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  • Louisiana Tech @ Texas 7 PM 8/31 on LHN


    Machinator

    It is no longer "way too early". Game week is here.

    Time to go 1-0.

    H/T to @Bevo for digging this up.

    LA Tech football depth chart projections ahead of 2019 opener at Texas

    https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/sports/college/louisiana-tech/2019/08/23/louisiana-tech-football-depth-chart-projections/2098111001/

    RUSTON — Game week is upon Louisiana Tech, which’ll begin preparations for its season opener versus No. 10 Texas Saturday morning after the team conducts a closed scrimmage Friday.

    The next media availability for Tech head coach Skip Holtz and a few players will be Tuesday for the first weekly press conference of the year and the first official depth chart will be provided.

    With the kickoff to the 2019 season right around seven days away, here are projections on what the Bulldogs’ two-deep at each position could look like:

     
    OFFENSE
    QB: J’Mar Smith, redshirt senior; Westin Elliott, redshirt junior; Aaron Allen, redshirt freshman

    Smith enters his third season as Louisiana Tech’s starter and with offensive coordinator Todd Fitch taking over as his position coach, more is to be expected from the quarterback who already has 27 career starts and has thrown for 6,546 yards, 33 touchdowns and 16 interceptions.

    RB: Israel Tucker, redshirt junior; Justin Henderson, redshirt junior AND Jaqwis Dancy, redshirt senior

    Tucker, who started five games a year ago, is primed to take the first snap against Texas. But expect to see plenty of Henderson and Dancy, when healthy, this season as the position will be a by-committee approach.

    X-receiver: Adrian Hardy, redshirt junior; Praise Okorie, redshirt sophomore AND Malik Stanley redshirt senior

    Hardy looks to follow up his breakout 2018 season, where he caught a team-high 75 passes for a career high 1,145 yards and six touchdowns.

    H-receiver: Cee Jay Powell, redshirt junior; Davon “Smoke” Harris, redshirt freshman

    Powell appears set to take over Teddy Veal’s former spot in the receiving corps and get his first amount of significant playing time in his career. In two seasons, the 5-7, 163-pound slot receiver has 22 catches for 138 yards.

    A-receiver: Griffin Hebert, redshirt sophomore; Joshua Matthews, redshirt sophomore

    Hebert put in impressive work on his body over the offseason, filling out with more muscle and he’s followed that up with a solid fall camp.

    Z-receiver: Isaiah Graham, redshirt junior; George Scott III, junior

    Graham, a TCU transfer, has had one of most impressive camps of any players on Tech’s roster and looks primed to be a major difference maker in the passing game.

    Y-receiver: Bobby Holly, redshirt senior; Jacob Adams, redshirt sophomore

    Whenever Louisiana Tech projects to start with an offensive formation that’ll include the Y position, Holly will be there. The Farmerville native started three games last season and two of his four total receptions went for touchdowns.

    RT: Gewhite Stallworth, redshirt senior; Antawn Lewis, junior

    Stallworth has been taking the majority of the first-team snaps in practice, leading to believe he’ll get the start at Texas. The big, 6-8, 322-pound tackle has started three games in his career.

    RG: Ethan Reed, redshirt senior; Joshua Mote, redshirt sophomore Reed, an All-Conference USA honorable mention lineman last year, has started every game the last three seasons for the Bulldogs. Mote adds valuable depth at the position with four starts under his belt.

    Kody Russey, redshirt junior; Abraham Delfin, redshirt sophomore Russey returns to once again anchor Tech’s offensive line in the middle, starting 26 straight games.

    LG: Drew Kirkpatrick, redshirt senior; Carter Habich, sophomore

    After redshirting in 2017, Kirkpatrick emerged as the starting left guard as 2018 progressed, playing in 11 total games.

    LT: Willie Allen, redshirt junior; Biron Rossell, redshirt freshman

    Allen, an LSU transfer, seems to have tapped into the potential coaches saw in him when they recruited him two years ago out of Tyler (Texas) Community College. If he gets the nod next weekend, his first FBS collegiate start will come against Texas.

    DEFENSE
    DE: Ka’Derrion Mason, senior; La’Dante Davenport, redshirt senior

    Mason earned two starts a season ago and had six his sophomore campaign. For his career, the 6-4, 291-pound end has 40 tackles with one sack.

