LSU Shows Promise in Final Scrimmage

With the season opener on Sept. 1 against North Texas right around the corner, the Tigers looked to fine tune some things in their last scrimmage of Summer practice Tuesday night and by all accounts; they look GUD!

 

The running game looked as good as it can be with five backs battling for time and the top two, Spencer Ware and Michael Ford, sitting out due to minor injuries. Junior running back Alfred Blue led all backs with 6 carries for 70 yards and 2 touchdowns. Sophomore Kenny Hilliard finished with 11 carries from 67 yards and rounding out the day was Freshman Jeremy Hill going for 43 yards on 8 carries.

Zach Mettenberger threw 26 completions on 36 attempts for 336 yards and as Les put it "a number of touchdowns." 

I know its premature but 336 YARDS?!...I digress.

Backup quarterbacks Rob Bolden and Stephen Rivers had brief showings with Mettenberger clearly getting the playbook thrown his way.

The wide-outs were led by Odell Beckham (no surprise here) with 4 catches for 100 yards. Russell Shepard pulled in 3 catches for 40 yards and a touchdown and Jarvis Landry grabbed 4 passes for 20 yards. James Wright continue to impress with a 4 reception for 40 yards and a touchdown showing.

Like always, this is only a scrimmage and shouldn't be taken seriously BUT you have to admit; these numbers are what we have been waiting for. A passing game to compliment the the ground and pound that we have been known for over the years. This Fall is shaping up to be a good one.

LSU Gets Commitment From Jones

 The LSU Tigers once again grabbed a pretty good LB to add to their 2013 class when 4-star LB Melvin Jones from Washington-Marion High School in Lake Charles committed.

This 6'3, 245 pound monster is right now bigger than all but one linebacker on LSU current roster which will make him a great fit for the physical grind he'll be expected to endure while competing in the SEC. As a Junior he recorded 140 tackles ( 15 TFL ). 5 sacks, 4 picks and 4 fumble recoveries.

In addition to playing linebacker; Jones took snaps last year. This is not a typo people; he played Quaterback. He has the speed and athleticism to chase down carriers, drop into coverage, as well as take on a Fullback in the A gap.

This is an exciting commitment from my standpoint. Not only do we keep one in-state but he a damn good prospect. It's going to be fun trying to keep with these guys the upcoming Fall under the Friday night lights; just hope I have enough time to keep y'all posted : /.

Let's Make A Deal: BCS edition

Decisions, Decisions.

I remember sitting on the couch last year watching the BCS selection show thinking to myself  "If LSU play 'Bama again...the playoff system will be upon us. There is no way the other conference presidents will allow this happen ever again."

So, thank you SEC for destroying the other conference opponents in the BCS championship for the past 6 years and causing something to happen in Division I that we all thought was a far fetched fantasy; The NCAA D-1 Playoffs.

And now, it's on the discussion table...well...sort-of.

The current BCS system will be in place for the next two years but the future changes will be discussed June 26. So far the idea that anything larger than four-team playoff is out the window. So with that being said, here are four possibilities that could reshape college football as we know it:

Scenario I - Plus One Format

This format is gaining popularity amongst most conferences because it doesn't extend the college post-season by that much. Basically, the top four teams (determined by the current BCS formula) are seeded 1-4. 1 plays 4; 2 plays 3. The winners would play each for the national title.

One issue - Sooooo where will they play the games? There is a lot of speculation surrounding this question. Many believe that the higher seeded teams should host the first round and the title should be played at a neutral site. This could drive bowl executives nuts whom of which would lose the most money if this format is adopted...unless the bowl committees are given a chance to bid on the neutral site or something like that.

Scenario II - Top Four Overall

Another top four format but the selection would come from a committee or a predetermined formula. Venues would bid to host the games with the national title being played a week later. This format lacks the traditional hype leading up to bowl games; something that the NCAA "desperately" wants to keep apart of the college post season. If this is the option they choose; I'll be shocked.

Scenario III - Top Four Champions

This option will follow the top four overall format but the only people eligible are those who won their conference championship. Looking at last year for example, #1 LSU v #10 Wisconsin, #3 Ok State v #5 Oregon....really?

This is what weaker conferences are dreaming of. I just can't see a team like UConn going undefeated in the Big East, ranking in the top 5 and getting a shot at a title game. You can argue that they did their job in winning the games before them but in order for this to pass; those big conferences have to vote for it...highly unlikely.

Scenario IV - Three-and-One

Ok, this one is slightly different. The semifinals must include the top three conference champs but the fourth spot can be filled by any team. So you get a wild card team. Of course, the wild card selection would cause some backlash but you can't please everyone, right? 

Something that you have to include when talking about each and every last one of these options is money. Money will drive each conference on each level to vote in favor of getting the biggest slice of revenue regardless who plays and where it's played. The NCAA knows this; why else would they entertain half of these options. That's what it all boils down to at the end of the day; how can I make the most money for my conference. 

I personally think the Plus one format is the best option here. Top four teams get a chance at the 'ship no matter whose in those slots. The selection of these teams can cause a couple of issues just because strength of schedule has to be factored into all of this. Just because you win your conference championship with a 9-4 record doesn't  mean you are a top 5 team in the nation.

We all can argue against or for the adoption of all of these options. That's what we are here for; to go back and forth about who should really play for the 'ship. No matter if you are pulling for good ole Boise State or Wake Forest. We want to see the nations top four teams play for the crown.

