First, a couple of pics from practice today:

Another look at the progress of the new scoreboard. You’ll notice some of the framing work for the four posts is underway. On the right side, underneath the board itself, you can see where the speakers will be placed. The right speakers are already in. The left ones will be done later. Also, another big bit of framing work is being done right underneath the board itself.

Above, quarterback Tommy Beecher throws a pass during a practice drill. This is important because on Tuesday, LU coach Danny Rocco announced Beecher will be the starting quarterback Sept. 5 when the Flames travel to West Virginia for both teams’ season opener. A couple bullet-point notes on the decision:

* Beecher didn’t beat Mike Brown out as much as Rocco decided he needed to find a way to get his best 11 players on the field on offense. Beecher and Brown are among those 11.

* Beecher doesn’t have a second position to fall back on. Brown will be one of three starting wide receivers for the Flames, and he’s arguably been the most consistent receiver during training camp. Not bad for a guy who spent half the time battling for the starting QB gig.

* Both Beecher and Brown are capable of running the full offense. Brown will play some quarterback, and he won’t be limited to a watered-down play package, like he was last year when he came in at QB.

* Brown has been a pro during the whole process. He was the starting quarterback coming out of spring ball, but he had to know this sort of thing could be coming. So he’s prepared himself well to play any number of positions. That’s what good leaders do, and that’s why Brown’s teammates voted him a team captain at the end of spring ball.

* For more on the decision, read my story in tomorrow’s News & Advance.

—Moving on, as promised, here’s an updated depth chart put together by Rocco and his staff after the training camp portion of practice. Bold indicates starter:

WR (Z)—Freddie Brown
Ervin Garner
-or- Jimmy Eden

WR (X)—Chris Summers
Pat Kelly

LT—Justin Vargas
Stan Herring
-or- D.J. Sellman

LG—Bryan Mosier
Toney White
-or- Jay Weatherington

C—Mario Cosby
Tim Hartman
-or- Matt Camire

RG—Alex Stadler
Toney White
-or- Malcolm Boyd

RT—Josh Weaver
Soeren Wendland
-or- Aaron Brown

WR (S)—Mike Brown
Aaron Hewlett
-or- Jimmy Eden

TE (Y)—Will Quarles
Tommy Shaver
Dominique Jones
-or- Matthias Wrede

FB—Derek Bishop
Dominique Jones
-or- Mark Malvaso

TB—B.J. Hayes
Aldreakis Allen
Danny Broggin
-or- SirChauncey Holloway

QB—Tommy Beecher
(and) Mike Brown
Tyler Brennan

LE—Daryl Robertson
Patrick Bannon
-or- Tim Smith

NG—Asa Chapman
Greg Schuster
-or- Bryant Lewellyn

RE—Trey Jacobs
Terry Adams
-or- Steven Wilkes

SLB—Ian Childress
Mike Connolly

MLB—Doncel Bolt
Pierre Tinsley
Cameron Gillespie

JLB—Chad Brown
Kyle O’Donnell
-or- Marques Jenkins

WLB—Wes Cheek
Marques Jenkins
-or- Demetrius Ward

LCB—Donald Manns
Brandon Robinson
-or- Ron Hobby

LS—Chris Rocco
Chuck Duffey
Omar Clark
-or- Chris McAlister

RS—Larry Claiborne
Brentley Vinson
-or- Reggie Matthews

RCB—Tim Torrence
Kajuan Lee
-or- Kevin Fogg

KO/PK—Matt Bevins
Ben Shipps
-or- Paul Young

P—Mike Larsson
Matt Bevins

LS—Robby Cramer

H—Mike Brown
Chris Rocco

PR—Mike Brown
Ervin Garner
-or- Jimmy Eden
-or- Aaron Hewlett

KR—Mike Brown
Aldreakis Allen
Ervin Garner
Aaron Hewlett

A couple of quick notes before moving on to the defensive line preview.

—Kevin Fogg started camp at running back, then moved to receiver. Now he’s at cornerback, as the Flames look to bolster secondary depth.

