For years football coaches have been very reluctant to discuss injuries. Treating such information as highly classified. Paranoid the other team would gain an advantage if they knew the quarterback, left tackle or middle linebacker would not be available.
I always thought it was a little silly and LSU Coach Brian Kelly agreed with me.
“I don’t know that I’ve ever went into a game and went whoa, we got the upper hand today, I didn’t know he was playing, or I didn’t know he was playing,” said Kelly.
“I just think it’s overrated. I think you’re preparing during the week for what you expect. I mean, I can’t tell you how many times we didn’t know a particular quarterback was playing and the other guy, you got to adjust on the fly. So I think it’s much ado about nothing.”
This season Kelly plans to be transparent about injuries. He’ll provide updates on if injured players are probable, questionable or doubtful, much like the NFL.
On gamedays, we’ll find out if players are available or not.
There’s a specific reason why Kelly is doing this and it’s because of sports betting.
Kelly wants to be transparent about injuries, so his players don’t feel pressure from a third-party to provide injury information that could result in inside betting information.
“I’m not saying that would happen, but I think it’s better to be proactive in those situations and take away even the temptation to even have that in this building, and not be that next school.”
Players or staff are not allowed to have betting apps on their phone.
Center of Attention
What’s preseason camp without a good position battle. Who will start at center for the season opener is not decided. Charles Turner III is back for a fifth year but also coming back from an injury that forced him to miss the spring. Marlon Martinez took reps as first-team center in the spring and they liked his performance, but they are also keeping an eye on his weight. He’s listed as 330 pounds. Kelly says a couple of freshmen will also get some work at center, DJ Chester and Bo Bordelon.
WRs dominate DBs in drills
Not a big surprise, but the wide receivers were having their way in passing drills. But Kelly is not concerned.
“There is no pass rush, there no clock. They’re playing man to man on a field that’s 53 and a third, by 120, they have the whole field and the receiver can do whatever he wants out there. So, it’s important that they understand that the drill is really about their technique.”
RB John Emery finishes up internship and ready to compete for carries
Emery, who has battled academic issues during his time at LSU was not at practice. But no reason for concern. Kelly says he was finishing up an internship on Thursday and will re-join the team on Friday.
He’s one of eight scholarship running backs on the roster and Kelly says they have so many ball carriers, they have to split up the stations to make sure everyone gets enough reps.