Badara Traore, LSU, Offensive Tackle

Damian is apparently a beast physically. Strong AF.

Traore is experienced but looked pretty bad in the Spring game, hopefully he just needs to get into a groove. We didn't have our full first team out there, so we really don't know how they play as a unit.

Hope Lewis is either a G or C.

If Lewis is good enough they will plug him in at G
Expect Brumfield to get a look at C as well

Traore will compete for RT spot with Deculus in fall camp and probably backup both tackle spots
Traore didn't look great in spring game but he has time to develop and I expect him to contribute at T

I believe the OL will be good after they sort out the C & G positions. I hope it's Brumfield at C & Lewis at one of the G spots (Lewis needs to start).

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If your a OT and people are killing you on the edge chances are it’s a You problem not a Unit problem. Hopefully just a bad day, but he didn’t look good in the spring game.

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Something to consider is who he was lined up against in the spring game. And the obvious...it was a spring game. A lot of mis-perceptions and delusions result from taking spring games too much to heart.

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Traore is experienced but looked pretty bad in the Spring game

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to amateur eyes

Traore is a decent OT and can develop into a good one I think with Cregg if he plays his 2 years at LSU, and I don't see why he wouldn't. I think he was overrated coming out of Jr college, and he won't play LT, not with the Hulk there (Saahdiq), but he should challenge for RT with him and Deculus battling it out. The other kid (Damien Lewis) is an animal and should start at one of the guard slots imo.

I think he just needs some coaching from SEC level coaches. He'll improve and I'm hoping enough to be a dominant tackle for LSU.

As for Lewis, by all accounts, he's the real deal and will be a real asset for our OL.

If you take a JUCO he should contribute.

Otherwise that’s a waisted roster spot on a. Guy only there 2 years vs a 4 year player.

Where did I write that he shouldn't contribute? I wrote if he isn't GREAT.

The post was aimed at idiots who don't pay attention, believe whatever they want, and then blame coaches for lying when they never said anything. And you better believe it will happen if Traore doesn't go out and hang the moon.

How do you define "contribute?" IF you mean All-American or All-SEC, then you'll probably be disappointed a lot more often than not.

What's the difference between a transfer who doesn't help and a guy who has to sit and develop for two years? It's two lost years of expense either way.

Even if he just provides solid depth for a couple of years, I'd rather use a two-year scholarship for that than waste the first two out of a four-year scholarship on a guy that has to sit and develop. In the first case, you get two years worth of contribution for two years of cost. In the second case, it's two for four. And the guy that has to sit for two years may decide to leave if he's not processed first, so you don't get any value at all.

If you want to claim that LSU should always sign only four and five star players, then that's a different argument. It's a nice goal but they ain't there, yet, so they have to take a few chances.