Kelvin Sheppard, Joseph Barksdale and Terrance Toliver will all return for their senior seasons.

by Jrlz on Jan 15, 2010 1:53 PM CST Comment 21 comments

It's great, GREAT news for the team.

Kelvin Sheppard led the Tigers with 110 tackles, and was arguably the heart of LSU's linebacking corps, a group that made vast improvements under Linebackers coach/ Defensive Coordinator John Chavis.

Joseph Barksdale, a two-year starter at right tackle, will get the chance to play left tackle next year on what will hopefully be an improved offensive line.

Terrance Toliver, one bright spot on an offense that struggled, will have a season as the number one receiver. Toliver had 53 receptions for 735 yards and 3 touchdowns.

I've heard that Chad Jones hasn't hired an agent (correct me if I'm wrong). If he hasn't, Chad Jones is able to undeclare from the draft if he chooses to do so before the January 18th deadline. Last year, Brandon LaFell declared for the draft before undeclaring at the last minute.

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Wow

Until you put it there, I had no idea Toliver only had 3 TDs on the year. I believe he had two against Washington, that means he only had one more against the rest of the schedule?

by The Bengal on Jan 15, 2010 1:56 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I just looked at Toliver vs. Lafell

You listed Toliver’s stats above: 53 catches, 735 yards, 3 TDs.

Lafell’s stats: 57 catches, 792 yards, 11 TDs

Pretty comparable on # catches and yards, but Lafell was able to find the end zone a lot more with his touches. I don’t know if that means Lafell was in better position to score as the primary receiver or if he just did more with his opportunities. Lafell scored more TDs than the rest of the wide receivers combined. Toliver will really have to step up his TDs next season.

by The Bengal on Jan 15, 2010 2:10 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Not a big deal

It just means LaFell got the ball more often in the red zone. TD numbers for wide receivers are almost completely worthless. It’s a usage stat, not a talent stat (think of it as the football equivalence to saves). I don’t think this is a red flag at all…. well, except that it shows Jefferson may have just locked on to one guy. And that could be a problem.

Fake Pundit. Real Fan.
http://www.andthevalleyshook.com

by Poseur on Jan 15, 2010 2:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

We know LaFell stole at least that one against Arkansas away lol

I wouldn’t say TD’s are totally meaningless, but it is a very easily manipulated stat.

Hell Josh Reed only scored 6 in his Biletnikoff (sp?) season. Because every time he caught a ball inside the 10 LaBrandon Toefield (who rushed for 19 TD’s that year) got to punch it in.

by Billy Gomila on Jan 15, 2010 2:19 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I forgot about that one.

And didn’t Lafell “steal” one from Dickson in the Ole Miss game as well? Padding stats, tsk, tsk. (That’s a joke, before anyone thinks I’m serious.)

by The Bengal on Jan 15, 2010 2:37 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Given that Toliver only had 4 less catches than Lafell

I don’t think it shows Jefferson was locking on most of the time. But maybe he was in the red zone. We know those TD catches weren’t going to the tight ends most of the time, either. I just thought it was remarkable that Toliver only scored once in the last 12 games of the season after getting such a great start against Washington. (The other TD was against Auburn, by the way. I had to look it up because I truly couldn’t remember it.)

by The Bengal on Jan 15, 2010 2:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Whatever dude....

TDs indicate how much a receiver can pull through. You know, in the clutch. And down the stretch. Also, something about leadership. And lots of other really cool sounding cliches I heard on ESPN.

Gregatron is not responsible for any of the crap he just wrote.
St. Louis vegetarian blog

by Gregatron on Jan 16, 2010 10:58 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

This is all good news

considering that none of these guys are NFL ready in my opinion.

"Dude, I'm tellin' ya it's jobs. We gotta get jobs. Then we get the khakis. Then we get the chicks." - BASEketball

by BigWee on Jan 15, 2010 5:21 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Especially considering the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement situation

The word was a lot of juniors would be leaving early to avoid the prospect of a rookie salary cap. We seem to be pretty lucky that Jones is the only one testing the waters. Florida and Bama have had a lot of losses (not that they don’t have the horses to reload.)

by The Bengal on Jan 15, 2010 5:26 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't understand the big rush..

from a lot of “project” players. I mean is getting drafted in the 3rd or 4th round really worth losing the chance of becoming a better player and improving enough to be drafted in the 1st or 2nd round even WITH the rookie cap? I just can’t imagine the money a player drafted in the 3rd round now being all that different from a player getting drafted in the 3rd in a capped year.

