re: Starting OL for the 2015 season?

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You serious? I missed that. Vadal has been bulldozing that spot for two years, why move him??! Im game for trying it out, but I really like the Hawkins/Alexander combo on the left.

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Leverage to get him to return? More value at tackle
Better to sell him to the NFL with more versatility
He played there as a true frosh in the sec, love to see what he could do as a 4th year player

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Teuhema is likely a guard at LSU man.

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And from everything I hear, I wouldn't be surprised if he's starting by mid season. Might be as powerful a lineman as we've had...and that says alot.

Posted this in other thread, but will add it in here as well.

Everyone always forgets about Boutte. Outside of Vadal, Hawk, and Pocic, Boutte has the most experience. Saw action in 8 games as a true freshman and played in all 13 games this year, the only non starting OL to play in all 13 games. Dodd played in 4 this season, Austin 5, and Malone 5 but he moved to OT. And Lael said that Boutte might be the strongest OL on the team. His big, physical and powerful, and nimble on his feet. He's a mauler out there. And, like we have done with OL that we really like, Boutte can play both OT and OG. He has the potential to become a big time OL.

Good Article on Boutte

I'm as big a fan of Brumfield as anyone is and think when his time comes, he will be a hell of a player. But he was 1 of only a few freshman to not get in any game at all. Yes we were deep at OL this past season, but other young guys got in for a few snaps. I have a hard time believing he will go from not playing at all to starting for us in just 1 off season. And he would be jumping guys that have more experience than him and have looked solid out there as well. And yes he was 1 of the top OGs coming out of high school... But so were most of the other guys competing for that spot. And most of them played this past season.

IMO, the OL will look like this:
LT - Hawkins
LG - Vadal
C - Dodd
RG - Boutte
RT - Pocic

And the top backups will be Malone, Clapp, and Brumfield.

I have been hearing nothing but really good things about Malone though. And sounds like the staff has been really high on him. He improved his body and strength and has just flat out gotten better. Here's what Les had to say about him in the middle of the season:

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"K.J. continues to improve, a very athletic guy and physical," explained Miles. "We have him working at some left tackle, but he’s going to be one of those guys that gets better and better. He’s a redshirt freshman, so he’s young, but we would not hesitate to play him in games. He’s really earned the right.”

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LINK

That's some high praise right there. If Malone keeps on improving and earns the staffs trust, our best 5 could be:
LT - Hawkins
LG - Vadal
C - Pocic
OG - Boutte
RT - Malone

And Domond is in the mix as well.

Edit: if Vadal is the RT...
LT: Hawk
LG: Pocic
C: Dodd
RG: Boutte
RT: Vadal

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Edit: if Vadal is the RT...
LT: Hawk
LG: Pocic
C: Dodd
RG: Boutte
RT: Vadal

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Flip Pocic and Boutte.
Pocic has already played on the right side, and when flipped they match up better with the respective tackles on their side+

Well I was just putting Pocic at LG so he plays next to the LT and he gets familiar with what that position has to do and all that. Because I think we all feel that Pocic will evolve into the LT down the road.


And now that I really think about it, I wish we would keep Vadal at OG and move Pocic to RT. Gains experience and would be balanced on both sides. Because you are right that Vadal and Boutte have similar qualities and all that.

But it is what it is. Our OL is going to be really good. I feel that 5 is our best group, regardless what position they actually play.

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I'm thinking Pocic at RT too..

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Pocic is a tackle, rt next year lt 2016.

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Pocic is a tackle, rt next year lt 2016

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Except that word from the presser today is that Vadal will bump back out to RT, and Hawkins will switch over to LT... So Pocic will either play Center or OG next season.

LT Hawkins
LG Alexander
C
RG
RT Pocic

LT Hawkins, LG Alexander, C will be Clapp, then Pocic, and JC transfer Desmond or what ever.