• By GARY LANEY
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Sep 2, 2009 - Page: 1C

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Let’s play find Kelvin Sheppard.

In a way, it’s easy. On paper, the LSU junior shows up in two places on the Tigers’ depth chart.

Look under middle linebacker and he’s there, contending with Jacob Cutrera for the starting job.

Look under strongside linebacker and he’s also there, serving as the primary backup for Harry Coleman.

In a way, it’s also hard. Because on the field you don’t know if Sheppard will be at middle linebacker or on the strong side.

And if he’s on the strong side, it’s hard to say if he’s going to be playing up the field, blitzing, or dropping into pass coverage in John Chavis’ 4-3 scheme, a hybrid position.

Put simply, Sheppard’s easy to find because he’s everywhere. And Sheppard is hard to find, because he could be anywhere.

“It’s a very important role,” said Sheppard, who started five games as the weakside linebacker last season, meaning he can now play all three linebacker positions. “One: because coach Chavis trusts in me and believes in me enough to know all of them. To put me out there, no matter what the situation, in either the middle, strong or weak side, they are believing in me to do them all.”

Although Sheppard may not technically be a starter if Cutrera gets the nod at middle linebacker next to Coleman and weakside linebacker Perry Riley, Sheppard is probably still headed for starter-level playing time. With the versatility LSU’s defense is striving for this season, a player like Sheppard is more valuable.

“He’s a veteran now, and he’s a guy that understands what we ask of him and how to get the defense called,” LSU coach Les Miles said of Sheppard. “He’s a key member inside there.”

Versatility is needed in a defensive scheme that is, in part, a reaction to the offensive trend of playing games with personnel packages.

In past seasons, LSU would try to change personnel to match the personnel the offense would put on the field. If a team took out tight ends and fullbacks and replaced them with receivers, LSU would perhaps take out linebackers and replace them with defensive backs.

Offenses began playing games with the substitution matchups, much to LSU’s detriment.