re: Why Will Line Be Improved?

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I always hear everyone saying that our line play will be improved. Why do people believe the line will be better?

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Alex Hurst starting is the biggest step in the right direction. He, Blackwell and Lonergan should be better than the inside line we played last year. I like Barksdale at LT, but I'm not 100% at either tackle right now. The tackle play in 2009 was underwhelming as well, but I think they both had injuries and there was little faith in the backups.

Depth across the line looks much better on paper. Depending on T-Bob's recovery, we will have three guys who can play C, 4 decent Guards (though I am counting Blackwell at each spot), with depth at Tackle a concern, but less of one than in 2009.

ETA - I have been assuming that Dworaczyk is starting at RT and Hurst will play LG. Some depth charts have them reversed, and if so, I'm fine with the starting 5.

While people may have already stated this, you have to think that a few things will lead to improvement on the line:

1) Black was playing injured, and he was injured pretty badly. So much so, he went from a pre-season 1st round draft pick to basically out of football in a single year.

T-Bob was less than a year removed from tearing his ACL in the opener. Those injuries don't heal that fast to get you back to 100%. Hitt was also hurt, but Miles likely kept him in because of seniority. Hitt was pretty good in 2007-2008, but needed a good/leader at center to fluorish IMO.

2) Leadership at the center position. T-Bob just didn't have it. The center has to basically make all the calls at the line, and it was obvious that T-Bob had no idea what to do 50%+ of the time. He would get turned around in a second and the whole line looked confused. With more experience and perhaps Lonegran getting more time in the offense, it will improve.

3) Size. The line was very undersized, especially on the right side. It made things harder and with JJ's indecisiveness, even tougher than that. The line is bigger all the way across for this upcoming season.

4) Coaching. It was noted by several insiders that the coaching by Studs at practice for technique was horrible. Obviously, he coasted on his duties last year and sadly didn't take Porter's offer to go to Memphis. I really wish he had. LSU would be much better off. Wilkerson being a former All-American type OL and particularly C working as a grad assistant will help get these guys going.

This line might not be much better than last season, but they will definitely be better. PERIOD.

Our OL play in '09 was as poor as I can ever remember so "improvement" will be easy to come by. Whether we will be able to impose our will against a top flight D is TBD.

Josh D ought to be at tackle, not G. Conversely, Barksdale ought to be at G, not tackle. Barksdale was average at best at RT in '09. Not sure what the thinking is in moving him to LT.

IMO, the bright side is the right side, i.e., Blackwell and Hurst. Really looking forward to seeing them play. Also, gotta believe Lonergan will be an upgrade over T-Bob at C.

Why? All the dead weight graduated. It is as simple as that.

This is true.

None of these are quotes are they?

He said "potentially". I know that is a hard concept to understand but it's a key. Russell Shepard could "potentially" be a superstar. If he doesn't pan out, it's not a lie to say this right now. Miles thought the group looked good back in the spring. Injuries and failure to live up to the potential proved his view misplaced.

I posted his actual quote yesterday. I'm taking a crap reading this on blackberry. You ruined a perfectly good crap by posting the anti-Miles ranter lie of 2009.

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I always hear everyone saying that our line play will be improved. Why do people believe the line will be better?

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because we will have much bigger stronger better players on the line this season and also have a lot more quality depth than last season.

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Barksdale, Dwor, Lonergan, Blackwell, and Hurst equal better imo.

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Shaw,Williford,Branch, Hebert and Faulk are decent back-ups. Have to believe having big Ben around will help in the teaching process also.

What I fail to understand is why Les Miles gets so much crap over the statement. Lets see you have an obviously subpar line. What would a good commander do. Tell the enemy they suck are say they are good. Get everyone believing they are very good! The kids think they are good and try to live up to it. Defenses don't take advantage of an advantage they have. Football has a lot to do with heart and perception. What the frick did you want Les Miles to say?