    NG: Courtney Wallace, redshirt senior; D.J. Jackson, redshirt freshman OR Keivie Rose, freshman

    Wallace looks to get his first start of his Tech career against Texas. He’s played in 22 games and has 13 tackles, including three tackles-for-loss and 1.5 sacks.

    DE: Milton Williams, redshirt sophomore; Steven Shaw, redshirt freshman

    Williams (6-4, 262) has garnered a lot of praise from coaches since the spring and he’s parlayed his solid play into an expected starting role on the defensive line. He saw action in seven games last season.

    OLB: Willie Baker, redshirt junior; Tristan Allen, redshirt sophomore

    Baker switched positions from end to outside linebacker in defensive coordinator Bob Diaco’s 3-4 scheme. His pass rush skill set will still be utilized, highlighted by four sacks coming in the Hawaii Bowl last year, but he’ll handle come coverage duties as well.

    MLB: Connor Taylor, senior; Randy Hogan, redshirt senior OR Trey Baldwin, redshirt junior

    The former JUCO National Defensive Player of the Year looks to be more effective this season for the Bulldogs. Taylor ended 2018 with 30 stops.

    MLB: Collin Scott, redshirt senior; Alex Zayed, redshirt junior

    Scott led the team in tackles last season with 87. The senior linebacker is poised to have another solid season along with handling the defensive calls.

    S: James Jackson, redshirt senior; Ezekiel Barnett, redshirt junior

    Jackson started every game a season ago, finishing second on the team in tackles with 74, including 8.5 TFLs and had one interception.

    S: Darryl Lewis, redshirt senior; Bee Jay Williamson, redshirt freshman

    Lewis has collected 130 career stops and six picks in 40 total appearances, including 26 straight starts. He’s one of the veteran leaders on backend of Tech’s defense.

    S: L’Jarius Sneed, senior; Jaiden Cole, redshirt sophomore

    In the spring, Sneed moved from cornerback to safety and it’s paid dividends for Louisiana Tech’s defense. His three interceptions last year was good enough for second-best on the defense to go along with his 59 total tackles.

    CB: Amik Robertson, junior; Zach Hannibal, redshirt junior

    Unquestionably the most notable star for the Bulldogs, Robertson enters his third season starting at corner. He paced Tech with four picks, has nine total in two seasons, and for his career, has 123 total stops.

    CB: Michael Sam, redshirt senior; Aaron Roberson, redshirt senior

    Sam has battled some injuries during his career, but Holtz called him the “most pleasant surprise” this spring after he moved from safety to corner. Sam has pieced together a great fall camp and looks to more talent to an already deep Bulldog secondary.

    SPECIAL TEAMS
    PK: Bailey Hale, redshirt senior; Brady Farlow, redshirt junior

    Hale transferred to Tech from Eastern New Mexico before 2018 and ultimately earned the starting place kicking job. He had a 68 percent field goal rate in his first year, making 15-of-22 with a long of 46.

    P: Brady Farlow, redshirt junior; Jacob Barnes, freshman

    Behind Davan Dyer last season, Farlow punted five times for 179 yards for a 35.8-yard average.

    PR: Davon “Smoke” Harris, redshirt freshman OR Cee Jay Powell, redshirt junior

    The two combined for three punt returns in 2018.

    KR: Davon “Smoke” Harris, redshirt freshman OR Praise Okorie, redshirt sophomore OR Justin Henderson, redshirt junior

    Okorie and Harris piled up a combined 247 yards on 13 kickoff returns last year. Expect those two to be in the mix to field the opening kickoff for Louisiana Tech at Texas next weekend.


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    Just now, gmr548 said:


    Idk just spit balling here but what if that's because he's not a running back?

    Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
     

    Well, you could read the four or five following comments and not have to spitball the one you quoted. 

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    17 minutes ago, sachick said:

    Time to get my nails did in burnt orange. Last year right after the Maryland game, I changed my polish color to burnt orange and Texas went on a six game winning streak. I'm not skipping the first game this year. Nails will be burnt orange prior to kickoff.

    Have you tried burnt orange pasties?

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    Eric Nahlin: The 10 Best Players on the Team (2019)

    Sure, I'll take another stab at this silly exercise. We're all just killing time until Saturday evening anyway.

    But first, a refresher from Friday's Humidor:

    10 Best/Team Best: I was asked for my opinion on the 10 best players on the team. I may still give it but here's what our source had to say.

