LSU Spring Game 2016: Date, Start Time, TV Schedule, Live Stream and More

Spring has a different feel about it for Les Miles and LSU going into Saturday's exhibition.

Miles wanted change to breathe new life into the program and got it. Saturday marks not only the debut of a new-look 3-4 defense, but an offensive attack focused on the passing game, not elite running back Leonard Fournette.

In fact, Fournette won't be a major part of the show as the coaching staff attempts to keep him healthy ahead of the season opener against Wisconsin. Instead, Saturday is all about Brandon Harris' progress under center and how the new defense will fare against the best of the best in the SEC.

Given the implications on the conference as a whole, it's not a spring game to overlook on a weekend littered with them.

2016 LSU Spring Game

When:  Saturday, April 16, at 4 p.m. ET

Where: Tiger Stadium

TV: SEC Network

Live Stream: WatchESPN

The aforementioned Harris will get most of the attention going into Saturday's game, which makes plenty of sense.

Harris struggled mightily as a starter last year, completing just 53.8 percent of his passes with 13 touchdowns to six interceptions, though he did add another 226 yards and four scores on the ground.

There's a new hope for Harris, though, as most of the reviews have been positive when it comes to his spring. Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron told Ross Dellenger of the Advocate that an alteration in practice approach has the offense taking a more aerial slant:

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The Tigers are no longer relegating their walk-throughs to the run game like they used to. They’re walking through the passing game, too, Cameron said.

They’ve shifted their quarterbacks’ focus in practice from zone-read and other QB runs to tossing the ball from the pocket – just like they did in Cameron’s first season in 2013.

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An emphasis on the passing game means plenty of targets for guys like Malachi Dupre (698 yards, six touchdowns last year), D.J. Chark or Jazz Ferguson to step up.

While an opening up of the playbook on offense is nice, it's the defense demanding the most attention Saturday due to the scheme change.

It's tough for any program to pull off such a change given the players on the roster were recruited for a different scheme. Just like that, ends such as Arden Key have to stand up and play linebacker and guys in the trenches have to get accustomed to new roles and responsibilities.

Not that the Tigers aren't loving the change.

"I like it already and we haven't even put a blitz in yet," linebacker Kendell Beckwith said, according to ESPN.com's David Ching. "I think it's going to be something special. We've got a lot of the base stuff in and we'll continue to build and go from there."

For defensive coordinator Dave Aranda, the scheme change has so far worked as intended, as captured by Glenn Guilbeau of USA Today:

This should show on the field Saturday, even if the Tigers keep it as vanilla as possible so they don't give too much away to opponents.

If the unit is more violent and having fun, though, it won't be hard to see how different layers of complexity added throughout the season could give SEC opponents fits.

Fun seems like the keyword around these Tigers, owners of an absolutely loaded roster ready to compete. Even Miles took to social media to end spring practices with a positive sign off:

Things come to a head Saturday, when folks get to stop hearing about how improved Harris looks, and actually get to see it instead. Ditto for hearing about the new defense as opposed to seeing it in action.

A program in need of change has it. Saturday will provide the first sign as to whether it's for the better. If it is, Miles and the Tigers are going places in the SEC and beyond.

Stats and info courtesy of ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.