We’re ending the week with a mailbag. This time next week, it’ll be all football.
I truly believe that.
Maybe it’s naive, but I think even as this courtroom drama unfolds, we’ll lock in on games soon enough. The most highly anticipated season opener since 2011 is on tap, and this one in is Baton Rouge. It’s coming.
For now, enjoy your last weekend without football. It gets real in eight days.
Depth at corner after Pickett and Woodland is scary. How concerned are you?
I’m very concerned about it. Aidan Anding had ascended to that third corner role which is now held by Ja’Keem Jackson. He’s a good enough player to play that role. It’s his fourth year in the SEC. I want to be clear. P.J. Woodland and DJ Pickett form a fantastic cornerback duo. It’s just the depth that causes concern. I’m not sure how confident I can be in anyone beyond Jackson. If we don’t have to find out, LSU will be in good shape.
It’s no surprise to me that Corey Raymond came back and in Year 2 produces a secondary that picked off more passes than touchdowns allowed. He’s the best.
PFF had Jackson Harris as top-graded returning SEC wide receivers. Now I haven’t seen him much in practice reports. Is he going to play a big part this season?
He likely will. I think LSU’s top four are Jayce Brown, Tre Wilson, Winnie Watkins and Jackson Harris. The Hawaii transfer earned that PFF grade by averaging 19.7 yards per catch to lead the WAC last year. He’s got excellent size and some good speed.
While Brown and Wilson handle a lot of jet sweep action and intermediate routes, expect Harris to work the 15-plus yard routes in this Kiffin-Weis offense. He’ll also be a red- zone weapon with Trey’Dez Green. If we get to December and Harris leads the team in touchdown catches, I won’t be stunned. He was an early portal addition I know the staff likes.
Does LSU have any legal or procedural ability to fight Ole Miss being able to use an NCAA ruled ineligible player in Chambliss? Fight fire with fire. Just want fair rule enforcement not selective.
No. But the Chambliss case is one LSU fans love to bring up in all of this. The NCAA and SEC have had a very difficult time disallowing players to make money playing college sports. Plaintiffs’ attorneys have consistently won those battles.
Chambliss got his sixth year using a redshirt and a medical. The medical came from an issue with his tonsils. I think it’s silly, but I wasn’t there to see how much trouble he had sleeping and whether or not he could practice because of it. My gut tells me he probably got beaten out and used it as a loophole, but I can’t be sure of that.
What I can be sure of is that Dae’quan Wright in a Cleveland Browns helmet absolutely broke the minds of college officials and the media. That was the bridge they simply couldn’t see crossed. It has nothing to do with years played or classes taken or age. It’s the pro practices. Chambliss playing his sixth year and Max Johnson playing his seventh is perfectly acceptable to most. Wright playing a fifth after a month of practices in Browns’ camp is the tipping point. Three years of European professional basketball has been fine. Browns camp? No shot.
I have no idea who the ultimate judge is or what that ruling will be, but I know LSU can’t relitigate Chambliss’s eligibility nor do they have any intention of doing so.
What your favorite tailgate food?
This is a good one to end on. It’s jambalaya. Give me a plastic bowl with some warm chicken and sausage jambalaya. Grab a freezing cold beer out of the ice, and I’m set. Sadly, I haven’t tailgated for an LSU game since 2015. That’s hard to type, but my gig with the LSU Sports Radio Network and being able to write for this website is a dream come true. One day I’ll put down the keyboard and mic and enjoy a Saturday on campus with my family. Jambalaya and beer will be involved. That day is not next weekend.
Let’s play some football.
