Blackwell key for resurgent running attack

• By RANDY ROSETTA
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Oct 29, 2009

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Coincidence or not, LSU guard Will Blackwell has had an awfully good view of the Tigers’ two longest running plays of the 2009 season.

Talk about the right place at the right time.

Blackwell was in the Georgia game on Oct. 3 when Charles Scott broke free for a 33-yard, game-winning touchdown run in the closing minute.

Then last week, Blackwell was at left guard when Russell Shepard squirted through a crease and blazed 69 yards to put an exclamation point on LSU’s 31-10 triumph against Auburn.

The West Monroe native downplayed his role on Shepard’s long run, but Tigers offensive line coach Greg Studrawa saw it differently.

“He came into the Georgia game and was absolutely unbelievable; it was like we didn’t skip a beat,” Studrawa said. “And on the touchdown run for Russell, he had a crushing block on the linebacker.”

Not that Studrawa is surprised. Blackwell is the o-line’s equivalent of a sixth man — a name he proudly boasted about — in that he is on call to step in at any of the five spots if a starter gets hurt.

“He’s the guy I count on — the next guy in line whenever we need somebody,” Studrawa said.

Blackwell is also the poster boy for a crew of backup linemen who will be counted on down the stretch this season and particularly next season when current seniors Ciron Black and Lyle Hitt are gone.

“We’re only as good as the backup guys,” Studrawa said. “Those guys are getting really close to getting put in so we have the kind of depth we’re striving for.

“Everybody is back for the next three-to-four years, which means we’ll have a lot of great competition and that’s how you create quality depth.”

Jefferson back at work

Quarterback Jordan Jefferson went through Wednesday’s practice without a problem, LSU coach Les Miles said.