BATON ROUGE — Les Miles put LSU through a light scrimmage on Tuesday as the Tigers wrapped up their 10th practice of the spring here at the Charles McClendon Practice Facility.
Tuesday’s workout had the Tigers in full pads and saw the team go through a 40-play scrimmage at the end of the workout. Tuesday’s 40-play scrimmage marked the third time this spring that the Tigers have gone live. The No. 1 offense and defense had 20 snaps during the workout, while the No. 2s had the other 20 snaps.
“We had another good day,” Miles said of LSU’s 10th practice this spring. “We had a live go at the end. I have to say that the defense was really strong early on. When we got to the live go (scrimmage), the offense played very well. It got more competitive, and that is how it is supposed to go.
“There was some feistiness at practice today. When you go 10 practices of ones versus ones and twos versus twos, each guy is used to seeing the guy that is going against him on a daily basis it gets a little testy. I like where we are, and we have a ways to go. That is the way it is supposed to be.”
Miles said he likes the progress the offensive line has made through the first 10 practices of the spring. Currently, LSU’s starting offensive line consists of Ciron Black and Carnell Stewart at the tackles, Herman Johnson and Lyle Hitt at guard and Brett Helms at center.
“I like the start that this offensive line has had,” Miles said. “Really when you are 10 practices into the spring it really is just a start. You have 29 practices in the fall before we play our first game. It is really a long way away from having to be ready, but I like where we are. I feel like we are taking strides. I like Carnell Stewart; I think he is coming along. I am not really ready to say that he is ready, but he is doing better.”
Stewart and Hitt are both former defensive linemen who made the switch to the offensive side of the football; Stewart making the move last spring and Hitt jumping sides midway through the 2006 season.
The Tigers will take off from practice on Wednesday and Thursday before returning to action on Friday afternoon. LSU will hold its second major scrimmage of the spring on Saturday afternoon in Tiger Stadium as part of the LSU Coaching Clinic.
One of the highlights of the coaching clinic comes on Friday at 1 p.m. when former Colorado head coach Bill McCartney addresses the group at the Sheraton Atrium.
“I’m excited about hearing Coach McCartney speak,” Miles said. “His message is one of reaching for excellence. I think it is a message and speech that everybody could enjoy.”