LSU fullback J.C. Copeland is one of the big reasons why the Tigers' running game is so potent, but his penchant for picking up penalties at inopportune times has hurt LSU this season.
The converted defensive tackle's aggressiveness has backfired over the Tigers' last four games, as he's picked up three personal fouls. Copeland's most recent transgression came last week against the Alabama Crimson Tide, when a late hit on Deion Belue pushed the Tigers back from inside the Alabama red zone to the 27-yard line. LSU was unable to gain valuable points on the drive after Drew Alleman missed a field goal.
In speaking with Jim Kleinpeter of the The Times-Picayune, LSU head coach Les Miles knows that Copeland has to keep his aggressiveness in check to prevent penalties like this in the future:
"There's nothing that validates those penalties, certainly not his play in any way. I guess there's a point in time where on the play that busts to the 12, he makes a tremendous line of scrimmage block, looks up and he's looking for somebody to hit and loses perspective on the time. This is not a dirty player, this is a guy who's giving great effort, hustle and energy."
Copeland was benched after committing the personal foul, but he came back later in the game and had a 42-yard reception at the end of the third quarter that led to a go-ahead Jarvis Landry touchdown.