re: Defensive Line Depth Seems like the biggest concern for this season

Louis started 10 games last year and played in 12. He had 29 tackles. Hasn't proven anything

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Defensive Line Depth Seems like the biggest concern for this season

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Linebacker depth also sucks. Like 2012 all over again.

I do have concerns with the DL. Q Thomas will help at DT assuming he is healthy and the two starters are fine. One or preferably two of Herron, Gilmore, and Bain need to do something in their 3rd year at LSU. The DEs have four guys that played as true freshman, Bower, Neal, Clark, and Teuhema. Apparently Bain can play there as well and two new ones coming in in Key and Washington.

LBs are more concerning depth wise to me. Debo has made plays behind Kwon, Louis has started in all three years and both are seniors. Beckwith looks like a star in the making. Riley, Alexander, Fiest, Voorhies, and Patterson are the back ups. At least two of them need to step up.

QB has to be the biggest concern.

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I'm assuming it was a piss test issue, but last year everyone that saw Herron in practice said he could not be blocked, yet he played very little??

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Probably some 'behind the scenes' type of stuff.

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LBs are more concerning depth wise to me. Debo has made plays behind Kwon, Louis has started in all three years and both are seniors. Beckwith looks like a star in the making. Riley, Alexander, Fiest, Voorhies, and Patterson are the back ups. At least two of them need to step up.

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Yikes that is thin LB depth. This is the first season Voorhies and Patterson are playing LB.

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Defensive Line Depth Seems like the biggest concern for this season

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Linebacker depth also sucks. Like 2012 all over again.

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So in response to the lack of depth at DL and LB, we don't sign ANY DL's or LB's in this recent class.

There's not ONE DL or LB in the freaking state of Louisiana (Or surrounding states) that's good enough to play for LSU?

That's hard to believe!

Not worried about anything else until we can get reliable QB play and by that I mean improvement in the passing game.

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Did not suggest that we should recruit DE to play DT but when tall, large framed DE in high school show up at LSU our coaches know how best to utilize their talent. And there is nothing simple about that, it's called coaching.

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Fair enough and I agree. I wasn't quite sure to what extent you intended that post to hold true.

Interestingly, it would seem that at least two of the current DL kind of fit that more versatile mold of being able to play either DT or DE.

Bain was only recently switched to DE after playing DT under Chavis the past couple of years. Being approx 6'4" and 300 lbs, and having DT experience, he has the potential to move inside again (assuming he's cleared to play). I may be forgetting someone, but the last big DE I remember playing at LSU that was good at lining up inside and outside was Tyson Jackson. Will be interesting to see if they might do this with Bain a little.

Lewis Neal-- similarly (per his bio)-- was recently "shifted back to DE from DT". (I guess he started as DE, went DT and is now back at DE.) As others have said, he doesn't have ideal size for DT. But he can play it.

Please note: I'm not saying these guys should be moved back inside. I just can't help wondering how much Orgeron anticipated getting solid production from either Valentine and/or Trey L. this season. Thinking he had that luxury may be why he moved Bain and Neal to the outside in the first place. If the six remaining DTs all step up, Bain and Neal might just stay at DE, but if some of the DT don't step up or if there are injuries, I can see them moving back to the middle, at least in some packages.

Couldn't agree more, our passing game, other than Metts senior year with OBJ and Landry has been a big problem for our beloved Tigers and until we improve there we will not reach our goals of playing for sec and nat championships.

I agree it's an area of concern, but IMO people overlook the impact that Beckwith had on our front 7 when he finally became the starter.

DJ Welter started the first 6 games for us... against Wisconsin, Sam Houston St,ULM, Miss St, New Mexico St, and Auburn.In those 6 games, opponents had 228 carries for 1,106yards and 9 TDs with a 4.8ypc. Per game, 38 carries for 184.3yards and 1.5 TDs..

Beckwith started the final 7 games.... against Florida, UK, Ole Miss, Bama, Arkansas, TAMU, and ND. In those 7 games, opponents had 232carries for 879yards and 7 TDs for a 3.7ypc. Per game, 33.1 carries for 125.5yards and 1 TD. And if you don't include the bowl game, our #s are even better.

Thats a difference of 60ypg, 1.1ypc, and half a TD. All because we finally put Beckwith in the game over Welter. And considering we made a change at the MLB spot and not the DL, that tells me that our run D early on was not mainly because of the DL.

Based off what our opponents averaged with Welter as the starting MLB, we were right around 88-90 in the nation vs the run. With Beckwith, we were 19-21 in the nation. And the games Beckwith started in were against way better opponents.

Were we "gutted up the middle" in the first 6 games? Yes. Absolutely. The final 7 games (which didnt come against cupcakes like Sam Houston St, ULM, and New Mexico St) we werent gutted up the middle with Beckwith in the game. We were actually pretty damn stout vs the run.

We return 2/3 starting LBers, including Beckwith, and have the same DTs as this past season, who were very young for the most part and improved as the season progressed. And those guys like Godchaux, Bain, Lac, Gilmore, etc will all be improved.

And we had enough bodies to throw out there at DE and they all have different skill sets that we will get solid production from there. I also think Lewis Neal is gonna be a monster. He's as strong as an ox, explosive, and relentless. Ed O likes him a lot and said he can be a Trent Cole type of player and is expecting a big year from him. I think he has a big year for us.