BATON ROUGE — Les Miles put second-ranked LSU through a 100-play controlled scrimmage here Tuesday as the Tigers continue to prepare for their season-opener against Mississippi State on Aug. 30 in Starkville.
The scrimmage was the second for LSU over the past four days, however, Tuesday’s workout was non-tackling in nature unlike that of last Saturday’s workout. Tuesday’s controlled scrimmage focused more on different situations for both the offense and defense, rather than moving the field. Statistics were not kept.
“It was a non-tackling scrimmage, and I personally do not like those too much,” Miles said following the workout. “It certainly facilitated what we needed to accomplish. We looked at a number of issues at a number of places. “I wasn’t happy with the scrimmage. I didn’t think it was a crisp one, and I didn’t think there was any attention to the detail that we have become accustomed to.
“We will go to work tomorrow to correct some of those things. Some of the things that we did were indicative of a thud scrimmage and not necessarily the intensity of a tackle scrimmage.”
Despite the 100-degree temperatures here on Tuesday, Miles didn’t use that as an excuse as to why the Tigers’ execution wasn’t up to par.
“If heat is the only combatant then we are in great shape, but we have to play an opponent in this heat,” Miles said. “We have to prepare for any day that we line them up. If it happens to be hot, we better be ready. Today, it was particularly a really long go. I think each guy about 32 snaps on offense and defense and 20 snaps on special teams. A lot of people got work.”
Miles did single out the play of quarterback Matt Flynn and Early Doucet on offense, while also complimenting the play and effort of the Tiger defense.
“(Matt) Flynn was sharp on checks and the things we asked him to do,” Miles said. “He made some nice throws. (Early) Doucet again was sharp, but we didn’t get him the ball a tremendous number of times. Those two guys on offense were good.
“The defense as a group played pretty well. They ran to the football and it was hard to get yards on them. They seemed to have everything closely covered.”
Miles noted the All-America defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey and preseason All-America offensive lineman Will Arnold both saw action after sitting out of the first scrimmage.
“Glenn practiced and played the entire time,” Miles said of Dorsey. “We are glad to have him back. There were no signs of wear.
“Will (Arnold) played about 12 snaps and he played all out. I focused on him for a couple of plays and he played pretty well. I don’t know if that was indicative of his overall play. We really wanted him to play six (snaps) and he ended up with 12. There are some advantages to that.”
Among the areas that the Tigers need to improve Miles said, “we have to eliminate pre-snap penalties and make sure we hold on to the football. If we do those things then this offense will come on.”
LSU will continue with its two-a-day schedule on Wednesday as the Tigers will have a pair of workouts at the Charles McClendon Practice Facility. LSU’s third and final scrimmage of fall camp is slated for Saturday afternoon in Tiger Stadium.