Updated player evals after Auburn game. (Defense)

Defense:

Wow, I'm really loving our DT's this year. Godchaux reminds me of Kyle Williams and Claude Wroten with his quickness off the ball. He has great pad level and is really pushing the pocket on passing plays. He is already a star.

Lacoutre is more of the hold your ground and eat up blockers type, but he gets off his blockers pretty well and makes a play here and there. A great compliment to Godchaux in my opinon.

What's really got me excited though is the play of Gilmore and Herron, especially Herron. I remember watching Herron in one of those high school all star games and I remember being impressed with his explosive quickness. He dominated the game I saw. I have been wondering where this went since he got to LSU. Either the light has gone on for him... or coach "O" shoved the light into him... maybe a combination of both. He actually looked a lot like Godchaux this game, in his style of play. Not quite as good a pad level, but certainly strong and quick and active and made plays. I think he can step in and play without us missing a beat.

Gilmore is more suited for the Lacoutre role. Big space eater and holds his ground well, he does need to do a better job getting off his blockers. Hopefully he will improve as his playing time increases. We are looking good at DT fellas.

DE also looks to be in good hands. Not great, but good. Key lost his containment more this game than last, but mostly just due to youthful overaggression, I'm sure O is gonna work this out. He possess's a rare set of physical tools and a high motor. He is gonna be a play maker this year.

Neal still looks like a Rasco clone to me, just solid setting the edge, heady player with a good motor. Not going to be spectacular, but probably doesnt have to be.

Bower, while a different type of player than Neal could also have his play be described in the same way as Neal. Solid but not spectacular, good enough to win with however, definitely better than any DE Auburn put on the field Saturday!

Clark and Teheuma....meh. They don't seem to be playing with any intensity when they are out there. Teheuma seems to be much slower than he appeared last year and Clark just seemed to be going through the motions. I'm not sure what to make of them; not enough talent or just in a bad place mentally? Hope they get better as we need the depth there. 3 DE's are enough for most games, but one injury and we are in trouble.

Got a good look at Riley, Alexander and Louis this game. Riley is clearly the best of the second teamers and can fill in ably for Debo.

Alexander is not quite the playmaker that Riley is, but he didn't look terrible. Might be fine with a little more game experience.

Louis also looks as if he will be able to spell Beckwith some if needed. Needs to make more plays but he has some pretty good size and speed, may turn out to be serviceable.

Debo and Beckwith are a great pair of LB's. If we are going to compare defenses with the 2011 benchmark, this team has a definite edge at LB over 2011 Minter, Karnell hatcher and Ryan Baker. Can't have an injury here, but our starters are playing at a championship level.

Dwayne Thomas redeemed himself a bit this week. He looked slow to me last week but perhaps he just needed to knock some of the rust off, he looked more like his old self this week. I still think that when Mills comes back Thomas will lose his starting spot.

That is because Jefferson is crushing it at safety this year. It's early yet, but to my eyes, Adams and Jefferson have a chance to be the best pair of safeties LSU has ever had on the field at one time...and thats saying something. They just have all the pieces you want in a safety. Good size, extremely fast and violent to the ball in run support and great tacklers (even though they both each missed a tackle on two different plays that resulted in big plays for JJ). They both also possess elite cover skills in the pass game. I think these guys are gonna have a special year. I just don't see the coaches breaking up their chemistry when Mills comes back. I think they will just put Mills in Thomas' nickle spot as he is probably a little better in coverage there.

Thompson got in more playing time this game, he didn't really make any plays of note but he didnt get beat and the coaches obviously trust him back there so he must be doing something right.

Tre White made a couple really good plays in this game that went mostly unnoticed. Auburn REALLY likes to run wheel routes with their backs, and it is one of their go to plays when they want a big gainer. They tried it 3 times that I counted in this game and White sniffed it out every time, took away the back and forced JJ to pull the ball down and run or get sacked. That's why he is a preseason all-SEC CB.

Tolliver, just might be better than White already! Certainly just from a physical tools aspect he has the edge. He hasn't been through the SEC wars like White yet, BUT, he has played two SEC games and has been dominant. Not too bad for a guy that was playing HS football this time last year.

Donte Jackson, got in a few plays at the nickle spot. He's surely got the speed and quickness you want there, but he badly needs to gain weight so he can be more physical. We will see what he looks like next year after some time in the weight room with Moffit. I do like that the coaches seem to want to get him in space a couple snaps a game on offense. For now that might be his best chance to contribute to the team.



Just like last week, I see no glaring weakness in this LSU team. Depth at LB and DE seems to be our only concern. Some seem to still be concerned at the lack of passing but I think they are underestimating our ability to run into an 8 man box with Fournett. Our front 6 and FB have dominated other teams front 7 and have been leaving the "8th" man, the strong safety to be dealt with by LF7. I will take LF7 over ANY SS on ANY team anywhere anytime and expect to win this battle more times than not.

If 2011 proved anything, its that you can be dominant with great defense and a strong running game, with subpar QB play. I DO think that Harris will end up being a much bigger and better part of the offense than either JJ or Lee was in 2011. My take over all is, that with a little good luck with injuries, and a little good fortune with the bounce of the ball in a game or two and this will be a championship ride for our Tigers!