Louisiana Tech 2007 Preview by Athlon Sports

[big_crazy_jake]

I'm not that worried about what some magazine says. They aren't here.... They don't know how Dooley is shaping up the team.... They don't have the pulse on what's happening here in Ruston.

[Dawgmatic]

I expect our D to be all over Mr. Colt like flies on poi!

[1L_dawg]

I am going to respectfully disagree with you with an asterik. With veterans Tyler Miller, David Accardo, & Ryan Considine returning (Miller & Considine 3-year starters & seniors), we have the advantage of age & experience which means so much in the OL. I truly believe that Tyler Miller WILL have an outstanding senior year & has, in my opinion, everything it takes to be an NFL left tackle. Accardo & Considine give us experience & age at the two guard positions, both very strong blockers & both with good feet & good technicians.

Lon Roberts is going to pleasantly surprise all of us at center. He is, in a word, TENACIOUS, & when he gets on you he sticks & drives. He may be a tad undersized right now but he won't be for long. Lon has an attitude that you don't find very often in an offensive lineman--he is NASTY! I look for Lon to anchor our OL in 2007 & provide leadership that we really need.

The asterik is the right tackle position. By all rights, Bill Jones should be more than ready to assume the starting RT position. In early fall training in 2006, he ran with the first unit almost every day leading up to the Nebraska opener. He had proved himself the previous spring & all of us were excited at the potential of the big fella. For some reason, know only to JBIII, when it came time to send the first offense on the field vs. Nebraska, out WADDLED Marcus Lindsey. I never understood that decision because Bill Jones had done so well the previous spring & in the fall training camp. His biggest problem since has been staying healthy with a number of minor injuries impeeding his progress. He is now completely healed & ready to go & I have high hopes for Bill Jones. If not, the question becomes, "Is Rob McGill ready?" Rob certainly has the size for the position as well as the feet. However, he is a young stud that needs more time in the weight room & more experience at the RT position. We will find out real quick with Rob McGill how much the summer program has helped with his strength & endurance. His lack of experience, so important in the OL, is something that can only be cured by PLAYING the position, in practice & in the games. Dwight Alexander, petulant & immature, has all the ability necessary to play RT. Cudahy Harmon, at 6'7" & 300++, has the size. Ryan Snell, Kevin Bagot (LOOKS like he could play ANYWHERE but is, in fact, a SLOW BLINKER), Ben Harris, & others will get looks in the OL. BUT, Bill Jones, IF he returns to the form he displayed last year at this time, SHOULD be the guy who fills the RT position and, if he is good enough to do it, we will be in great shape.

Another asterik should be devoted to potential injuries. A season-ending injury or two in the OL would really throw us into a tailspin. However, if you stop & think about it, season-ending injuries in the OL on every level are RARE!

Summing up, I believe that our 2007 OL will be one of the strongest parts of our football team.

Thanks for your valued opinion and I hope you are 100% correct in that assessment. I think we can all agree that we will be doomed from the beginning if our O-Line tanks on us.

[HogDawg]

I am going to respectfully disagree with you with an asterik. With veterans Tyler Miller, David Accardo, & Ryan Considine returning (Miller & Considine 3-year starters & seniors), we have the advantage of age & experience which means so much in the OL. I truly believe that Tyler Miller WILL have an outstanding senior year & has, in my opinion, everything it takes to be an NFL left tackle. Accardo & Considine give us experience & age at the two guard positions, both very strong blockers & both with good feet & good technicians.

Lon Roberts is going to pleasantly surprise all of us at center. He is, in a word, TENACIOUS, & when he gets on you he sticks & drives. He may be a tad undersized right now but he won't be for long. Lon has an attitude that you don't find very often in an offensive lineman--he is NASTY! I look for Lon to anchor our OL in 2007 & provide leadership that we really need.

The asterik is the right tackle position. By all rights, Bill Jones should be more than ready to assume the starting RT position. In early fall training in 2006, he ran with the first unit almost every day leading up to the Nebraska opener. He had proved himself the previous spring & all of us were excited at the potential of the big fella. For some reason, know only to JBIII, when it came time to send the first offense on the field vs. Nebraska, out WADDLED Marcus Lindsey. I never understood that decision because Bill Jones had done so well the previous spring & in the fall training camp. His biggest problem since has been staying healthy with a number of minor injuries impeeding his progress. He is now completely healed & ready to go & I have high hopes for Bill Jones. If not, the question becomes, "Is Rob McGill ready?" Rob certainly has the size for the position as well as the feet. However, he is a young stud that needs more time in the weight room & more experience at the RT position. We will find out real quick with Rob McGill how much the summer program has helped with his strength & endurance. His lack of experience, so important in the OL, is something that can only be cured by PLAYING the position, in practice & in the games. Dwight Alexander, petulant & immature, has all the ability necessary to play RT. Cudahy Harmon, at 6'7" & 300++, has the size. Ryan Snell, Kevin Bagot (LOOKS like he could play ANYWHERE but is, in fact, a SLOW BLINKER), Ben Harris, & others will get looks in the OL. BUT, Bill Jones, IF he returns to the form he displayed last year at this time, SHOULD be the guy who fills the RT position and, if he is good enough to do it, we will be in great shape.

Another asterik should be devoted to potential injuries. A season-ending injury or two in the OL would really throw us into a tailspin. However, if you stop & think about it, season-ending injuries in the OL on every level are RARE!

Summing up, I believe that our 2007 OL will be one of the strongest parts of our football team.

Sounds like "student body left" may be our most valuable play this year. :icon_wink:

HD

[MICKEYS14]

Actually HD, IF we can get a consistent performance out of whoever is our trigger man, with 3 WR's that are 6'2" or taller & a TE who has the potential to be a BEAST, defenses are going to have to respect our potential of getting the ball down the field. This should open up some running lanes for us & I sincerely believe we've got the men up front to clear some of those lanes.

[boxerdog]

Actually HD, IF we can get a consistent performance out of whoever is our trigger man, with 3 WR's that are 6'2" or taller & a TE who has the potential to be a BEAST, defenses are going to have to respect our potential of getting the ball down the field. This should open up some running lanes for us & I sincerely believe we've got the men up front to clear some of those lanes.

Hopefully, everybody understands WE HAVE TALENT ON THIS YEAR'S TEAM! The cupboard is not dry and we can (and will) make some noise this season! Unless I'm completely delusional, our defense will be good this year. The fact that Spangler is running a 4-3 will result in pertinent changes: First, Muse (our most dominant lineman) will escape the double teams. Second, the linebackers--Harris, McBeath & Jackson will not be facing offensive lineman on their way to the backfield. Third, our db's: Brown (lockdown corner), Walker (interception specialist), Dillard (basically, a linebacker with worldclass speed) and Baker (hard hitter with a nose for the ball) will have experience AND less pressure to make plays.

The offense is not hurting either. We have an experienced group of good lineman. We also have an all-conference running back with very exciting back-ups. Our starting receivers are exceptionally tall and (potentially) physical. Our tightends (who many say are greatest asset) are multi-talented. Let me throw in this caveat: Dennis Morris has not begun to show you guys what he has. The dude is a freak of nature! He is very fast, very strong, and a game-time player. I know I talk about him too much, but if you guys had seen what I know, you'd be giggling right now. If we can just develop a CAPABLE quarterback (not a super-star), we have the offensive firepower to completely overwhelm most of the teams in the WAC!

[Tbone1]

Hopefully, everybody understands WE HAVE TALENT ON THIS YEAR'S TEAM! The cupboard is not dry and we can (and will) make some noise this season!

So...the cupboard is wet?