re: Wish I could post this whole article

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“I like (Queen) better than (Phillips),” said one running backs coach who faced LSU in the second half of the season. “Queen can really run sideline to sideline. We thought (Phillips) was stiff. It was obvious they don’t want those two guys off the field. We wanted to use tempo to wear them out a little bit.”

Queen was one of the most improved players on the LSU defense this season, and that definitely was the impression of another SEC running backs coach who faced LSU in the second half of the season.

“He’s more active in the game than what you see on film. He was a little bit of a shock,” said the coach. “He’s got really good change of direction. I think he’s got a good feel for dropping into zones; he searches up crossing routes and he gets in the way across the middle a lot (in pass coverage) of what you’re trying to do.”

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Stingley is gonna be a great cornerback, but I think any wide receiver that is not afraid to use their hands can get him,” said one wide receiver coach who faced LSU in the second half of the season. “The (Justyn) Ross kid will go at him I think. He likes to press and bail. He’s a patient corner. He tries to be perfect. He has really good ball skills, and he can run.

“(Fulton) is just average. He is overly aggressive. I think (Clemson WR Tee) Higgins can get him. You can get him with double moves. You can hit him on slant and go’s.

“Delpit is a great player if you just let him play centerfield. He struggles in coverage and is horrible in open-field tackling.”

Another coach whose team faced LSU in the first half of the season also was down on Delpit. “We thought that he was a matchup problem for them if you can get your slot on him. They want him to run the alley and be the free hitter.”

A coach who faced LSU after Delpit had recovered was more upbeat on the LSU secondary and was especially impressed with how long and fluid Stingley is, but he added that his team thought it could attack him with back-shoulder fades. He liked Fulton too. “I think he has more suddenness to him.”

The coach added, “The teams we talk to said don’t waste your time trying to throw it on the outside. They’re that good. When we played them, what stood out to me was how well they talked to each other and communicate. I watched them during a TV timeout and saw how they were handling things.”

Nickel Kary Vincent has made four interceptions but is a player opposing coaches think Clemson might be able to take advantage of. “He’s not big, but he can really run and he’s got great instincts,” one coach said. “They don’t want him in run support.”

The biggest circle opposing coaches would put around any LSU defensive player they wanted to try and exploit was safety Jacoby Stephens, a 6-3, 225-pound hybrid.

“He’s the one guy who is out of position,” said one of the running backs coaches. “He needs to be a linebacker. He’s heavy-legged. We thought we could attack him. He’s a liability in coverage, but they put him in so many different places he’s hard to pinpoint.”

Said another: “He’s not a DB. He’s really stiff.”

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