BYU football: How do the Cougar linemen match up with LSU?
By Ron Jensen
If BYU football wants to leave the Superdome with a victory on Saturday, the Cougars will have to win the battle in the trenches.
One of the more interesting battles that will take place on Saturday, will be in the trenches. The “Bayou Bengals” have a reputation for producing superior offensive and defensive lines.
Can BYU football’s men up front go toe to toe with their SEC counterparts? That’s a really good question. One that might bring an answer that will surprise you.
BYU O-Line vs. LSU D-Line
The Tigers mostly use a three-man defensive front. It consists of seniors Christian LaCouture and Greg Gilmore. Between the two of them, they have 36 starts under their belts.
The other starter will be sophomore Rashard Lawrence, who may be the best of the three. Lawrence played in nine games last year, but has been extremely impressive during the off season.
This group averages 301 pounds. They don’t have great depth here, but the back-ups they do have are talented. In fact, Frank Herron was neck and neck with LaCouture for the position, until just recently.
This group is up against a BYU football offensive line that returns four starters and averages 299 pounds. Although experienced, they struggled more than they should have against Portland State.
They’ll need to improve Saturday, or Tanner Mangum will be on his back for most of the game. Coaches assure that they are capable, and they’ll definitely have a chance to prove it.
The Tigers may have the edge over the Cougs here, but this is closer than people might think. I wouldn’t expect BYU to be out-matched or overwhelmed in the contest.
BYU D-Line vs. LSU O-Line
On the other side of the ball, LSU returns two starters, Will Clapp and KJ Malone. Garrett Brumfield and Toby Weathersby make up the rest of the line, along with freshman Ed Ingram.
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They are big and strong, with an average weight of 312 pounds. Depth is where there might be a few questions. The second stringers are mostly freshmen and players who have very little game time.
BYU football has two previously starting ends, and four well-seasoned athletes to man the tackle position. Their four-man front is deep. It wouldn’t be surprising to see 11 different linemen play.
The starters average 283 pounds. Although they give up 29 pounds to LSU’s side, don’t conclude that the Cougars will be pushed around. They’ve proven they can hold their ground.
With more depth and experience than the Tigers, it will come down to technique, strength, and speed. As crazy as this may sound, I’d give BYU a chance in this competition.
The battle in the trenches will be a fun one to watch. I truly believe that the playing field is more even here than most are willing to admit.
No matter than result, this game will truly reveal the quality of the offensive and defensive lines for BYU football. It’s time to see if they’re up for the challenge.