    He offered them in order and when it came to giving the 10th guy he mentioned three who were in the conversation.

    10. DL Ta'Quon Graham/WR Devin Duvernay/LB Jeffrey McCulloch: "These guys are all going to be big contributors."
    9. BJ Foster: "There's a lot of talent when I don't mention Foster's name until now. I might be too low."
    8. Joseph Ossai: "He'll vie to lead the team in sacks. Maybe tackles too."
    7. Brandon Jones: "Probably the most important DB."
    6. Keaontay Ingram: "Just needs to stay healthy."
    5. Malcolm Roach: "If he's as motivated as Omenihu was -- giving max effort on every play -- he's going to be a terror."
    4. Caden Sterns: "He's had it since he arrived. He'll have a big year."
    3. Sam Cosmi: "Not really a weakness in his game."
    2. Collin Johnson: "You asked for best so I'll say Johnson, Cosmi is more important to the season."
    1. Sam Ehlinger: "I don't think anybody would disagree with that." 

    My source obviously has a good handle on things as they sit now, but he isn't projecting how the season might go. Also, sometimes you can be too close to a situation as familiarity bias creeps in.

    I'll take a stab at it so next year around this time it can be re-posted, we can chuckle at it, and do it all over again. This is based on the entire season, not the first series of the first game, Game Thread Man. It also assumes relatively good health. 

    Honorable mention: OL Zach Shackelford, OL Parker Braun, DL Ta'Quon Graham.

    I feel the need to explain why I left Braun off. Given running back depth compounded with our intel the offense is going to open up and throw it more I don't think they'll run the offense to his strength which is of course the run game. I do feel confident that he'll be quite good in the run game.

    10. WR Devin Duvernay: I think he's going to be a primary beneficiary of the RPO passing game. That coupled with his reliability and how easy it is to feed the position, I think he's going to quickly become an Ehlinger favorite. If they scheme him deep a time or two it'll be icing on the cake.

    9. LB Joseph Ossai: If he was going to predominantly play on the LOS I'd bet on the come up and rank him #6. I'm curious to see how he'll look playing off-the-ball. It could be he's miscast there and if so that's on the staff for not having a better option.

    8. N BJ Foster: I think he'll experience some losses in coverage a time or two but his P&L sheet with be well into the black. He's going to rack up a ton of tackles for losses and be a disruptive blitzer. The F-backer with some B-backer qualities. He's every bit the talent of Jones or Sterns, they're just in positions ideally suited to their skill-sets. Positions Foster would also excel at.

    7. RB Keaontay Ingram: As the source stated his biggest thing will be health. With limited depth you wonder if he'll get more carries than expected or if they'll try to limit wear and tear. He's extremely gifted and if he holds up for 200 + carries he'll have a big season.

    6. DE Malcolm Roach: I'm not sure how much of a stat-filler he'll be but I think he'll help blow up run design and make life easier for the linebackers and safeties. I expect most of his sacks to come from interior pressure rather than bending from the outside. He'll have a big year but the "need more sacks" chant from the low info crowd might set in. I think he'll have more tackles than Omenihu did in 2018 but not as many sacks. 

    5. S Brandon Jones: This team is going to need a tackling machine in space the more it goes dime and I think Jones is due for a big, consistent year. Jones should save tons of hidden yardage versus the run and underneath passing game. He'll also be a security blanket for BJ Foster at nickel and serve as an extra linebacker for a blitzing Mac or Rover. It should surprise nobody if he is second on the team in tackles. 

    4. S Caden Sterns: He's going to consistently impact games with his range -- that may materialize directly with picks and pass breakups or indirectly as offensive coordinators look to hunt yards elsewhere. He'll have quarterbacks thinking twice about whether or not a receiver is truly open. He'll be improved in the run game, either that or he added good muscle for no reason.

    3. WR Collin Johnson: I'm buying the hype of him becoming a complete receiver. I've heard it from too many people. But, even if he isn't more complete he's still going to put up 1200 yards. He could have an even bigger year depending on how they move him around.

    2. OT Sam Cosmi: Collin having a big camp is going to stick out more in a short burst, but Cosmi playing well for the entire season may lead to early draft speculation. He could be the best offensive lineman in the league thanks to being very good at both run and pass blocking. 

