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Am I nuts to be cautiously optimistic about the o line ?

Posted on 5/27/25 at 10:12 am
Posted by Cd104
Member since Aug 2018
906 posts
Posted on 5/27/25 at 10:12 am
Yes breaking in a lot of new starters up front is always a concern as that’s position more then ever where cohesiveness and continuity matters. However, people worried that our o line will get dominated I don’t really understand. This is a line not short of talent their’s a lot of high 4 stars and 5 stars up front we recduit offensive line as well as any in the country. Losing the tackles hurt but we replace them with a damn good player in tyree Adams and 5 star true sophomore Weston Davis who only needed spring camp to lock up the RT spot which should be a big sign about how talented that kid is.


Moore at center and Thompson at guard will also add stability to those spots. IMO the big battle is the guard spot next to Thompson which we have a load of talented options to choose from. Chester was always more a natural fit at guard with his size and length, carrius curne is a freak athlete mauler who has the physicality to play right away and we can’t forget our other freshmen stud guard in Solomon Thomas. I guess my point is this o line is not at all short on talent these guys will not be outclassed athletically or size wise vs Clemson. It’s a matter of how quick can these new pieces gel .
This post was edited on 5/27/25 at 10:30 am
Posted by QB
Louisiana
Member since Sep 2013
6017 posts
Posted on 5/27/25 at 10:15 am to
This year will show just how good our OL coach is in developing good o linemen. I am not optimistic, but hopeful.
Posted by thunderbird1100
GSU Eagles fan
Member since Oct 2007
70841 posts
Posted on 5/27/25 at 10:19 am to
Last year's Oline did not perform up to expectations so the bar is not set as high as we thought it would be. With a lot of changes will come some negatives but also some potential positives too I think.

Biggest potential positive is simply run blocking better, with new guys we stand to potentially improve there, as well as better run blocking schemes.
This post was edited on 5/27/25 at 10:22 am
Posted by Draco Malfoy
Member since Mar 2024
1857 posts
Posted on 5/27/25 at 10:29 am to
Yes. Brad Davis hasn’t shown us any development
Posted by goatmilker
Castle Anthrax
Member since Feb 2009
70956 posts
Posted on 5/27/25 at 10:30 am to
Same here. I thought our oline could take us to the playoffs last year. Like you looking for a better run game this season.
And if the pressure just comes from the edges we will be ok.
Posted by Captain Crown
Member since Jun 2011
53874 posts
Posted on 5/27/25 at 10:31 am to
Are we going to be able to have a run game? Man it was hard to watch unless Caden found a hole and took off.
Posted by snackpack
Member since Dec 2005
3056 posts
Posted on 5/27/25 at 10:32 am to
It seems we are thin at the OT position - hopefully Davis and Adams can stay healthy. Wonder how a guy like Ethan Calloway is developing
Posted by LSUbacchus81
Hendersonville, TN
Member since Aug 2007
4668 posts
Posted on 5/27/25 at 10:35 am to
Yes, you are mental. How were we not able to run the ball last year with that amount of talent on the o line?
Posted by nicholastiger
Member since Jan 2004
50841 posts
Posted on 5/27/25 at 10:35 am to
my only concern is trying to break in a new line first game against a pretty good Clemson dline

I wish they had a layup game to get the communication down
Posted by hall59tiger
Member since Oct 2013
2774 posts
Posted on 5/27/25 at 11:08 am to
Yes. If we can’t manufacture a run game this year then it’s time for B Davis to hit the road
Posted by Alt26
Member since Mar 2010
32153 posts
Posted on 5/27/25 at 11:15 am to
quote:

Last year's Oline did not perform up to expectations


How much of that was because of poor OL play vs. a shitty overall approach to the running game along with a key injury?

LSU was 9th nationally in sack % (i.e. percentage of sacks relative to amount of pass attempts). Much of that came in the 2nd half of the season after Dellinger was lost for the year (including 7 sacks vs. Florida). Before Dellinger was hurt vs. A&M, LSU had only allowed 2 sacks in 7 games.

