re: Bigger beast DE?

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I know it a little off subject but i have one more question for you. Whats you take on Ware, do you think he is better than Storm? I will say storm looks better on paper. Faster 40 time and though Ware has the type of build i prefer in RB, 5,11 220lbs. He is a little weak in the weight room for being that solid.

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Uh oh, the Spencer Ware question. I will tell you now--I am not as high on Ware as 99% of LSU fans are.

I think it will take him some adjustment to taking a handoff instead of being at QB and he will have to be careful to watch his weight as well.

Pretty much anyone that is rated as high as him look great on film and paper to just about everyone--hence why he is a 4 star.

I, however, just don't see it, but like I said I am not as high on him as others. It isn't one thing specifically I am not high on, but overall I just don't see him being an amazing college player like everyone else seems to believe.

If I had my choice, I would take Lache Seastrunk and Dontae Williams and call it a day. We are going to regret not offering Williams--he is Joseph Addai part 2. He will be a very, very good college RB.

im with you on Ware he just doesnt impress me that much but who knows i hope hes a beast.

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We need to sign him. End of story

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If we are really passing on him for Lache then Les must know something we dont bc i remember when Williams recruiting just started and he was extrememly high on LSU.I hope we didnt blow it

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You are giving a bit of extreme examples to try and prove your point.

Why can't you recruit a guy like Sam Montgomery and put him at 260 lbs if you want a speed rusher?

Nothing says you need a WLB/DE at 235 or a defense tackle size DE at 280--There is an inbetween

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Well, of course, noone is saying Bates>Montgomery (not even me ). I was just using those extreme examples bc that is what LSU has had. We could have used a guy like Bates last year when we had a guy like Johnson rushing from DE against Troy.

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A large percentage of the guys that become starters on LSU's football team will eventually become pro players--especially the defensive lineman, since we have a 'prestige' at the position.

I think there are better players in either the 2010 class or the 2011 class that could have had Bates spot--which is why I don't like the pickup.

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If you can find someone who would be a better speed rusher, then I'd agree. But Bates IMO fits a need, so he's a worthy pickup.

IMO Cameron Fordham is a more questionable pickup bc we are loaded on the OL.

And while I agree that Bates is a career backup, a 3rd down pass rusher is an important role on any team. Especially in today's college football where it is a bunch of wide open offenses. Miss St is another team we are going to start playing that is never going to play off tackle power running anymore under Mullen once he gets his personnel in.

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Hilliard may weigh more than Bates and he will only be a junior is high school. Hill will only be a junior as well--there is a huge difference between comparing a junior in high school and a senior. Not to mention comparing guys that play completely different positions and require different skill sets.

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The point is it was a very slow track, one in which Trovon Reed ran a 4.59 on. So if you take off a tenth of a second as I would for Reed and every other player there, Bates' 4.80 becomes a 4.70. Which is good speed.

And Bates weighed in at one more pound than Hilliard.

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We have improved out speed--but out of the guys you listed--who is Bates going to pass up on the depth chart? It isn't anything against the kid personally, but when you have elite talent at the same position as him in the same recruiting class or within a year of his class, it makes it near impossible for him to become a starter.

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I could see him playing above Mingo considering he is a better football player right now than Mingo is (although Mingo obviously has great speed).

The point at DE is rotation, rotation, rotation. Keep fresh bodies going at the QB. We will finally have that in the future. That's a good thing, not a bad thing. You can NEVER have too much depth at that position.

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We are running very low of scholarships now, with big names still on the board.

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I'm just not sure who is out there that you are expecting LSU to get? We don't need any more offensive linemen for example, we already have too many of those on scholarship. There aren't any bigtime DTs in our region this year, and that wasn't a huge need anyway.

And again IMO, Cameron Fordham was a more questionable scholarship bc OL/TE was not as big of a need as WDE was. Part of recruiting is meeting needs.

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especially with 2 very good running backs lined up for 2011

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very true, as much as i like williams..Hill and Hilliard are going to light it up in death valley

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I would personally rather Dickson as a DE than a TE. I think he would fit the rush DE position you are describing better than Bates would.

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Ehh, I don't see it on film with Travis at DE. I remember watching Richard at DE in the Army game, and not being impressed. I think Travis is much the same way, neither of them stick out athletically at DE as they do as TEs. If I had to guess, I would say that Bates is faster than Dickson. But Dickson obviously has the strong receiving skills, and is a bulldog blocker like his brother.

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I am sure there are players that LSU could get in on--I don't have the economies of scale they do, so I can't name a ton of names off the top of my head.

Ego Ferg is a guy that is interesting. I would rather take no marginal players in 2010 to save a spot for 2011--because the talent will be there in 2011 to cherry pick.

Bates spot for 2011 >>> Bates.

Kind of a pessimistic way to look at things, but I think it is just the reality of things. I hate career backups when better talent exists elsewhere.

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Well, sure Ferguson would be great, but right now we are fighting with about 10 other teams that have a legitimate shot on him.

You can say a guy like Byron Jones, but my guess is they aren't looking for a guy like Jones in this class. With Johnson, Chuck Hunter, and a DT from Rayville next year that is supposed to be good; they seem content on getting their run stuffers next year in La.

We will have to wait and see what comes up next year. If there are guys we have to pass up on, then you MAY have a point. And I will still contend that Fordham made less sense than Bates.

I just think they were looking for front seven speed in this class more than size. That's why they passed up on Elliot Porter as a DT, for example.

Ware looks pretty good IMO. You can't teach a guy how to move like he does at that size. Speed, size, and toughness are qualities needed to play Les Miles brand of football. Addai was a quaterback and he did just fine.

bates is a kid who will bust his butt for you. not sure he'll be a major factor anytime soon. this kid does not have the lateral movement to play mlb in the SEC. we'll see what happens.

I have the feeling that maybe some of these "marginal" picks you guys talk about (hb, jj, rd) were strictly intended as special teams players. Or maybe purely political as in fire up the fans with the local talent. Give them something to cheer for and talk about. In any case I think the coaches have a better handle on it than we do, they get paid the big bucks!