(05-14-2024, 08:35 AM)HardcoreMoJagFan Wrote:

(04-29-2024, 06:13 PM)jaglou53 Wrote: All good points! They should have added another interior offensive lineman, as you indicated. They could have taken Bortlini or McCormick in round 4 instead of Jefferson. I'm not totally down on Jefferson, however, as a true nose tackle to help stop the run. Foster was a good pick since they have 2 tackles who will be free agents after this season. 

Not sure if you heard the interview today on Frangie show with LSU defensive line coach. Admittedly, not an unbiased source along with the biggest homer of all, Frank Frangie! Despite that, he spoke glowingly of Maason Smith and his best football being ahead of him. He noted that it took Smith a while to get back to form following his ACL, but saw definite improvement at the end of last season. I expect him to need a year at the NFL level to begin demonstrating his elite potential due to lack of experience in college. Hopefully he will contribute enough this season, especially if Hamilton is still not 100%. The coach also noted how Jefferson only played one season at LSU after transferring from Missouri, but showed much improvement at the end of the season. He has unreal strength and may become the 1st effective true Nose tackle the team has had in a long while. Both players have great work ethics and never got into any trouble, which is nice to know. I must say I liked the "helmet throwing" incident against Christian Haynes. Nothing wrong with defensive linemen who play with attitude, as long as they don't commit stupid penalties!

Is that an exact quote?  Because Jefferson definitely didn't transfer from Missouri.  Mehki Wingo did so maybe that is the confusion.

You are correct that he transferred from another school- West Virginia. I honestly can't recall if the coach named the incorrect school or if that was my mistake. Regardless, this coach's admittedly biased comments about his 2 players were encouraging. Time will tell if these 2 picks were good ones. I'll also be following the performances of Kris Jenkins, Zach Frazier, Bortellini and McCormick as these were players I may have taken instead of Smith and Jefferson. Smith is obviously the key in all of this due to his extremely high ceiling as well as the realistic chance that he never reaches that potential.

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