Playing in space

• By GEORGE MORRIS
• Advocate staff writer
• Published: Oct 2, 2008 - Page: 1C - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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No man is an island, said John Donne, which only proves Donne never watched linebackers face a spread offense.

College football’s newly popular offensive variation, with four and sometimes five wide receivers, puts obvious pressure on secondaries, causing coaches to counter with five and sometimes six defensive backs. But cornerbacks and safeties are supposed to be adept at dealing with receivers.

Linebackers, on the other hand, have historically been run-stoppers first, pass-defenders second. The situation might not be entirely reversed, but today’s offenses are changing what it means to play the position.

“What happens to you against spread teams is your linebackers are now forced to make plays in space in the run game and pass game,” said Bradley Dale Peveto, LSU’s linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator. “If you look at the past few weeks, we’ve seen way more backs out in coverage. We’ve seen a lot more screens. We’ve seen a lot more perimeter run game.

“When that happens, your linebackers have to be able to make plays in space, and that’s what forces you in recruiting to recruit very athletic linebackers. If you look at our linebackers, they all run very, very well.”

That ability to run should only be enhanced should senior middle linebacker Darry Beckwith return on Oct. 11 against Florida, which LSU coach Les Miles indicated was “very possible, if not likely.” If so, the only returning starting linebacker from last season will rejoin Perry Riley and Kelvin Sheppard for the first time since injuring his left knee in the 41-3 win over North Texas on Sept. 13.

Riley and Sheppard have seen considerable playing time despite only two starts; LSU opened the Appalachian State and North Texas games with six defensive backs. Riley is fourth on the team with 11 tackles, including two for loss, while Sheppard has nine, also with two for loss. They were teammates at Stephenson High School in Stone Mountain, Ga.

Riley, a 6-foot-1, 230-pound junior, played in all 14 games last year, totaling 24 tackles backing up Luke Sanders at the buck linebacker position. In LSU’s 34-24 win over Mississippi State, he led the Tigers with career bests of seven solo tackles and nine total tackles.

Mississippi State, using an I-formation running attack and West Coast passing offense, is the only LSU opponent so far to run anything but a spread, a pattern that will resume when the Tigers visit Florida. The Bulldogs, however, threw a lot to backfield starters Christian Ducre and Anthony Dixon, who caught seven of MSU’s 17 completions, so the linebackers hardly got a night off from coverage responsibilities.

Riley said he lost five pounds in the offseason and said the change makes him feel quicker, an attribute that comes in handy when it comes to making open-field tackles.

“One thing I’ve learned playing football for a long time is don’t slow down,” Riley said. “When you’re in space and you break down, it definitely gives the offense, the person with the ball a chance to make a move. So, when you see the dude, just run full speed and get him. Don’t give him no space, no room to breathe. Just get up on him.”

Tackling hasn’t been a problem for LSU, which ranks third in the Southeastern Conference in rushing defense (69.0 yards per game). Passing defense has not been as stingy, allowing 191.8 yard per game, eighth in the 12-team league.

This isn’t a great surprise for a team that is replacing two linebackers, both cornerbacks and one safety from last year’s starting lineup. The early part of the season has been a learning experience.