re: What's holding Andy Dodd from starting at center?

Andy

quote:

---

Ethan Pocic

---

No denying Pocic is our best lineman but Kevin Mawae made an interesting comment last year about Pocic playing center. He said he thought he was ill suited at center because his height kept him from getting leverage on nose tackles. He said he was better suited at guard or tackle.

quote:

---

He's too tall for center. Move him over to LT.

---

He will be at LT before the middle of the season IMO

Miles said at SEC Media Days that the OL would look like this:
LT - Teahuma
LG - Clapp
C - Pocic
RG - Boutte
RT - Weathersby

quote:

---

As these jolly fellows have pointed out, Pocic is firmly set at that position, and he's very good. However, there was talk of moving him from center to tackle, in fact, I thought I heard that was the reason he was coming back for his senior season -- to play left tackle. I never heard any follow-up on that so I don't know what happened, which is surprising since every minute detail usually gets reported. The sentiment (I thought I heard) was that Pocic was too tall for center and would be better at tackle.

---

Pocic isn't playing center in the NFL. That said, it's obvious the coaching staff likes him at center for what LSU wants to do. Let's face it, LSU wants to be a power-running team first and foremost. Pocic at Center probably gives them the power to get interior push, and the athleticism to get to the second level of defenders.

Is he a center for most teams? Probably not. But in LSU's offense that is probably the best spot for him to help the team.

quote:

---

Just think pocic is better at LT

---

People keep saying this

If he was he would be at left tackle IMO

People are looking at what Les called his starting o-line at media days as that is set stone. That is written in sand. You have to remember things 1 there is a lot of practice time before the first game 2 Les is not afraid to mislead the media when it comes to his starting o line and 3 the coaching staff hasn't seen Pocic play since the bowl game.

Also center is just as an important or just behind position than left tackle. On the NFL the teams that have dominant centers play forever and they are usually the third highest paid player on the team after qb and left tackle. They don't get drafted as high because many people just can't play that position and it is tough to project them but if a team finds that guy they lock him up. Kevin Mawae is a perfect example of that.