BATON ROUGE — LSU wrapped up its first day of preseason practice with a pair of split-squad workouts here Thursday the Charles McClendon Practice Facility.
The Tiger veterans and selected freshmen worked out under partly cloudy skies during the morning, while the remainder of the team, most of which consisted of the 2009 signing class, had the afternoon practice. Thursday’s afternoon session was forced indoors late in the workout due to inclement weather in the area.
“The morning practice was a little bit more fast-paced,” LSU coach Les Miles said after Thursday’s second practice. “We expected a lot more; those guys are veterans. It’s a practice where you have half a team not there, so the reps are many. It’s a tremendous test because you’re getting multiple reps.
“The practice is devoted to you, and we’re going fast, so I promise you that there won’t be a practice that we have once we come together that will involve greater conditioning or a greater test of being in shape. They performed well. Again, it’s a test, and it was the first practice. It looked like the first practice.”
Miles said he enjoyed watching the freshmen during the afternoon session. He singled out the offensive and defensive lines for their performance during the workout as well as that of wide receiver Rueben Randle and quarterbacks Russell Shepard and Chris Garrett.
“The freshmen and some selected veterans came out (in the afternoon) and that was a lot of fun to watch,” Miles said. “There is some talent there, and we’re excited. I told them this. I said, ?It’s not so much what you start with; it’s what you finish with.’ There’s a lot of work to be done between now and when they get on the field. If they have the kind of commitment that they could have, they’ll be a very special class.
“Rueben Randle looked good in the afternoon practice. I think the veteran quarterbacks (Shepard and Garrett) who were with us in the spring at least gave us the opportunity to call our plays and know what to do. We got a lot more accomplished because of the veteran quarterback approach.”
The Tigers will continue with their split-squad workouts again on Friday as they will workout in shorts and helmets. The team will add shoulder pads on Saturday before taking Sunday off for Media Day and Fan Day. The team will workout as a full squad and in full pads for the first time on Tuesday.
Camp Notebook:
- Freshman LB Tahj Jones has been cleared and can now join the team. Jones is scheduled to practice with the freshman tomorrow afternoon.
- Redshirt freshman Cordian Hagans has moved from the defensive line to the offensive line.
- Lightning in the area chased the team indoors for the final 30 minutes of the afternoon session. A rainbow appeared over Tiger Stadium, stretching from one end to the other, at the conclusion of the second workout on Thursday.
- RB Stevan Ridley practiced for the first time since suffering a knee injury during the spring. Ridley was at full speed during the workout and showed no complications from the knee injury.
- FB/OL Richard Dugas was also back on the practice field for the first time since injuring a knee during the spring.
LSU HEAD COACH LES MILES
Opening statement…
“The morning practice was a little bit more fast-paced. We expected a lot more. Guys are veterans. It’s a practice where you have half a team not there, so the reps are many. It’s a tremendous test. You’re getting multiple reps. The practice is devoted to you, and we’re going fast, so I promise you that there won’t be a practice that we have once we come together that will involve greater conditioning or a greater test of being in shape. They performed well. Again, it’s a test, and it was the first practice. It looked like the first practice.
“Now, the freshmen came out and some selected veterans, and that was a lot of fun to watch. There is some talent there, and we’re excited. I told them this. I said, ?It’s not so much what you start with; it’s what you finish with.’ There’s a lot of work to be done between now and when they get on the field. If they have the kind of commitment that they could have, they’ll be a very special class. We moved Cordian Hagans to the offensive side. He lined up at left guard today, and he’s very new to the spot but really, in my opinion, if he accepts the rigors of learning on that side of the ball, he’ll be a very good player and a very talented offensive lineman.
“Tahj Jones is cleared and headed toward us, so I suspect that he’ll be at practice tomorrow. Rueben Randle looked good in the afternoon practice. I think the veteran quarterbacks who were with us in the spring at least gave us the opportunity to call our plays and know what to do. It really progressed the young guys’ scrimmage and the young guys’ practice. We got a lot more accomplished because of the veteran quarterback approach.”
On Josh Williford not being at practice…
“Josh is having to deal with some conditioning issues, so we are working with him as we go forward.”
