The 2009 season will be the final chance for senior tight end Richard Dickson and senior left tackle Ciron Black to impress NFL scouts and cash in on their success at LSU.Both players already established themselves as two of the best in LSU history, and their senior campaigns can only cement their legacy.Black started 40 consecutive games in three seasons and played a school-record 1,031 snaps in 2007. Dickson had 10 touchdowns and 69 receptions, tied for first and fourth in LSU history. Both players see this season as a chance to lead the offensive line.”For myself, I just want to be a leader for the team as a senior this year,” Black said. “It is always about the team.”Black could have been a late first or early second round draft pick in 2008, according to the NFL Advisory Committee, but he decided to return to the Tigers. “I had to look at the situation because it is my life,” Black said. “It was obvious I needed to come back. There’s a lot more I need to work on.”Dickson returns as the leader of the tight end corps and has been named to the John Mackey Award Watch List, presented to the nation’s top tight end. “I’ll do whatever it takes to help the team,” Dickson said. “As long as we’re winning games, I’ll block every down.”Even though Dickson is on the verge of breaking many LSU records, he doesn’t pay attention to numbers.”I don’t know about the records until people tell me I’m about to break them,” Dickson said. “You try not to worry about that. You rather go out there, relax and let things come as they come.”The Ocean Springs, Miss., native caught 31 passes for 324 yards and five touchdowns in 2008 and also serves as a solid blocker on running downs.”He can be physical when need be, and then he can run out for passes and catch,” said offensive coordinator Gary Crowton. “He’s one of the best in the league at his position.” Sophomore tight end Mitch Joseph and redshirt freshman tight end Tyler Edwards will back up Dickson, while sophomore tight end Deangelo Peterson provides depth.Three of the five offensive lineman are returning in 2009, not including Dickson. Black will  protect the quarterback’s blindside at left tackle, while sophomore Josh Dworaczyk will take over at left guard for former Tiger Herman Johnson.Dworaczyk plans to imitate Johnson’s persona even if he can’t live up to Johnson’s size.”I don’t know if I’ll ever be 360 pounds, but I want to step into that role,” Dworaczyk said. “I was able to talk to him about the name he had for himself. It was always a positive image, and that’s what I want to bring to that table.” The starter in the middle of the offensive line is a two-man race between sophomore center T-Bob Hebert and redshirt freshman center P.J. Lonergan. Hebert, the son of former New Orleans Saints quarterback Bobby Hebert, has more experience than Lonergan. He played in six games before injuring his knee against South Carolina. But both centers are still in the running for the starting job.”We are both focused on being the best we can be for the team, and whoever comes out on top, comes out on top,” Hebert said. “We are trying to be better than the d-linemen in the [Southeastern Conference], instead of trying to be better than each other.”The right side of the offensive line has no turnover from the 2008 season. Senior right guard Lyle Hitt returns after starting 26 games the past two seasons. Junior right tackle Joseph Barksdale will start opposite Black in his third season.–Contact Michael Lambert at [email protected]