Film Study: LSU's ferocious o-line is the most talented in the SEC

Louisiana State University head coach Les Miles is as about as underrated as it gets. Despite all his on-field success, which many chalk up to pretty much everyone besides him, he’s often overlooked for whichever hot new coach enters the Southeastern Conference fray.

I can almost guarantee that many of you are rolling your eyes at me speaking positively on a coach who has been widely used as fodder for laughter and criticism throughout the majority of the major media.

I dont care; I’m forever bullish on Miles.

As someone who played for some real questionable coaches, I’m here to tell you: Miles is exactly the kind of coach you don’t mind going to battle with (in a football sense, of course).

Most will point to his quirkiness: weird halftime interviews, strange quotes about chests, odd phrases etc.

But it’s hard to deny a coach whose record is 103-29 during his 10-year tenure in Baton Rouge, but most will continue to move forward with their disdain for the “Mad Hatter.”

His style of play will forever keep LSU in the conversation as it pertains to the elite of the elite; one of the few teams playing smashmouth, lay-you-on-the-grass-like-fertilizer ball with actual NFL personnel.

Offensively speaking, which takes on a couple of different meanings from my vantage point, despite being able to lay claim to one of the most ferocious rushing attacks of the past decade, there’s been a noticeable lack of talent along the offensive line.

Think about it; the most notable linemen of the era are probably Ciron Black, Herman Johnson, T-Bob Hebert and Trai Turner.

NFL fans undoubtedly are scratching their respective heads trying to figure out who those guys are — although Turner is looking like a bright spot for the Carolina Panthers. But all of them were very solid college players who were intricate parts of the program.

But it wasn’t until the great La’el Collins, who only recently went undrafted due to uncertainty surrounding an off-the-field issue, where we saw a player who fit the mold of a future NFL superstar.

The 6’4″, 305-pound star had everything one might look for in an offensive line prospect: versatility, athleticism, leadership qualities, a nasty demeanor and impeccable technique.

Just look at Collins doing work against the No. 3-overall pick in this past draft, former Florida Gator Dante Fowler Jr. 

Not to mention he’s built like today’s ideal linemen: svelte (in a big man’s way), long-armed with ankles like a tight end. With him going to the most high-profile team in the sport (Dallas Cowboys), who happens to possess the most celebrated OL unit, you better believe young linemen everywhere are starting to take notice.

But as it pertains to this year’s LSU squad — even with the loss of Collins — Miles undoubtedly has the most talented unit of his career.

And it just so happens to coincide with the most talented running back of the era, too. Things are about to get real physical in Baton Rouge.

Miles, Cameron & Grimes

When you break it down to the minutia of the scheme, LSU runs a traditional pro-style vertical attack designed at forcing the opposition to defend all quadrants of the field.

Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron is running many of the same concepts we saw from him as the OC for one of the most successful Air Coryell-based vertical attack teams, the Baltimore Ravens (2008-12).

The offensive line is constructed on the basis of man- and gap-blocking principles. But as any good OC would do, Cameron has implemented a ton of college-based principles to circumvent his lack of experience at the quarterback and skilled positions — namely spread-option concepts.

Cameron has also infused more versatility in his rushing attack by incorporating a ton of outside- and inside-zone jaunts.

You have to think the variation comes from the presence of offensive line coach/running game coordinator Jeff Grimes, who once operated under one of the masters of the zone-blocking scheme, current University of Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn.

Both schemes call for totally different types of personnel; LSU has the most versatile group of linemen I’ve seen.

Miles is notorious for cross-training his linemen at various positions, so in addition to scheme versatility, players also have to possess versatility within their respective skill sets.

Personnel

• Jerald Hawkins (6’6″, 309 lbs) LT: One of the SEC’s best kept secrets will undoubtedly garner a lion’s share of the praise as he slides from his traditional right tackle spot over to the spot vacated by Collins. Hawkins is a mauler who is extremely sound in his mechanics. He’s quick in his kick-phase steps and plays with ideal pad-level. The minute he gets his hands inside of his opponent’s pads, it’s time for that guy to concentrate on the next play. He’s built, physically, in the mold of Collins and shouldn’t struggle with the type of talent he’ll see on the blind side.

• Ethan Pocic (6’7″, 301 lbs) Left Guard: For my money, Pocic is the most talented player among a group of talented players. His versatility is uncanny; he can dominate at any position along the line and has a nasty temperament. He has long arms and uses them to perfection in both run and pass protection. I liked him at center, loved him at right guard as his athleticism worked well in the pull game (Power O, G-lead). But I wouldn’t be surprised if he slid over to the LT spot if he comes back next season.

Here we see that temperament at work as Pocic drove his man darn near to the first row of seating (look at that leg drive).

He’s equally adept in pass protection; just look at how he anchored down on this 9-route. 

Most don’t know Pocic’s name, as of yet, but after he assists with one of the most ferocious ground attacks they will.

• Will Clapp (6’5″, 295 lbs) Center: Clapp is a redshirt freshman who may remind many of Pocic — as far as temperament and playing style. The coaching staff is high on his talents and you can best believe he’s working closely with assistant coach Ryan Pugh, who was the center for Auburn University during its 2010 BCS National Championship season. I’ve always been a proponent of the taller interior linemen as it makes the line look extremely intimidating as a whole. Clapp is a good athlete who’ll excel in zone concepts.

• Josh Boutte (6’5″, 340 lbs) RG: Boutte is your classic interior linemen as he’s built like a refrigerator.“I think Josh Boutte is a guy who has always had just huge size, range and speed,” Miles expressed after LSU’s spring game (h/t to The Advertiser). “He’s not there yet, but he’s really taken a giant step toward becoming a real quality offensive lineman.” I, for one, can’t wait to see him executing those pulls that made Turner a commodity.

• Vadal Alexander (6’6″, 320 lbs) RT: LSU, in an attempt to get its five best linemen on the field, is moving, perhaps, the best interior linemen in the conference back out to the edges where he played as freshman to mixed results. The senior has first-round talent as a guard but may struggle with speed as an exterior lineman. He’s built like your prototypical guard, but he’s crafty enough to pull off such a move. I expect LSU to transform into a right-handed rushing outfit behind the stylings of Boutte and Alexander, which is a ferocious combination. Can’t help but wonder why Pocic didn’t receive the shot to move into Hawkins’ old spot, though.

The LSU faithful undoubtedly had nightmares a couple of seasons ago when Alexander was completely destroyed by former University of Clemson edge-rusher Malliciah Goodman — who can’t even buy a sack in the NFL for the Atlanta Falcons — in the Peach Bowl.

While I expect Alexander to be much improved from his time as a freshman, there should be a bit of uncertainty there as you just don’t know how he’ll react when going against some of the better edge-rushers in the conference.

LSU also has the benefit of having plenty reserves who would start on most teams, which provides quality depth for a team looking to truly establish its will along the line of scrimmage. Talented prospects like K.J. Malone, Jevonte Domond, Garrett Brumfield, Andy Dodd, Chidi Valentine-Okeke and Maea Teuhema will all see time in Baton Rouge in the very near future.

While the University of Arkansas’ OL may generate all the publicity, and rightfully so as its head coach put linemen in the league at a ridiculous clip at his previous stop, the Fighting Tigers will look to boast a line that will set the standard moving forward.

These guys are that talented.