All systems ready to go for Addai
Joseph Addai is set for his first career start at the tailback position, replacing now-NFLers Domanick Davis and LaBrandon Toefield.
Addai recorded one start last season as a fullback against Virginia Tech in the first game of the season.
He rushed for 438 yards on 80 carries last year, including a 63-yard touchdown run against Kentucky.
“Playing behind Domanick Davis and LaBrandon Toefield and just playing in some of the games is going to help me this year,” Addai said. “I’m going to be experienced on the field.”
While he said there is a difference between five and 25 carries, Addai said the jump in carries he anticipates will be beneficial for everybody involved.
“Getting more carries will help me and the team, too,” he said. “This will be the first time playing in a game with a lot of carries, so it’s definitely something I’m looking forward to.”
Coach Nick Saban said he is still working with the trio of freshman running backs fighting for third string. He said he is not sure which of the three – Barrington Edwards, Alley Broussard and Justin Vincent – he will redshirt, if he decides to redshirt any of them.
All of them are behind second string running back, senior Shyrone Carey, on the depth chart.
Turner hopes lessons turn into success
For Lionel Turner, playing behind former LSU linebackers Trev Faulk and Bradie James was a learning opportunity.
He is trying to turn what he has learned into success on the field as he will open as the Tigers’ starting middle linebacker on Saturday night against ULM.
“I learned from Bradie to play every play,” Turner said of James, now a rookie reserve with the Dallas Cowboys. “Bradie did an outstanding job – he ran to the ball every play. That was one of the things I learned from him.
“We were roommates on the road and at home [last year] and we just went over the playbook. He showed me how to really study film.”
Turner said Saban stresses each defensive player must know what their assignments are on each play.
“Once we get everybody doing what they’re supposed to do, we can be unstoppable on defense,” he said. “That’s what [Saban] means when he wants everybody to know their role.”
As the Mike linebacker, Turner is the “quarterback” of sorts on defense. He will be joined on the first linebacking unit by converted safeties Adrian Mayes and Eric Alexander.
The backup unit is composed of Dave Peterson, Jason LeDoux (in the middle) and Cameron Vaughn. JUCO transfer and Class of 2003 signee Kenny Hollis lags behind with the third team.
New NCAA rule peeves Saban
The NCAA has not made Saban a fan over a recent decision to not give current players at a school a former player’s scholarship if the former player was with the team at the start of fall camp.
Saban said while it was disheartening to see players who were redshirt freshman quit the team (quarterback Lester Ricard, defensive back Vernon Russell, defensive lineman Tory Collins, among others), he said he wanted them to have success at LSU as people, students and football players.
But the rule that does not allow LSU to replace those scholarships because those players started fall camp with the Tigers, irks and upsets Saban.
He said he did not know about the rule until the day he was going to alert those on the team who were going to be the recipients of the four new scholarships.
“We could get four players on our team [scholarships] who have competed, who have been in the program, who have worked their tails off – two are seniors that have been walk-ons in this program for a fourth year and both have played,” Saban said. “Now there is a rule in the NCAA that I can’t replace and give those guys scholarships because these guys quit after fall camp started.
“That bothers me more than anything else. We’re penalizing those players that have worked their tail off for four years in this program … and we made a rule now that you can’t [give those guys scholarships]. What I want to know is, what’s right about that? What’s right about that for the players? I’ve been trying to get somebody as upset about this as I am.”
Saban drew laughs from reporters at the end of his rant.
“Somebody at the NCAA made an editorial decision to an interpretation; whatever that means,” he said.
Saban quotable
“First of all, the players don’t play for the coach. After the SEC Championship or the Sugar Bowl, or whatever, I saw players with the biggest smile on their face and pointing ‘number 1’ up into the sky. They’re not saying ‘hey coach, thanks,'” Saban said to laughs from the media when asked what players have to show him in the first game.