After the first spring practice ended Monday, LSU football head coach Nick Saban is looking for leaders on defense.
“We just don’t have a lot of experience at linebacker and safety right now,” Saban said. “We’re going to have to really … do a good job of developing players and developing confidence and leadership in that group.”
Saban said the departure of Bradie James at linebacker leaves a void in the vocal leadership on defense. He is looking for somebody to fill that leadership position vocally, not by actions.
“[The players] give me this stuff about ‘I lead by example.’ There’s no such thing as leading by example,” Saban said. “That means you give a good example, and somebody else does the wrong thing, and you’re example is supposed to make them do the right thing. Then you see them do the wrong thing, and you just let it happen.”
Instead Saban wants players to “take the bull by the horns” and help their teammates improve.
“If you’re going to affect somebody else — affect them, ” Saban said.”Be assertive and be a leader, and get them to do it the right way.”
Saban does not know who will fill those leadership positions on defense, but he wants that leader to be a linebacker or safety.
Jack Hunt is the only player who received significant playing time at safety for LSU last season. Saban said Adrian Mayes has potential to be a leader at the position as well. The senior from Houston played mostly special teams last season.
Saban said the position where LSU is lacking the most is linebacker. Sophomore Cameron Vaughn and junior Lionel Turner return as LSU’s only experienced linebackers. Even with the experience, Turner is trying to learn MIKE, the middle linebacker position.
While the defensive side of the ball is undeveloped, Saban said he likes the leadership that has developed on the offensive side of the ball.
“I think offensively we’re probably a little bit further ahead because we really have more continuity,” Saban said.
Saban said the quarterbacks are throwing the ball better than they did last spring. He wants the quarterbacks to work on being more efficient this spring so they can have more continuity at the position this fall.
The recovery of Matt Mauck holds part of the answer to the continuity at the quarterback position. Mauck participated in practice yesterday and has most of his mobility back.
“He was effective by his drops, and he was effective by his ability to set and throw the ball,” Saban said. “The one thing he really can’t do yet is just really take off full speed 100 percent.”
Saban thinks the quarterbacks have a chance to be more successful next season because of the offensive line talent. The Tigers return Stephen Peterman at guard and Ben Wilkerson at center. Saban expects sophomore Rudy Niswanger to step in at guard and center for LSU.
“I feel good about the offensive line,” Saban said. “This is the best group that we’ve had at that position since we’ve been here.”