Four LSU players that were missed

Will Blackwell - OG, Sam Montgomery - DE, Alex Hurst - OT, and Brandon Taylor - S were all starters that were certainly missed.  The backups for each of these starters performed very well but these four guys were named starters for a reason.

I was just thinking that LSU has sure missed Will Blackwell this season.  Prior to the start of the season many LSU fans were excited about what looked like a really improved offensive line.  LSU's offensive line was much improved this year.  LSU ran the ball much better and allowed far fewer sacks.  The o-line would have been even better had starting guard Will Blackwell not been injured on the first play of the season.  The two games where I think LSU sure could have used Blackwell were the Auburn and Alabama games.  Blackwell would have faced Nick Fairley.  I have to think that Blackwell would have had the size and strength to slow up Fairley better than Hebert.  Nick Saban studied the Auburn film and realized that a 285lb very good center (Hebert) had to be the weak spot in LSU's o-line.  I think if you look at the film, you see that Ole Miss put their best interior lineman in the same spot.  Arkansas had success with their pass rush but their success was primarily from their defensive ends.  I can't wait to see a Will Blackwell back to full strength/speed.  That may be in a bowl but certainly will happen by next year.  

When Alex Hurst went down late in the season, LSU lost an entire side of their offensive line.  Hurst's and Blackwell's return will make LSU's offense better next year.

At defensive end Sam Montgomery was challenging Drake Nevis as LSU's most dominate defensive lineman and considering the depth LSU has on the defensive line, that is saying a lot.  Montgomery was lost for the season early in the Tennessee game and with his loss, LSU lost a step and a really formidable pass rusher.  When Montgomery returns LSU will have a rotation at d-line that is unparalleled in college football.  Both Pep Levinston and Drake Nevis will be missed as the starting defensive tackles but there are several potentially great defensive tackles that will be eager to step in and uphold the strong play that is the mark of recent LSU DTs.  LSU also has a couple of very good D-line recruits that have verbally committed.

One thing that surprised me throughout the LSU/Arkansas telecast on CBS is the lack of any mention that LSU was having to start a true freshman at safety due to an injury to junior starter Brandon Taylor.  True freshman Eric Reid is going to be an outstanding safety for LSU for several more years.  His interception and long return of a Ryan Mallett pass in the Arkansas game was a thing of beauty.  However, you have to wonder if a more experienced Brandon Taylor over the top may have prevented at least one of the two 80 yard touchdown passes by Arkansas in the first half or even the second half 40 yard touchdown pass where true freshman cornerback Tyrann Mathieu got beat.

Here is hoping for a speedy and full recovery for these four LSU players and any others that I may have forgotten.