BEHIND ENEMY LINES: LSU WITH JON BLAU / Clemson Tigers LIVE 208 / ALL IN SHOW 188

Episode Notes: BEHIND ENEMY LINES: LSU WITH JON BLAU Clemson Tigers LIVE 208 / ALL IN SHOW 188 Hosts: Jordan Bowman & Edward “Tiger Paw” Craven Special Guest: Jon Blau (The Advocate, covering LSU) ClemsonVOCFB

Show Open (0:02–0:05)

• Jordan welcomes Clemson and college football fans to the All-In Show, presented by FanDuel.
• Big focus: Week 1 rematch, Clemson at LSU in Baton Rouge.
• Shoutouts to channel members (Arthur, John, Isaac, CJ).
• TPC joins from the road (softball event for his daughter); camera coming on later.

Guest Introduction – Jon Blau (0:05–0:06)

• Background: Penn State grad; covered Indiana Hoosiers; five years on Clemson beat at Post and Courier; moved to Baton Rouge to cover LSU.
• Praised for writing quality and personal story (medical journey).
• Fresh off LSU fall camp practice.

Jon’s Transition to Baton Rouge (0:06–0:07)

• Positive so far. Louisiana is very social; multiple lunch invites.
• Visited Phil’s Oyster Bar (LSU athletics hangout with private “back-back” room).
• Meeting people and settling in well.

Overarching Themes: Clemson vs. LSU (0:07–0:11)

• Similarities: Both struggled to run the ball last year; both starting new QBs; heavy portal involvement (Clemson double-digit transfers for first time; LSU 40+).
• Differences: Lane Kiffin (lightning-rod personality, history of messy exits) vs. Dabo Swinney (long-tenured, preacher-like steadiness).
• Kiffin retained DC Blake Baker.
• QB contrast: LSU landed Sam Leavitt (portal prize); Clemson sticking with Christopher Vizzina (with Tate Reynolds still in the mix).

Sam Leavitt & LSU Offense (0:11–0:18)

• Foot (Lisfranc) was the big storyline until recently. Limited spring; missed SEC Media Days.
• Now says he’s 100%. Media saw him sprint for the first time in camp. Abbreviated offseason but worked privately with receivers (including trip to Dallas).
• Completely rebuilt receiving corps (only one returner). Weapons include:
  • TE Trey’dez Green (6-7, former basketball player, matchup nightmare).
  • WR Jackson Harris (Hawaii transfer, strong PFF grades, jump-ball threat).
  • WR Jace Brown (Kansas State, burner).
  • Slot/cousin of Sammy Watkins (nifty route runner; missed a couple recent practices).
• Kiffin system simplifies things for QBs and creates easier looks via run threat. Expectations high if Leavitt’s mobility is fully back. Gunslinger tendencies still present.
• Goal: more explosive plays than last year’s Brian Kelly offense (Nussmeier often under duress; no run game). Starts with establishing the run to open the play-action game.

LSU Offensive Line (0:18–0:21)

• Four of five spots largely settled.
  • LT Jordan Seaton (Colorado transfer, former 5-star; down ~20 lbs, best shape of career).
  • Guard Alou Baugh (Maryland transfer; excellent pass-pro grades, minimal pressures/sacks allowed).
  • Braylon Moore (Virginia Tech).
  • Bo Bordelon (5th-year, limited prior playing time).
• Right tackle still open: Weston Davis (highly recruited, ups-and-downs as RS freshman) vs. Sean Tompkins (Baylor) and others. Similar uncertainty to Clemson’s right side (Easton Ware, Colin Sadler, etc.).

Clemson Offensive Approach / Portal Stance (0:21–0:23)

• Jon’s view: Biggest Clemson question is still the offensive line (injuries/inconsistency with Colin Sadler, Elijah Thurman, Harris at center, Easton Ware).
• They tried to add OL help in the portal but largely stood pat. Adding one more would have simplified things.
• QB room still fluid; Vizzina has talent (Elite 11), but Reynolds remains in the conversation.

LSU Defense – Blake Baker (0:24–0:33)

• Starting 11 looks solid if depth holds.
• Interior: True freshmen Deuce Geralds (Peter Woods-type comparisons; explosive, Georgia high-school sack-record holder) and Richard Anderson (5-star, slimmed from ~360 to ~320–330; Orgeron Cortez Kennedy comps) getting early first-team looks.
• Stephon Green (ex-Clemson) more of a rotational piece right now — missed some spring, consistency questions. Freshmen simply grading out higher currently.
• Edge: Omani Mession, Jordan Ross (5-star, production questions from Tennessee), Lamar Brown (local 5-star, 6-4/295, playing DE).
• Secondary: DJ Pickett (6-4 “pterodactyl” CB), PJ Woodland getting strong teammate praise. Depth thinner after Aiden Anding’s spring Achilles tear.
• Safeties: Ty Benefield (Boise State, high praise from Kiffin — wanted him to meet Tyrann Mathieu), Deshaun Spears (hybrid). Linebacker room very deep (Whit Weeks, TJ Dudley/ex-Clemson, Keys).
• Overall confidence high if the freshman DTs deliver and depth holds.

Stephon Green Discussion (Hosts + Jon)

• Jordan was surprised by the depth-chart notes. Felt Green was essentially a Clemson starter last year and one of his favorite recruits in a loaded class (with Woods, Parker, Burley).
• Jon: More about how good the freshmen look than Green underperforming. Green flashes (remember UNC roughing-the-passer play) but consistency has been the issue.

Clemson Defensive Tackle Room Concerns (Hosts segment, later in show)

• Room is talented but largely unproven after Green’s departure and other attrition (Heaven Brown-Schuler medical issues, etc.).
• Portal adds (Courtney Kelly, Andy Berberesia, Marcus Strong) helped, but no clear stud or proven interior pass-rush threat yet.
• Amari Adams and Vic Burley (already in yellow non-contact jersey early in camp) need to step up. Burley has long been a “now-or-never” talent with injury and consistency questions.
• Run defense should be fine; interior pass rush is the bigger question mark.

Other Clemson Notes from Hosts

• OL right side still fluid (Sadler, Ware, O’Connell most mentioned). Tucker Caddis running with the ones and getting positive reviews (under-the-radar high-school pickup; “corn-fed” Iowa-type guard projection).
• Running-back room crowded (Gideon, CJ Jr., Jay Haynes return, Jarvis Green, etc.).
• Heavy package discussion: Unlikely to be as prevalent (and was largely ineffective last year). Needs to be earned.
• Broad frustration with last year’s third-down and first-/second-down inefficiency under previous offensive scheme.

Closing

• Strong thanks to Jon Blau for ~50 minutes of insight.
• Encourage listeners to support his work at The Advocate.
• Standard calls to like, subscribe, leave 5-star reviews on audio platforms (Clemson Live), and tune in next Tuesday.
• “Go Tigers!”

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