. My expectations for the position were low because of an obvious dip in experience.
Out of the gate, Diarse and Dural looked primed for big years. Instead, Diarse faded to the back of the receiver rotation as Dupre became the number two man. The position hit rock bottom in the Alabama game, losing 50/50 balls and dropping passes.
Former wide receiver coach Adam Henry left LSU for the 49ers, and Miles brought in Georgia wide receiver coach Tony Ball to replace him. I tend to favor more on the side of change is good than vice versa.
Ball is a great teacher by most accounts, stressing fundamentals with a hands-on approach. With the lapses in fundamentals the receivers had a year ago, I expect progress from the entire receiving corps.
The big question remains who starts out wide. Dural made a good case to remain a starter a year ago as did Dupre and Quinn. But don’t leave out the big, physical Diarse and sleeper D.J. Chark.
Early in the spring season, the name I heard most was Chark’s and rightfully so. Rising junior cornerback Tre’Davious White called him one of the fastest guys on the team and Miles said he “just seems to makes plays.”
I’m excited to see the talk of spring practice and who else has made the most progression under Ball.
Defense
I could take you through each spot individually, but as a unit, this is the most important part of the LSU team.
New defensive coordinator Kevin Steele will have his first public game since taking over in Baton Rouge and he’s still a bit of a mystery.
In the last game he coached as a defensive coordinator, his Clemson team allowed 70 points to West Virginia in the Orange Bowl. That’s bad. Add in the pressure of taking over a defense that ranked No. 1 in the Southeastern Conference in yards allowed per game last season, and he could be in over his head.
But he’s better than the blowout to West Virginia, and the defense still had its pitfalls a season ago, failing to hold onto leads against Alabama and Notre Dame.
Personnel-wise, LSU has to replace defensive ends Jermauria Rasco and Danielle Hunter, linebacker Kwon Alexander, safety Ronald Martin and cornerbacks Rashard Robinson and Jalen Collins. I’ll focus mostly on the number two cornerback spot and both defensive ends.
Having to find two new pass rushers is going to be difficult for Steele and defensive line coach Ed Orgeron. Keep an eye on rising junior Lewis Neal, rising sophomore Sione Teuhema and rising junior Tashawn Bower as top contenders.
At corner, the competition between rising junior Ed Paris and freshman Kevin Toliver II will be on full display this weekend and should continue until the season starts. Toliver is an early enrolled five-star recruit who has all the physical skills to be the next great LSU corner, but Paris is the favorite and just as capable of being something special.
Paris will probably hold off Toliver, but watching them compete for the job on Saturday should be well worth your time.
Brian Pellerin is a 21-year-old mass communication junior from Kenner, Louisiana. You can reach him on Twitter @Pellerin_TDR.