Now on the more silly side of the spectrum, if EA Sports NCAA 2013 had a "Create Your Playoff" feature I'd solve it myself. Cut out the cupcake games, adopt the D-2 playoff system and have the final four play in the highest bidding bowls. Extensive? Yes. Extreme? Hell yes! Will it happen? Never. But this is just my opinion....

What's yours?

LSU 2013 Commitments

Since this list is beginning to get lengthy, I figured I'd make my own and include their highlight reel. The list will be updated on a regular basis so keep your eyes open!

GEAUX TIGERS!

ATH  Jeryl Brazil 5-9 176 Loranger

 WR  Chuck Baker  6-2 193 Salmen

CB  Tre'Davious White 5-11 160 Green Oaks/Shreveport

DB  Jeremy Cutrer  6-3 175 Jewell Sumner

OL  Josh Boutte  6-4 305 Westgate/New Iberia

WR  John Diarse (Sophomore season) 6-0 210 Neville/Monroe

DT  Tevin Lawson 6-4 275 Denham Springs/Denham

DE  Michael Patterson 6-3 232 Winnfield/LA

OL  K.J. Malone 6-4 285 Cedar Creek/Ruston

WR  Quantavious Leslie   6-4 190 Hinds (Miss) CC

TE  Logan Stokes 6-4 240 Northeast Miss. CC

QB  Hayden Rettig   6-3 210 Cathedral/Pasadena

OT  Ethan Pocic  6-6 285 Lemont Township (Ill.) HS

DE  Frank Herron 6-4 245 Memphis Central HS/Memphis

WR  Kyrion Parker  6-3 185 Manvel HS/Pearland TX **DECOMMITTED**

FB  Kennard Swanson 6-0 245 Lake Gibson HS/ Lakeland, Fla.

QB Anthony Jennings 6-2 200 Marrietta (Ga.) HS/Marrietta, GA

LB Melvin Jones  6-3 245 Washington Marion/ Lake Charles, LA


TE DeSean Smith  6-4 220 Barbe HS/ Lake Charles, LA

17th Commitment From Georgia Dual-Threat QB

Since JaMarcus's departure, true LSU fans wondered "When will we have another good quarterback under center?" Some thought it would be Jordan Jefferson others pushed for Jarrett Lee. The result?

2,135 passing yards between the both of them. Just to keep things in perspective the top SEC quarterback threw for 3,638 yards (Tyler Wilson) and good ole Case Keenum threw for over 5,600 yards. Of course numbers are skewed with LSU attempting only 279 times last year but if we had a quarterback that really could slang it around; wouldn't our attempts reflect that?

In my opinion, it would and looking at the moves we are making in recruitment, the coaching staff agrees.

The Tigers received another four-star quarterback commitment; this one coming from Marietta, Georgia's Anthony Jennings on June 7. Jennings chose the Tigers over 40 other schools including Alabama, Arkansas and Mississippi State.

Jennings is a 6'2, 205 pound dual-threat quarterback. He played his Junior year with a torn knee ligament and still managed to throw for 2,187 yards, 19 touchdowns and only four interceptions on top of rushing for 464 yards and 8 touchdowns. Jennings was also named the MVP of the Elite 11 Atlanta Region. He will now participate and compete in the Elite 11 finals in California in July against the nations top high school quarterbacks.

Jennings will join Hayden Rettig  as two of the nations top qartuerbacks in packing their bags for LSU in  2013. If these two stay committed, we can be looking a pretty decent group for seasons to come. Both have the opportunity to redshirt and develop into premiere players; solving the quarterback conundrum for the first time in years.

This sets up pretty nicely for us but I can't get this past season out of my head. Let's fast forward to the 2015 season. It's the beginning of Spring practice and Coach Miles (assuming he is still here) says "Well ummmm we have two great quarterbacks ready to take the wheel of this offense. Either one can be the starter but we'll use the two quarterback system when needed." *insert face palm* Hopefully this is just me playing Devil's advocate and I won't have to dig up this post down the line. May the best man win.

LSU Gets FB Commitment

If you guys been following my post (which I hope you have), you'll know that this recruiting season has been a busy one especially the last couple of weeks. So on the heels of getting verbals from some of the nations top defensive ends, wide-outs, and offensive tackles; we add a tree stump to the backfield in Kennard Swanson from Lakeland, Fla.

The 6 ft 245 pound Swanson started 3 years on the defensive line in addition to getting a couple snaps at fullback, offensive guard, and some special teams duty. He received offers from Miami and Central Florida to play fullback as well as USC, Pitt, USF, WVU and Purdue for defensive line. During his Junior season, Swanson had 46 tackles and 11 sacks. 

Since we typical see athletes convert to fullback out of high school ( I am notorious for this in NCAA football), it isn't a shock that he played all over in high school. Shows that he isn't all about self and willing to help the team in any shape, for, or fashion. He'll learn a lot from our current RB staff.

Tigers Get Four-Star DE.

So, I think we have figured it out; cracked the code so to speak. Not only are we getting recruits; we are getting GOOD recruits. 

Next on the list of commitments this Summer is the 6'5 254 pound defensive end Frank Herron out of Memphis,Tn. Herron had offers from Arkansas, Ohio State, USC, Auburn and Notre Dame. He is considered one of the top D. Ends in the 2013 class and does everything to make you think so as well. The announcement came following the Memphis Nike Football Training Camp after Herron received the Defensive line MVP. One of his deciding factors was the relationship he has with defensive line coach Brick (dude name is Brick!) Haley.

Herron has displayed some skills as a young defensive end playing with both power and quickness. As long as he is willing to work hard and perfect his craft he should have no problem becoming a household name. The burden is now on the Tigers to make sure he is consistently getting better the entire year.