IMO, the struggles in the running game were more about the approach than anything else. LSU, more or less, tried to have the same type of approach as they did in 2024...except one massive variable was missing...a QB who was one of the best runners in the nation. It's hard to believe the OL could be so good in pass pro, yet so bad in run blocking. Particularly when almost that entire OL was pretty good (9th nationally) in rushing the year before. Even good OLs will struggle when defenses have the upper hand in defending a poor gameplan.

IF Sloan realizes he has to change the running game approach this year I think the OL can be fine. If he tries the same approach things will get bad because LSU will have lesser players (compared to last season) trying to execute an equally bad gameplan.
Posted by Tammany Tom
Mandeville
Member since Jun 2004
4342 posts
Posted on 5/27/25 at 11:18 am to
quote:

Am I nuts to be cautiously optimistic about the o line ?


No, you are not.

Here’s why:

Alex Atkins - New TE Coach Former OL / OC for Florida State
He has already brought a new toughness to the TE’s and OL.

Caden Durham - Starts the year as our starting RB. I know everyone loved Josh Williams, but let’s face it, he was very limited in talent. Durham could see holes and hit them fast.

Harlem Berry - It’s been a while since LSU had two extremely talented RB’s on the roster like Durham and Berry.

Great RB’s can make an Oline look really good.

There is some really talented guys on this Oline. It’s just a matter of getting them all to gel as one. I think it happens.
Posted by lsuson
Metairie
Member since Oct 2013
13948 posts
Posted on 5/27/25 at 11:21 am to
Can’t disagree. How quick they gel will be the issue. All this about the dline dominating early in camp is always the case.
Posted by UnluckyTiger
Member since Sep 2003
39422 posts
Posted on 5/27/25 at 11:22 am to
I think the oline is going to be solid. Jayden masked a lot of issues and made that vaunted oline seem a lot better than they really were. Much like Burrow with his oline.

But Nuss HAS to run more. The number of TDs he could’ve scored last year in the RZ had he just kept..
Posted by lsuson
Metairie
Member since Oct 2013
13948 posts
Posted on 5/27/25 at 11:28 am to
Harlem needs to put on a lot more weight. Hopefully it won’t slow him down much. He’s stupid fast.
Posted by LSBoosie
Member since Jun 2020
13591 posts
Posted on 5/27/25 at 11:33 am to
Cautiously optimistic is probably what we all should be. Breaking in a new offensive line is generally tough no matter who the players are. I'm hopeful that they will gel and be a good unit by the end of the year. I do though worry about the Clemson game specifically with how much talent they have on defense. It's going to be a tall task for the offensive line game one for sure.
Posted by friendlyobservation
Member since Mar 2024
1714 posts
Posted on 5/27/25 at 11:33 am to
Chester might surprise at G I feel. He really was not in his natural position last year and I think G could do him big.
This post was edited on 5/27/25 at 11:34 am
Posted by Captain Crown
Member since Jun 2011
53874 posts
Posted on 5/27/25 at 11:36 am to
I want to believe that it can't be any worse than it was last year. Not seeing any spring action so just have to wait until LSU gold puts out content.
Posted by jasonbr1975
Member since Sep 2024
238 posts
Posted on 5/27/25 at 11:37 am to
Remember we now have Coach Alex Atkins. This should help us to improve remarkable in the run game given our talent shows up. I'm feeling cautiously optimistic, but i've been let down before.
Posted by Sofaking2
Member since Apr 2023
13262 posts
Posted on 5/27/25 at 11:40 am to
I’m not optimistic about our tackles. It’s not that they are bad/untalented, but they will experience growing pains. It’s hard to replace Emory Jones and Campbell. Those guys are beasts especially as pass blockers. I do think our interior line could be better overall.
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