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From Al: Hi Scott, Longtime reader of yours and your father’s. Thanks for all you do. Do you think the problem with the O-line is primarily one of strength or technique? Technique should be being taught in-season. Strength (in which I would include conditioning and therefore injuries, plus recruiting) is another matter.
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My Response: Thanks, Al. I don’t think it has to be one thing or the other. There are multiple issues at play here.
First, LSU hasn’t recruited the position as well as it should, and development has been lacking. Take for instance the 2019 class, which included two highly ranked players in Kardell Thomas and Ray Parker. Thomas has yet to make a splash, and Parker is no longer on the team. Likewise, the two highest-rated O-linemen in the 2020 class were Marcus Dumervil and Marlon Martinez, neither of which have contributed significantly. I think you get the point.
Of course, losing your starting LT and best O-lineman on the team (Dare Rosenthal) in the Summer was a big blow. And then there are the injuries: The OL was banged up for much of preseason camp, which affected continuity, and starting tackle Cam Wire was out with injury this Saturday. Two more OTs, Xavier Hill and Charles Turner, were also unavailable.
There’s also the fact that offensive line coach Brad Davis — who I believe is an excellent OL coach — has been with the team for only three months after the abrupt firing of James Cregg.
So, there’s a lot going on here.
Obviously, LSU’s run blocking has been poor, but there were some positives for this O-line on Saturday. Pass protection was better than expected with Wire and Hill out, and Anthony Bradford and Garrett Dellinger showed some flashes.
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From Ron: Certainly this is not meant to deflect from the O line’s poor run blocking but the run plays seem very vanilla. Very little O line pulling and counter movement.
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My Response: I hear you, Ron, and I agree. Coach Orgeron spoke two weeks ago about needing to diversify the run game. We saw some of that against Central Michigan, but not so much against Mississippi State. I too would like to see more misdirection, counters, pulling, and outside runs.
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