Jacob Cutrera has been waiting.The senior linebacker has waited three seasons for a starting role. He’s sat behind former Tigers and current NFL players Darry Beckwith and Ali Highsmith on the depth chart.Now Cutrera will likely get his chance in 2009 — if he can ever get to practice.Cutrera missed numerous practices this fall because of an undisclosed injury.LSU coach Les Miles said he expects Cutrera to be back on the field today.”It’s just smart to hold him out,” Miles said. “He’s a veteran and doesn’t necessarily need the work.”Despite never being “the man” at linebacker, Cutrera has been instrumental in LSU’s past defensive success with 54 tackles the past two seasons. The Lafayette native came to Baton Rouge as a four-star recruit with high expectations.He did not disappoint.Cutrera saw the field in 11 games his freshman season, racking up 37 tackles en route to being named a third-team Freshman All-American by the Sporting News.Expectations soared after the stellar freshman effort. He was supposed to challenge for a starting job. He was supposed to become “the man.”It didn’t happen.Cutrera played in 12 games, including two starts, in his sophomore campaign in 2007. He amassed 21 tackles along with a national championship ring.Cutrera does not regret his experience as a backup, though. He said although he did learn from Highsmith, Beckwith was his main mentor. “I played behind him,” Cutrera said of Beckwith, now a member of the San Diego Chargers. “He was a great role model for me. He led the team with his playing ability and everybody loved him. That’s how I want to go down too.”The 6-foot-4-inch, 236-pound Cutrera took an expanded role last season, playing in all 13 games and starting twice in place of the injured Beckwith. He finished with 33 tackles.Cutrera said the experience gained from his starts this past season has been invaluable in his preparation for the upcoming one. “It was fun getting in the mix like that,” Cutrera said. “I was getting great game experience, and I felt like if something did happen to somebody I could fill that role, and it would be like Darry never left.”As the Tigers come to the brink of a new season, Cutrera has stepped into a leadership role in the linebacker corps and, for that matter, the entire defensive unit.”There’s something about a guy that fights like heck to play,” Miles said. “Now is his year, and I think he’s had the kind of summer and early camp that would give you the impression that he’s looking forward to it.”New defensive coordinator John Chavis said Cutrera has “outstanding maturity.””He is a leader for us. There’s no question about that,” Chavis said. “He’s been able to pick up our scheme really well.”Chavis, in his first year at LSU after serving 14 seasons as defensive coordinator at Tennessee under former Vols coach Philip Fulmer, runs a defense similar to what LSU ran under former defensive coordinator Bo Pelini.”It’s a base 4-3. It’s not that much different from what we used to do, just a few tweaks here and there,” Cutrera said. “Coach Chavis likes to bring the blitz a lot.”One difference between the Pelini-led Tiger defenses and Chavis’ scheme is third-down strategy. Unlike previous defenses, Chavis prefers not to rotate dime and nickel packages, leaving three linebackers on the field, which means more playing time for Cutrera. “Linebackers don’t like getting off the field, so it’s a plus,” Cutrera said. “When he believes in it, it gives us a lot more confidence.”Cutrera also believes Chavis is the right man to bring back the defensive toughness lacking from last year’s disappointing 8-5 squad. LSU allowed 24.4 points per game under co-defensive coordinators Bradley Dale Peveto and Doug Mallory. Both men left the program after the season.Peveto and Mallory were tabbed by Les Miles to continue running Pelini’s defense after he left for Nebraska. The duo was unable to uphold LSU’s pedigree for dominant defense.”That’s not us,” Cutrera said of the 2008 defense. “That’s not our style of play. You could really tell in the spring and summer workouts and what carried into the fall. The intensity level, the fire, the desire these guys have in practice is unbelievable.”Cutrera still figures to take one of the starting positions at linebacker if he gets healthy before the season opener Sept. 5 against Washington. But the coaches aren’t letting him off easy.”There is competition [at linebacker],” Chavis said. “It’s making him better. He looks forward to that challenge. He knows he’s going to be pushed. As long as he’s being pushed we’ll get the best from him, but I think we’d get it anyway.”Cutrera is keeping a cool head as well.”Nothing is set in stone,” Cutrera said. “You have to compete everyday. Anything can happen. These younger guys have to be ready. For injuries or anything. It’s up for grabs, really.”Overall, Cutrera is simply looking forward to his senior season. “It is special for me,” Cutrera said. “It is my last year. I’m trying to make the best of it. I’m just excited with how this thing is going right now.”—-Contact Chris Branch at [email protected]