I would think the rookie cap would impress upon some to stay for the chance of becoming a first round pick.

What's up Ryan? ARGHHHHHH!!! oops. ~ Patrick Chewing

by Mikeno on Jan 15, 2010 8:19 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The point is that with no cap now

you will make as much as a third round pick this year as you will as a first round pick next year, or something like that…

GEAUX TIGERS!!!

by SouthernMan on Jan 15, 2010 8:48 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

You mean..

as a third rounder you potentially stand to make first round money.

Not going to happen though. I don’t care if they all hired Rosenhaus; no GM in his right mind would give first day money (let alone first round money) to a third rounder. Free agents are the ones who can reasonably expect a windfall in regards to the anti-cap though.

The rookies who stand to benefit most from this are mid to late first rounders. The top 10 guys will still receive their already annually exorbitant offers.

I just don’t believe second day picks will benefit from the uncapping like they think they will (or more fitting that their agents are making them believe).

What's up Ryan? ARGHHHHHH!!! oops. ~ Patrick Chewing

by Mikeno on Jan 15, 2010 9:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

not exactly

what he meant (I think) was that next year’s 1st round picks will be capped at what this year’s 3rd round picks currently get, meaning next year’s 3rd rounders will make considerably less than this year’s.

if you’re a mid rounder and this is your thinking, it makes sense to go this year, get your money while you can and try your damndest to get your contract renewed. If you stay til next year and are still only a 3rd or 4th rounder you’ll make less. You’ll still run your ass off to get re-signed but if that doesn’t happen then you’ll have lost out on a lot of money by waiting a year.

by ORtigerfan on Jan 16, 2010 1:12 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

^^This^^

GEAUX TIGERS!!!

by SouthernMan on Jan 16, 2010 6:58 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

+ 1st and 2nd Rounders will make less too

Bottom line there is a bigger incentive this year, more than ever, for Jr.s to jump.

Its happening everywhere and I think it speaks to the character of the kids and the program that we are not seeing a mass exodus like some others.

GEAUX TIGERS!!!

by SouthernMan on Jan 16, 2010 7:01 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

They may make less

but 1st round picks are still the only ones with guaranteed contracts.

by Ianoka on Jan 17, 2010 7:12 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think they BELIEVE that...

… but I don’t think it’s true. I think a 1st rounder next year will still make considerably more than a 3rd rounder this year. 3rd rounders typically don’t make that much (comparatively speaking).

Given the crowded field and how many people are flocking to the draft, if you’re projected as a late 2nd round pick or later, you should stay in school and you’ll make more as a 1st rounder next year, even with a cap. Unless you have outside pressures (grades, a child, coaching changes), coming out during this glut of players is a bad idea. The benefit of no cap is countered by the sheer glut of players declaring.

Fake Pundit. Real Fan.
http://www.andthevalleyshook.com

by Poseur on Jan 16, 2010 12:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't disagree

but the cap is why so many are jumping

GEAUX TIGERS!!!

by SouthernMan on Jan 16, 2010 1:06 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

LOL..

When Poseur says it you don’t disagree, but before I was missing the point.

The fact is that it’s a risk/reward situation. I’m of the belief that it’s a greater risk seeing the number of player’s choosing to make the jump instead of seeking to improve their stock for the next season.

What's up Ryan? ARGHHHHHH!!! oops. ~ Patrick Chewing

by Mikeno on Jan 16, 2010 2:56 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't disagree with the glut of players coming out

and I stated the reason for that is the cap.

That is not what you were saying.

GEAUX TIGERS!!!

by SouthernMan on Jan 16, 2010 8:18 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

WOW..

that IS what I was saying.

Just because I disagree with the player’s reasoning doesn’t mean I don’t get their train of thought. I said,“I don’t understand” because I think it is such a terrible decision for some of them; not because I didn’t truly understand the counter argument.

Instead of getting hung up on me saying, “I don’t understand” and comprehending what I posted you might not have made that mistake.

What's up Ryan? ARGHHHHHH!!! oops. ~ Patrick Chewing

by Mikeno on Jan 17, 2010 6:56 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs