re: LSU 2022 depth chart - we need DL desperately

savion jones

You're 100% correct that we need DL badly, but I think there's a few things that your specific depth chart listing overlooks:


First, Wiggins should be listed under DE. Obviously he has very little experience, but he's a guy a lot of us have been super high on since early in his recruitment, and he is basically a prototype DE.



Second, although it is accurate to list both smith and wingo at the DT spot, the fact is that those two guys are absolutely 100% capable of sharing the field. And not only are they capable of sharing the field, but they're capable of doing it in multiple different alignments. For example, if Roy comes back, I guarantee you we see plenty of snaps with Roy at NT, Wingo at DT, and Smith at DE. Conversely, if Roy *doesn't* come back, I guarantee you we see plenty of snaps with Wingo at NT, Smith at DT, and Wiggins (or a portal guy) at DE.



Third, I think there's a similar point to be made regarding the DE and Jack positions. In particular, I think that the amount of progress Sav'ion Jones made on his body in year 1 (coming in as a coat hanger but looking like a real SEC starter physically by the time games started) suggests that there's a good chance he'll be capable of handling either DE or Jack. This is projection, of course, but I think it's informed projection.


The same is true with respect to Wiggins and DE/DT (though I would personally prefer that we don't beef him up too much, because, like i said, i think he's a prototype DE body and will be a beast as a straight DE).


The bottom line is this: You are 100% correct that we have depth issues at DL. HOWEVER. The fact that we have so many guys who are capable (or have the potential to be capable) of handling multiple spots on the DL means that we will be able to mix and match quite a bit. The reason that's so huge for us is this: Our ability to move things around means we're looking at a situation where we really just need one or maybe two guys at *any* of the four positions to break out, as opposed to having to count on one specific guy at one specific spot. It's not like having bryce langston break out as a DT doesn't help us because maason smith has him blocked--we can just slide maason (or even langston!) to a different spot on the line. Or, for example, in a hypothetical scenario where Roy goes pro - a breakout from wiggins at DE is essentially just as helpful to us as a breakout from guillory at NT. If wiggins breaks out, then we roll wingo at NT and Smith at DT. If Guillory breaks out, we roll wingo at DT and smith at DE. The relative strengths of the defensive front might shift depending on who moves where, but they're all strong options overall.