re: O-LINE as of now ...

Good post, Rocket.

I think we do have a lot of young talent on both lines - much more than last year, with all the redshirts finished and joining the team as RSFR.

As far as running backs, I expect Spencer Ware to be starting by October, if not before, unless Mike Ford locks the starting job up this spring. I just don't see murph or ridley holding him off. Ware is the real deal.

i think the real problem with the oline was too much pass protection it doesnt allow the big guys to fire off the ball and play physical smashmouth, instead we put them in that pass protection, sit back on your heels and let the defensive front bring it to you

Say it isn't so. Put Josh D to 2nd string please.
Undersized and weak.

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It makes me laugh too. When you hear former players state that Stud did nothing at practice and that Helms ran the show when he was there, it makes me worried. I guess we all saw the results last year when Helms was no longer there

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If that really happened like that, that is a fireable offense IMO, and Miles dropped the ball again by not pulling the trigger on Stud when he had the chance.

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According to the reports on the other sites, newspapers, etc. there is a visible change in the way Stud is acting and coaching at practice. It seems that he is actually doing his job.

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We saw that last year with Brick Haley and had virtually no effect on how the D line played. We had one of the worst Off. lines in LSU history last year, and some of the worst coaching since Curley Hallman. Half of the players you mentioned on the O line have little or no experience. They might be better than last year, but that isn't saying much. To think that suddenly, after 2 months and a week of Spring practice, that they are miraculously going to be the most dominant SEC line in 2010 is bordering on delusional.

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I take this as Miles must have lit a fire under his arse.

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I seriously doubt Les Miles "lit a fire" under anybody's arse. There has never been a report of Les Miles doing any such thing, with a coach or a player. It's simply not his style. He may have had "a chat" with Studrawa but I highly doubt Les Miles got in anyone's face, even after having the 112th offense in CFB last year, which also very sad.

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Ware is the real deal.

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So was Ridely, the year before. So was Ford, last year. Ware would have to be magnitudes of order better for him to beat out a RS sophomore and a RS freshman who have 3 years of experience in the program and are light years ahead of him in training, physicality, and mental preparation.

You think Ware is in the same situation as Ford, who came in behind a 1,000 yard season (senior Charles Scott), 3-year contributor and senior Keiland Williams, senior and 3-year contributor Trindon Holliday, and 4th string Richard Murphy??

Really???

And Ridley was behind the same guys the season Charles Scott ran for over 1,000 yards.

Ware is entering a much different depth chart than those two guys did. You can't see that?

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When was the last time a true freshman RB was even able to crack the top 2 in LSU football?

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Keilans Williams 2006

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You would have to go back to Justin Vincent

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do I need to add this to my list? C'mon Tiger, pick yourself. You have not come out of the gate very strong this morning.

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You don't think we'll be better on offense?

That's strange.

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i think we will be better solely b/c we were absolutely atrocious last year. it will take effort to be worse

the question is how much does the offense improve?

if we move to 75 or so, it's a big jump (30 spots or so), but that will still be a mediocre offense

Well, he didn't hold on to the position very long, now did he? Was KW the most dominant freshman running back in LSU history? I think not. He barely got to play his last 2 years.

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You have not come out of the gate very strong this morning.

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I need more coffee!

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Judging from his frame, Josh D. should be a tackle, not a guard IMO.

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Frame does factor in, but at this level (and even more so in the NFL), footwork is the key discriminator between OTs and OGs. Tackle technique is more about staying square, one-on-one with the DE or OLB, maintaining contact and being able to shift laterally and control the space(on pass blocking). Tackles often use guard technique when run blocking.

Guard play is more about awareness left and right, of both your own guys and the DL, aggressiveness, and clearing the space, and is focused on teamwork and run blocking. Guards sometimes have to use tackle techniques if they are blocking one-on-one in pass blocking, but typically a DT or middle blitzer has fewer options to rush the QB, so the guard isn't responsible for as much space in pass protection.

Now, having said all of that, there are certain physical traits that give a guy an advantage at tackle or guard - long arms/long legs and carrying the weight either high or more proportionally tend to play better at tackle; shorter arms, carrying the weight lower, tend to play better at guard, but when we are talking about young men in the 6'4"+, 320lbs+, those differences become minor and the ability to play with proper technique become more important.