Few changes seen on LSU depth chart

• By GARY LANEY
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Sep 1, 2009

• Print
• Email
• Save
• Reprints
• Twitter
• Share

• Del.icio.us
• Digg
• Facebook
• Reddit
• 

LSU’s first depth chart of the 2009 season came with few surprises Monday, with all but four starters positions reflecting the lineup projected in the media guide released before August camp.

Even at those positions, the changes are minor and are mostly associated with injuries suffered either during spring or in camp.

On offense, the only change is at fullback, where converted offensive lineman Richard Dugas is listed on first team ahead of James Stampley, who entered August as the starter. Dugas moved to fullback in the spring, but suffered a knee injury during spring practice.

Also, the either/or competition at center that read “P.J. Lonergan or T-Bob Hebert” in the media guide now reads “Hebert or Lonergan.” Coach Les Miles said Hebert, who also missed practice time in the spring because of injury, will start Saturday’s season opener at Washington.

On defense, there are three changes. On the line, Charles Alexander has moved from competing with Al Woods for a starting spot at tackle to competing with Drake Nevis to start at the other tackle, next to Woods. At linebacker, Kelvin Sheppard was listed as the starting strong side linebacker and now is listed as an either/or candidate to start at middle linebacker, along with Jacob Cutrera, who also missed much of camp with an undisclosed injury. Sheppard is also listed as Harry Coleman’s primary backup at strong side linebacker.

In the secondary, converted cornerback Brandon Taylor is listed as the starting strong safety ahead of Karnell Hatcher, who was listed as an either/or candidate in the media guide with Ron Brooks, who is now playing cornerback. Taylor was moved to safety during August camp.

The rest of the projected lineup for the Washington game is: Jordan Jefferson is at quarterback, Charles Scott at tailback, Brandon LaFell, Terrance Tolliver and Chris Mitchell at the wide receivers, Richard Dickson at tight end and, on the offensive line, left tackle Ciron Black, left guard Josh Dworaczyk, right guard Lyle Hitt and right tackle Joseph Barksdale.

On defense, ends Rahim Alem and Pep Levingston join Woods and the Alexander/Nevis combination on the front four. Perry Riley is the other linebacker, Chad Jones is the starter at free safety and Patrick Peterson and Chris Hawkins, who held off a challenge from Jai Eugene, are listed as the starting cornerbacks.

Senior Danny McCray is listed as Jones’ backup at free safety after practicing for a couple of days at strong safety while Taylor was ill.

“I’ve been running at strong safety for the last couple of days,” McCray said. “I’ll probably be running at the same place, but who knows. Where the coaches want me to be is what I’ll have to do.”

As expected, Josh Jasper and Derek Helton are the kicker and punter, respectively, while Trindon Holliday is the primary return specialist.

“Overall, it’s kind of what we expected,” Miles said. “We expected Dickson to maintain his position; we expected Charles Scott to be that guy; Jordan Jefferson, coming in with the experience he had off the bowl, improved. He and Jarrett Lee, it played out the way we may well have expected it to. Chad Jones ... I guess I’m saying the veterans played well and they are deserving their positions up front.”

While the starting lineup was fairly predictable, the second team had some interesting young names.