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Story Archives: Football, real football
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Football, real football
 When I look back at LSU's season last year and the way spring football practice appears to be going, I'm reminded of Andy Griffith's "What it was, was football."
Andy talks about a country boy seeing his first football game.
"Both bunchesful wanted that thing. One bunch got it and it made the other bunch just as mad as they could be! Friends, I seen that evenin' the awfulest fight that I ever have seen in all my life! They would run at one-another and kick one another and throw one another down and stomp on one another and grind their feet in one another and I don't know what-all and just as fast as one of 'em would get hurt, they'd take him off and run another one on! Well, they done that as long as I set there."
That wasn't the case at LSU last year. Fortunately, Les Miles has brought in some defensive coaches who seem to get it a lot more than Bradley Dale Peveto and Doug Mallory did last year.
It's apparent from spring practice that John Chavis is bringing attitude back to the bayou.
Sure, I know all about the quarterback situation and how Ryan Perrilloux slam-dunked the entire season.
Don't blame it all on the quarterback situation. Jarrett Lee had many bad moments, but I don't know of any quarterback who can be solely responsible for giving up 50 points.
LSU's defense spent too much time looking and not reacting last season.
From reading quotes from defensive players this spring, these guys are having fun again. They are not out there analyzing, they are out there to use their God-given talent to do what they do best — stop the guy with the football.
Chad Jones is having a superb spring. Jones was like a pinball last year, running in and out on just about every play.
Chavis has sent many a Tennessee Volunteer to the NFL. He knows talent. Don't look for Chad Jones to be running to the sidelines too much this fall.
"We've got a bunch of guys battling, a bunch of guys hungry," senior defensive end Rahim Alem told ESPN. "I think a lot of guys remember what it's like to be hungry around here again.
Pep Levingston, Drake Nevis and Charles Alexander may not be as well known as the past two defensive fronts, but they will benefit from having exceptional coaches on their side.
Al Woods and Slidell Corley provide outstanding depth, as well as redshirt freshmen Chase Clement, Lavar Edwards, Chancey Aghayere and Cordian Hagans.
Kelvin Sheppard and Perry Riley will be much more active with their speed and athleticism, while Jacob Cutrera will be a strong leader.
Ryan Baker and Ace Foyil will be the two second team outside linebackers.
Jones and Harry Coleman will be working with the first team at the two safety positions, but Danny McCray will also play safety at times.
Chris Hawkins and Patrick Peterson will be the first team cornerbacks with Ron Brooks and Jai Eugene also in the mix.
Peterson will really profit from new secondary coach Ron Cooper, while McCray will continue to improve. And no receiver will want to cross the middle with Brooks lurking nearby.
Let's face it, Miles had a brain fart when he decided to name co-defensive coordinator's last season.
There's a new sheriff in town on the defensive side of the football for 2009. And a whole new attitude.
What it's going to be is football — real football.
Joey Martin is sports editor of the Concordia Sentinel in Ferriday/Vidalia. The Concordia Sentinel is a sister publication of The Franklin Sun in Winnsboro and The Ouachita Citizen in Monroe/West Monroe. Martin can be reached by e-mailing joey@concordiasentinel.com. |
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