Tiger Tangents | Tigers Spring Forward

Les Miles may be a little paranoid when it comes to letting the press in on what he’s planning in practice. The press gets little access during practices and just a sliver of time which is usually highlighted by watching guys stretch or taking in the kickers and punters put a few up while the quarterbacks hand off.  

So when the general public is let into the annual “Spring game” which culminates spring practices, don’t expect to see anything too special. No trick plays or wrinkles on offense and no blitzing, stunting, or substituting on defense. It’s not just vanilla, it’s non fat vanilla. Still, even playing out of base sets and packages, most fans enjoyed watching the offense and defense get a work out in semi game situations.

Along with not wanting to give anything away, Miles doesn’t want to see a fair fight either. When Saban was in Baton Rouge, he’d split his coaching staff into white and purple squads and they would draft their team making it a fairly even match up. Les puts what amounts to his two deep on offense and defense on the white squad and everyone else on the purple squad. What happens is the walk-ons, the inexperienced, and the guys who are buried on the depth chart get schooled by the white squad by four or more scores. This year was no different as the white squad scored a 27-0 victory over the purple team.

Gee, and people wonder why LSU doesn’t put 80,000 in their stands for the spring game?

But even with being crippled by a bad format and foreboding skies, fans walked away satisfied because they got the answer to a couple of big questions:

1) The QB situation

If anyone other than Jordan Jefferson takes the first snap on September 5^th, be very surprised. In just a year of college football #9 has come a long way. Jefferson went 8-10 and spearheaded two TD drives. And he did it against some solid defense. It’s very clear he’s more comfortable with the plays and schemes and feels more at home leading this offense.

The other plus is that unlike last year, LSU may have second and third options under center. Chris Garrett was efficient and the highly touted frosh Russell Shepard gave you what you might expect. Some ooohs and aahhhs mostly with his legs and some uh-oh’s with his arm and decision making. His negative plays most namely a pick six to Patrick Peterson are mistakes that will fade with experience. That said he still finished with 70 yards passing while going 7 for 12.

Jarrett Lee who was LSU’s embattled starter for most of 2008 went 3 for 6 for 23 yards and led a TD drive. Lee, Garrett, and Shepard all looked decent but Jefferson was a cut above and the threat of him being able leg out great runs while displaying his great arm may be just the thing the Tigers need on 3^rd downs this year.

2) The Defense

It’s hard to tell sometimes in such a vanilla format but the Tiger D looks like they have a new sense of purpose under John Chavis not just in the Spring game but in all the practices so far.

They seem quicker off the ball and play with more instinct. Linebacker Perry Riley collected an interception as well as Patrick Peterson who as mentioned above ended the game on a pick six.

DE Pep Levingston recorded two sacks and a forced fumble. Throughout spring guys like Peterson, FS Chad Jones, DT Drake Nevis, and DT Al Woods have shined. If the LB’s step up especially guys like Jacob Cutrera, Kelvin Shepard, and Perry Riley then the defense can get back to the style they are used to in recent years.

Other notables:

WR Brandon Lafell led the white team in receiving with 5 grabs for 59 yards. The purple team was led by Chris Tolliver who had 6 catches for 43 yards.

There were no passing TD’s as the defense scored a TD, RB Charles Scott pounded in two scores and RB Richard Murphy stumbled his way to a score in the 2^nd quarter.

Harry Coleman who played strong safety last season for the Tigers has moved to strong side outside linebacker.

The Tigers seemed to have found a punter in Derek Helton who averaged around 40 yards a punt while punting for both squads.

Free safety Chad Jones who recorded six tackles will rejoin the LSU Baseball team starting Monday.

T-Bob Hebert who had a season ending ACL tear last season at South Carolina while playing special teams is recovering faster than expected. The center played a limited role in the game and opened up some holes most notably on one of Charles Scott’s short TD runs.

Scout teamer Patrick Lipoma led the purple squad in rushing with 7 carries for 21 yards. Size wise Lipoma makes Trindon Holliday look like a tight end.