Cole Cubelic: LSU o-line vs. South Carolina d-line a heavyweight fight
SEC Network’s Cole Cubelic‘s Cube Show podcast offers a deep dive into each SEC game every week and while Cubelic mostly looks back on the games that just happened, the former offensive lineman couldn’t help but peak ahead to a key battle within the South Carolina-LSU game.
“This week, going into that environment, those guys better be ready because I’m gonna tell you right now…,” Cubelic said. “I don’t know what kind of fights you guys are interested in, like when you watch UFC or boxing, maybe you’re into like Julio Cesar Chavez or Mayweather and you love the dancing around, the defense, and guys that bob and weave and all that.
“(But) I like heavyweights. Like when I watched, when I was most into UFC, the heavyweight division was at its prime. I love watching Tyson, Holyfield—I mean, I love watching Wilder, Fury—like that’s what I want to see.”
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If you like trench play, then this game is for you as there’s a heavyweight game-within-the-game set for high noon at Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday.
LSU’s offensive line, led by the tackle duo of Will Campbell and Emory Jones, is one of just two teams in the SEC that have yet to allow a sack on the season. The Tigers return four of five starters from a Joe Moore Award finalist line last year.
Conversely, the Gamecocks have 10.0 sacks through two games, good for first in the SEC and second in the country, harkening back to when Jadeveon Clowney and Melvin Ingram harassed quarterbacks in the backfield all game.
South Carolina has done it with a combination of roster retention and development — such as with T.J. Sanders, Tonka Hemingway, and Boogie Huntley — and recruiting with additions like five-star freshman Dylan Stewart and Georgia Tech transfer Kyle Kennard.
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Like pretty much everyone else, Cubelic’s focus went to Stewart.
“The name that everybody needs to know, if you don’t already, is Dylan Stewart,” Cubelic said. “You talk about an advanced set of skills for a true freshman? Oh, he’s in Ryan Williams’ category (but) as an edge defender. He’s got a swat, dip, and rip flexibility that is uncanny at that position. He’s got great get-off.
“I mean, he had these tackles turning their hips, leaning, and reaching for him. There’s one play where he runs through the tight end, then the back, and then sprints the quarterback down from behind. The quarterback had about a five-yard head start, and he takes him down. He is an impressive young player.”
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After feasting on Old Dominion and Kentucky the first two weeks, Carolina’s new-look pass rush will get a different, tougher test this week. It will be a measuring stick against one of the most established offensive lines in the country.
But it will also be the Tigers’ toughest test of the season so far too.
“By God, LSU offensive line against South Carolina defensive line, you will get every bit of that (heavyweight fight) this weekend,” Cubelic continued. “Tune in just for that; it will be worth the price of admission or worth your eyeballs on the television, I promise you. That’s what I want to see, and I can’t wait to talk about it next week.”
