Rumors spread in the offseason about senior offensive tackle Ciron Black possibly entering the NFL draft.But he decided to stay and anchor the offensive line for his senior season — something LSU coach Les Miles has appreciated a lot in the Tigers’ spring practice.”He makes a heck of a difference to us,” Miles said. “He’s a leader. He knows exactly what to do, and he’s a left tackle. As a protector, there’s no finer spot to have a veteran.”Black’s leadership could prove vital to the Tigers’ offensive line after guard Herman Johnson and center Brett Helms completed their eligibility last season.”I’m basically just trying to lead the younger guys,” Black said. “We have a lot of freshmen.”Black said he wants to make sure his play on the field dictates how the younger players look up to him.”Talk is cheap. You can talk a big game, but if you don’t show it on the field, you can’t be a leader,” Black said.Black said he wants the experienced football players to make a difference with their leadership.”Coach says he’s really trying to mesh the line because we have a lot of guys who haven’t played,” he said. “Me, Lyle and Joe [Barksdale] have to be that glue to mesh the offensive line.”Sophomore Josh Dworaczyk may join the starters with the departure of the 386-pound Johnson, who had 100-pound advantage on the 286-pound sophomore.”At left guard, Josh Dworaczyk played a lot of football last year, and he’ll be the place we start there,” Miles said.Hitt, a guard, will join Black as the only other senior protecting the backfield. But with all the changes to the left side of the line, the right side returns a few veterans.Hitt and Barksdale, a junior tackle, return after starting every game last season.The only question mark seems to be the three-way race at center.”I like [sophomore] Will Blackwell, [freshman] P.J. Lonergan and [sophomore] T-Bob [Hebert],” Miles said. “Those guys will be in there competing. We have good centers.”Miles said the center position is still very much up for grabs.”Some days one guy looks better than the others,” Miles said.Miles said someof the more inexperienced players are getting their chance to show what they can do.”There are no [third-stringers],” Miles said. “These guys who come in here will certainly compete at the second-team spot. We’ll develop a third team after the incoming freshmen arrive. We’ll give those [second-stringers] time to improve.”The Tigers picked up three four-star offensive linemen for the 2009 season in Carneal Ainsworth, Chris Faulk and Stavion Lowe, along with one three-star lineman, Josh Williford, according to Rivals.com.But outside of the center position, there aren’t too many players who are competing for a starting job.”The lack of depth does hurt today,” Miles said. “But it allows these guys to go a little quicker.”
 
 
 
—-Contact Rowan Kavner at [email protected]