The depth chart of LSU head coach Lane Kiffin’s moves week-to-week.
Through five games, there have been shifts in the roles at left guard, running back, defensive tackle and safety. Injury has precipitated other roster management decisions, too.
“I think that we continue to prove that you see different roles move up and down from week to week, and I think that that’s uncommon,” Kiffin said. “I think it’s very easy once you get in the season just to kind of sit in your ruts like the NFL, you know, they just basically make a depth chart and it stays unless there’s injuries.”
In the backfield, Dilin Jones has proven his worth as both a runner and a pass blocker. Jones leads LSU with 426 yards. His five touchdowns trail quarterback Sam Leavitt by one. He’s been asked to pass block 47 times and only allowed two pressures.
That’s the best way to stay on the field in Kiffin’s system.
Pro Football Focus grades Stacy Gage’s pass blocking an exceptional 81.6. Harlem Berry’s season-long number is just 18.2, though he’s only had that assignment three times.
“Dilin’s been a great pass protector,” Kiffin said. “I mean, elite (is) how he’s helped pocket identification and how physical that he’s been has been great. Stacy’s done a good job, and then Harlem’s getting better which is important for Harlem to play more and not just be a specialty player, to play every snap. You end up in pass protection a lot of times. So, really pleased with Dylan and Stacy, and Harlem’s getting better which is great.”
All three backs showed their natural ability as ball carriers on Saturday night.
Jones forced seven missed tackles and picked up 70 of his 79 yards after contact. LSU’s offensive line has struggled at times to move bodies and open holes. Jones has found a way to be productive despite those issues.
“Dilin didn’t have amazing numbers, but we didn’t block really well right away,” Kiffin said. (McNeese was) doing some different things and really pressuring us, and Dilin, I don’t even what he had in the game, whatever he had 70-80 yards, I said, ‘man that that’s a pretty amazing,’ four and a half yards a carry because he made a lot of people miss and a lot of extra yards in that game.”
Gage and Berry both got loose for big plays.
Berry’s electrifying jump cut opened up the field for a 46-yard scamper. He used his speed to get the edge for an 11-yard touchdown and picked up six first downs against the Cowboys.
Gage plowed through a mass of humanity on a third-and-one direct snap in the fourth quarter. When he emerged, no one was on the other side, and he took it 46 yards for a score. Less than three minutes of game time later, he broke off a 39 yard touchdown run that looked strikingly similar.
Those three backs combined for 314 rushing yards and four scores.
Jones has solidified his role atop the depth chart, while Gage and Berry continue to battle. Kiffin said last week that Berry had moved into the second spot. Five-star recruits don’t generally begin their second season third in the pecking order, but Berry continued to work.
His coach noticed.
“I’m really proud of him,” Kiffin said of Berry. “I’m proud of how things happen in our program that, you know, you just don’t get handed them, and sometimes you get demoted and then you got to earn them. And he’s done a really good job with that.”
