How do you think Shepard will be used in 2010

LSUpride123

I think its clear that Shepard will see a lot of PT in every game of 2010. IMO, he is going to be a key player that helps our O get back on track.

Shepard offers our O so many different opportunities, but how do you think he will be used most?

I personally wouldn't mind seeing him return a kickoff/punt or two. The guy just straight up makes plays almost every time he touched the ball.

My hope for next year is to see him throw a few, line up at RB and possibly catch a few screens. JUST GET SHEPARD ON THE FIELD!!!!

b_leblanc

I agree. First, just get the kid the football. We've all seen what he can do once he has it. Perhaps he needs time to learn the playbook a little better. I believe that there are always things "behind the scenes" that we all don't know about, leading us all to make our own assumptions as to why he didn't see much playing time. Whatever the reasons are, Russell Shepard is too special of a player to not put him on the field, period. I believe we'll definitely see a lot more of him this coming season. Maybe a Percy Harvin type player. He'll line up everywhere. I'd personally like to see him go through a growth spurt, add about 20-30 pounds, and line up at tailback. As far as returning punts and kicks, not so sure about that, he didn't do a lot of that in high school that I know of.

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Bayou Tiger

Don't really care HOW he's used, just hope he's used and a lot. Hopefully he should have the little things down, like where to line up.

ThePhenom74

Shepard should be used in a Harvin-like role. Where he is in the game the majority of plays at a variety of positions. From RB, WR, and QB. Oh wait, he should have been used like that this year. He should get at least 10-15 touches per game next year.

lsudolemite

With our WR and RB attrition I'd definitely like to see him used more as a slot receiver and tailback. He should definitely have more experience at WR after spring practice. Eventually I'd like to see him in the Wildcat or primarily as an option QB, but that may be asking too much over the course of one year.

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bhelmLSU

Larger WR role with Coach Gonzales getting him in open space and depth is needed at the position.

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BAY0U BENGAL

I figured this is where he'd be

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CParso

He'll primarily be a WR, with some snaps at RB & maybe playing special teams. I have faith that Gonzales will make sure he's utilized. I expect him to have a big year.

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Chase4LSU

I see him being used as an dual purpose RB that can run effectively and be decent at catching short passes that will keep the defense honest. I also see him used at PR/KR, and while I don't see him as an all star there, I do think he can gain solid yards on a regular basis.

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Bengal B

What I would really like to know is what the hell went on behind the scenes that we didn't know about that limited his playing time in 2009. Talk that he had trouble learning the playbook just don't wash with me. I have heard interviews with him before he ever enrolled at LSU and he comes across as an intelligent kid from a good background and has no lack of motivation. I just don't believe that he was not able to learn the plays that involved him touching the football after having enrolled last January and going through a spring practice.

I don't want to turn this post into yet another Milesbash but we all know that if his coach had been Nick Saban, Urban Meyer or Pete Carroll among others that they would have found a way for Shepard to contribute in a significant way as a true freshman.

With good coaching decisions regarding the use of player personnel in 2010 I see Shepherd in a combination a Percy Harvin/Darren McFadden role as a RB/receiver/Wild Tiger kind of player

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pharpe

I heard Crowton plans to move his seat more toward the middle of the bench rather than sit at the end.

JayB

like bhelm and dolemite i think he would be best utilized as a receiver... until he toughens up a bit. dude is too small to be a RB/QB in the SEC. of course if he hits the weights, anything could happen. if the guy is as good as everyone thinks, he'd have been playing. why would the coaching staff let a player that could make the difference b/w 14-0 or 9-4 sit on the bench?

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QBLuke

When we do use him on offense, I'd love if we pulled JJ. We are wasting a spot on the field if we're just gonna have JJ pitch it to Shep anyway. Cut out the middle man and just snap it straight to Russell. Wherever he wants to go, fine, just let him do his thing.

Pair him back there with a few playmakers alongside him and let him operate. It's clear Jefferson isn't an option QB, but Shepard ran some zone read in high school to devastating results. We should allow him to handle direct snaps primarily.

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StreetDiction

I like that call about him running the zone read. Put him back there with ridley/ware and run ford/gore in motion and let us run all over someone.

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MLUTiger

Shepard is going to be used primarily as a receiver. I don't know about returning kicks and punts since this is something new for him. There's more to returning kicks and punts that just standing 40 yards downfield and waiting for the ball to land. If he can turn into a decent route-runner this offseason, we'll be blessed. I can see some end-arounds also, but he's going to be a nightmare in the slot.

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lsudolemite

Very unlikely Miles is going to have him running many zone read sets as a sophomore. He has to make quick decisions and properly analyze opposing defenses, and right now it's all we can do to get JJ to do that. It's one thing to run that offense against HS teams, it's quite another to implement it against SEC defenses, especially those like Saban's that are predicated on disguising coverages/blitzes and confusing QBs.

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StreetDiction

Just to put it in perspective. Percy Harvin had 41 rushes for 428 yards and 34 catches for 427 yards and 5 TD's total.

Shepard had 45 rushes for 277 yards and 5 catches for 34 yards. That's about 2 less touches a game that Percy got.

Granted, Percy was put in better position to succeed with this touches with better play calling, but Percy's breakout year was his sophomore where he got over 1600 yards and 10 TDs.

Percy was also a little bigger than Shep. If we don't use him effectively this next year, then there definitely is a problem though

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ThePhenom74

Harvin also played on a very good O team. So he wasnt as needed, he could be brought along slowly. LSU was a very poor team on O so Shepard was needed much more. So the touches are very misleading. Shepard should have been used a lot more no matter how you try to slice it.

Berge

I think there will be a want to get him multiple touches a game.

MLUTiger

The difference is that almost all of Shepard's yards rushing were out of the option set. Harvin never really had to worry about that/ His carries were on end-arounds and misdirection plays that got him out in space pretty quickly to make plays. Completely different gameplan with obviously different results. I expect similar numbers from Shepard when they begin to use him (almost) exclusively as a WR/RB.

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islstl

I have a fairly strong feeling that his career for the most part will be wasted at LSU.

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LSUpride123

I dont. I think Shepard will have a very good year and be one of the key players that gets LSU back to 10 win seasons. There are a number of guys I am looking for next year to step up and take lead of this LSU team.

I have no doubt that our D will be better than last year and give LSU a shot to win every game.

Some might say we will always lose to Bama / UF b/c of coaching, but I think all that is crap. If Saban and Myer's coaching was so ahead of Miles, then Saban and Myer have some serious flaws to let MIles and his crappy no skill coaching hang in there and keep the game close or even let Miles take the lead for much of the Bama game.

MLUTiger

Well, now that he's not going to be primarily a QB, I think you're statement is highly inaccurate.

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LaSalleAve

I think LSU's waterboy graduated last season. How he should be used is another story.

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"I have a fairly strong feeling that his career for the most part will be wasted at LSU."

Forum member discussing Russell Shepard's future at LSU, January 26, 2009.

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