    1. QB Sam Ehlinger: Last year I had him at #7 which was considered optimistic at the time. If he isn't the best player on the team this year then I don't think fans will be happy with the outcome. He needs to pick up where he left off last season with regards to protecting the ball while processing faster and hitting on throws that lead directly to points when the staff schemes a guy open. I am confident that Sam is going to wreck shop.

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    2 hours ago, Bobby_Batronic said:

    Just relaying what I’ve read by supposed insiders. 

    Except none of those people know shit. Nor have any of them seen him play.

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    Just now, Sejjr said:

    Except none of those people know shit. Nor have any of them seen him play.

    Funny enough most of the players seem to think he's looked good at RB. I know it's Wescott but several players have tweeted positive things about Roschon at RB. 

     

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    2 hours ago, Bobby_Batronic said:

    Ive seen some 9.95ers allude that RJ has been less than impressive as a 3rd team RB. 

     

    12 hours ago, Bodacious Bevo said:

    Couple team tweets on Roschon

      Hide contents

     

     

    Source?

     

    Take what the players say with a grain of salt, but Herman said he’s only been practicing at RB 6-7 days yesterday. 

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    3 minutes ago, Pig Bellmont said:

    I swear we are the only major college football program with local media that sets out to troll the fan base. 

    No shit. Reading the LSU articles from their beat reporters is refreshing compared to the fuckwaffles in Austin

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    The flipside to our local fuckwaffles is that shit gets held to account, versus the press in places like Waco and Tallahassee turning into puddles whenever the coach tells them to sweep bad things under the rug.

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    1 hour ago, Sejjr said:

    Except none of those people know shit. Nor have any of them seen him play.

    Most likely the case. But they are probably talking to someone with some modicum of program access. That someone may or may not be an informed observer. 

    All I can do is share. I learned a long time ago to take any and all practice reports with a massive grain of salt. 

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    the more Maryland is mentioned to Herman and the players, the better. they need to be sick of hearing the word Maryland.

    I don’t disagree necessarily, but I am fucking sick of it. As fans, it doesn’t do anything for us.

    Also, it’s pronounced Merlin (like the wizard).
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    4 hours ago, Rickylovesweed said:

    He has size too. 6'2 220. 

    Jarrett Smith is 200 pounds, Watkins is 160, and Jake Smith is 200. Roschon at least has the frame to go find a body and hit somebody as a lead blocker for Ehlinger. 

     

    The staff will not be using our true freshman QB as a lead blocker. 

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    4 minutes ago, Burt Macklin said:

    The staff will not be using our true freshman QB as a lead blocker. 

    I don't know. Saban's been breaking new ground in what players should and shouldn't be lead blockers after all:

    360__1_.2019_01_07_19_34_29.gif

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    4 hours ago, Rickylovesweed said:

    He has size too. 6'2 220. 

    Jarrett Smith is 200 pounds, Watkins is 160, and Jake Smith is 200. Roschon at least has the frame to go find a body and hit somebody as a lead blocker for Ehlinger. 

     

    Dp.

    Edited by Burt Macklin
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    9 minutes ago, texifornia said:

    I don't know. Saban's been breaking new ground in what players should and shouldn't be lead blockers after all:

    360__1_.2019_01_07_19_34_29.gif

    Well the guy that made the tackle was double blocked as was the second guy to arrive. I could see why the kicker looked else where for someone to block.

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    1 hour ago, Patricio Swayze said:


    I don’t disagree necessarily, but I am fucking sick of it. As fans, it doesn’t do anything for us.

    Also, it’s pronounced Merlin (like the wizard).

    Are you tired of the fuckwaffles because they say we have recruited like shit at RB and find ourselves thin at RB or because they ask about chicken sandwiches and vote for Reggie instead of Vince. On the first they can't be homers and we are not aggy, we can handle the truth. We also have some very informed fans and it is fucking ridicules that they come to the board to get their "insights" and have nothing to offer us fans.

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    Are you tired of the fuckwaffles because they say we have recruited like shit at RB and find ourselves thin at RB or because they ask about chicken sandwiches and vote for Reggie instead of Vince. On the first they can't be homers and we are not aggy, we can handle the truth. We also have some very informed fans and it is fucking ridicules that they come to the board to get their "insights" and have nothing to offer us fans.

    I’m tired in general, but tired mostly of the offseason bullshit.

    These are back for anyone interested:

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