By Hunt Palmer
Brian Kelly has demanded focus on the opener with Clemson.
His team has watched countless hours of Clemson film to date and the slogan “1-0” is tattooed all over LSU’s facility as August trudges on. Focus and goal setting are good practices. They unite teammates and create motivation.
I would argue neither makes a significant impact of the scoreboard come Labor Day Weekend. The players on the field do that. That why material changes in preparation are significant as LSU attempts to avid a sixth consecutive season-opening loss.
One of those changes, according to Kelly, is an emphasis on setting the depth chart earlier so the players who will get the most reps at Clemson are as prepared as possible.
Here are three position battles that could be decided a little earlier than usual this fall.
GUARD
Braelin Moore is going to start at center. Kelly has declared that. Tyree Adams and Weston Davis have sizable leads at both tackle spots. It would be a big upset for either to be ousted. I do think DJ Chester and Josh Thompson have to hold off Coen Echols and Paul Mubenga. Interior play has been shaky on the offensive front at times. Mubenga started the final four games of the season at left guard when Garrett Dellinger went down last year. Saturday’s scrimmage setting with be huge for all parties involved there. I think Thompson and Chester win the jobs, but that’s not a done deal.
SAFETY
I think there will be a rotation here. The substitutions have been very, very liberal through a week of camp. Rarely does the same duo take three consecutive reps. Jardin Gilbert earned a starting spot last season, but can he hold off a talent group of newcomers and younger players? AJ Haulcy has made a huge impact early. Tamarcus Cooley brings a lot of versatility and experience. Javien Toviano is on in his third season at LSU, and Dashawn Spears is still lurking as a massively talented young player.
Right now it feels like Gilbert, Haulcy and Cooley are the leaders. Joel Rogers joins the other two as the depth behind them. I can see four players getting significant time in a given game depending on situation and score. Plus, that keeps bodies fresh.
BACKUP QUARTERBACK
Here’s a battle no one really wants to find out the answer to, but it can be important. If Garrett Nussmeier misses an extended amount of time, LSU is in big trouble. That’s the case for most teams in America. Ideally, a backup quarterback can come in and function the offense in short spurts. That’s what Michael Van Buren and Colin Hurley are dueling over. Van Buren has a huge leg up starting eight games for an SEC team last year. Hurley has never taken an in-game snap missed the entire spring. I think Van Buren is the leader here, but he had had some accuracy issues during 7-on-7 and 11-on-11. Hurley has had some moments, so I don’t think the case is as open and closed and I assumed in the summer, but Van Buren’s experience and athleticism give him an edge.
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