—Both OT Josh Weaver and RB SirChauncey Holloway were back at practice Tuesday after missing time last week due to injury.

Now, the D-line. First, the stats:

DL lost
Kevin Richard (57 tackles, 5 TFL, 1 1/2 sack, 3 PBU, 12 QBH, 1 FR)
Colin Dugan (38 tackles, 1/2 sack, 7 QBH)
Jay Coady (12 tackles, 1 sack)
Soeren Wendland (6 tackles, moved to OL)

DL returning
Trey Jacobs (40 tackles, 6 TFL, 4 sacks, 1 PBU, 6 QBH, 2 blocked kicks)
Patrick Bannon (28 tackles, 1 1/2 TFL, 1 QBH, 1 FR, 1 FF)
Daryl Robertson (20 tackles, 5 1/2 TFL, 1 1/2 sacks, 3 PBU, 3 QBH)
Terry Adams (13 tackles, 1 QBH)
Asa Chapman (10 tackles, 1 TFL, 5 QBH)

The defensive line is breaking in two new starters—end Daryl Robertson (6-3, 285, rJr.) and nose guard Asa Chapman (6-5, 377, So.). But that’s not a huge concern, considering the pedigree of those players. Robertson was the N&A’s all-area defensive player of the year as a senior at Liberty and earned a scholarship at Virginia Tech before transferring to LU. Chapman committed to both Virginia and West Virginia, but academic issues kept him out of both, and he ended up at Liberty. Both have made big-time strides over the summer, Clark said.

First, Clark on Robertson: “First off, (defensive line coach Levern) Belin has done a great job, and he’s talked a lot about the improvement across the board. I think with Daryl, No. 1, he’s in better condition. He’s really playing well with his hands. He’s got good feet and good athleticism. He’s really had a great camp. I really like the way Daryl’s been showing leadership.“

Clark on Chapman, who has lost at least 40 pounds since the end of last season. What can that lost weight mean? Quickness. At nearly 400 last year, he had five quarterback hurries in limited action. Imagine if Chapman was a little quicker and lighter on his feet: “Asa has really improved dramatically. He’s come a long way, not only with his body, but just playing low, at pad level. The thing Asa would do was just (stand him up). The second thing he’d do, he’d throw a guy. Stay on the block, I told him. That’s what we do as a two-gap team. He’s really good and athletic. He can redirect. It’s really exciting.“

The lone returning starter is Trey Jacobs (6-3, 280, Sr.), who blossomed quickly into an all-conference caliber end by the end of the junior year.

“He’s a specimen,“ Clark said. “He’s 6-2, 290 and he’s as powerful as anybody I’ve seen. He’s got the body and the ability to dominate. There have been pro scouts watching him, and things like that. I think it’s time for him to really have a breakout year.“

Clark noted Jacobs can move over and play some snaps at nose, especially when teams are running lighter, more pass-oriented sets against the Flames.

Among the others to watch on the line are Patrick Bannon (6-2, 245, Jr.), Tim Smith (6-3, 265, rJr.), Greg Schuster (6-2, 275, rFr.) and Terry Adams (5-11, 235, rJr.).

“I feel like we’ve got depth behind those guys,“ Clark said. “Pat Bannon, he’s getting better every single day. He’s a former linebacker who’s up to 270 (pounds) now, so he’s going to be athletic. He’s playing well right now. Schuster’s another big body at nose guard. That kid’s got a lot of talent. He can press blocks. He’s a young kid who’s got size and power. I like him. And Terry Adams is kind of the guy you can’t plan for, because he really is very explosive.“

Adams began his LU career as a linebacker.

The final group of linemen probably won’t see much time this season, and the two true freshmen will likely redshirt unless injuries force the Flames’ hand: Bryant Lewellyn (6-1, 260, Fr.), Tommy Fair (6-4, 260, rFr.), Cory Freeman (6-4, 235, Fr.) and Steven Wilkes (6-6, 240, rFr.).

Up Wednesday: Clark discusses Liberty’s linebacking corps.