On Kellen Theriot‘s injury…
“Kellen Theriot is with us. He’s had a series of injuries, and we are trying to make sure he’s healthy before he comes to the field. He will not be with us until school starts, period. He was not cleared to participate for the two-a-day camp but will be, in my opinion, when school arrives.”
On splitting up centers T-Bob Hebert and P.J. Lonergan…
“We did this with the idea that we would get maximum reps with our best guys. T-Bob got all the reps in the afternoon. P.J. got all the reps in the morning, and it’s the way to grow the team and give them greater experience. We’ll stick with that for four practices.”
On if it makes any difference whether a player is at the morning or afternoon practice…
“It makes no difference. There were some freshmen offensive linemen at the varsity practice, and I can promise you that they are getting trained. They’re not preparing to play in the first game. (Chris) Faulk was with the underclassmen in the morning practice, and Greg Shaw was a varsity guy in the afternoon practice. Well, the afternoon practice gave him all the reps, so it’s done position by position for what is optimal for teaching.”
On if he spent more time watching the defense today…
“I was watching the young defensive linemen and trying to get a take on all those guys that we have in there. I liked them. I think there are going to be some talented guys. I liked (Barkevious) Mingo. His presence was felt. It was a fun day.”
On if Rueben Randle was OK in the heat…
“Yes. It takes some time. You have to get your lungs full first early on.”
On the early impressions of Morris Claiborne…
“We think Claiborne can play cornerback or receiver. We’re just trying to see exactly where.”
On the defense playing more aggressive today…
“I think our defense understands that they need to prepare well. I think John (Chavis) will have an impact there.”
On who stood out from the freshmen practice…
“I mentioned Rueben Randle. I like both young quarterbacks. There’s some talent there. I think the defensive line is going to be fine. I like them. I think they all stand out in their area.”
On moving Brandon Taylor to safety potentially…
“Yes, we are thinking about moving Brandon Taylor to safety. He can play corner. Corner is a pretty easy mental position, and he’ll know how to line up there, and I think the technique will be something that he could do, so if we can dual-train him that will give us some flexibility when we come to fall. I think it’s smart.”
On the fullback position…
“It was really pretty good. Richard Dugas knows what’s kind of going on. Dominique Allen is going to be a good player, and we can play Charles Scott there sometimes, so I think we’ll be fine at fullback too.”
On Dominique Allen‘s size…
“I’m telling you right now; that fullback (Allen) is a big man. I hate to tell you. Those are two big fullbacks. I’m going to give that young fullback a ball. I’m going to find out if he can carry it. If he can carry it, I don’t know who will want to tackle him.”
On what he’s looking for in the tape from today’s practice…
“This is the practice that we are going to revisit, evaluate guys and have fun. It’s a great practice to watch and so will be tomorrow’s and the next. As we have the team separated, the evaluation is still going on.”
On some of the seniors saying that they thought the practice was slower today…
“There’s no question that we have to go slower. If we went at the speed that we go when we put the team together, it would kill them. We could not have the reps that we have in a regular practice, so there is some time, yet they are going to get more reps than they could have possibly gotten, but it wasn’t slower because of effort or ability or getting it right.”
LSU Player Quotes
August 6, 2009
LSU FREE SAFETY CHAD JONES
On the beginning of fall camp and his goals for the year…
“Defense got after it today but everyone is still at a slow pace right now. We’re still learning where we want to be. The coaches are definitely pushing us after coming off a week of not doing anything. After fall camp I intend to be in the best shape ever, just learn this new defense as best as possible, and try to be a leader on our defense this year and motivate the younger players to do better.”
On the transition to free safety…
“I’m given a lot of freedom. My job is one of the most important because I’m the last resort so if a play busts, I have to be the man to stop it. I really took on that role and I’m ready to do it.”
On how he will help improve the defense this year…
“I think I’ll be a good man to help get our turnover ratio turned around. I’ll be looking to create interceptions, forced fumbles, stripped balls, three-and-outs, punts, everything. I’m just trying to get turnovers.”
LSU LINEBACKER PERRY RILEY
On how last year has shaped the preparation for this season…
“Nobody had the season we wanted. 8-5 is a great season at other schools, but at LSU we expect more and the fans expect more. We were definitely upset about the season and our focus is definitely on getting ready for this year and having a better season. That was more of the focus today ? just getting back to working hard and doing the things we used to do to get back to where we used to be.”
On the pace of the defense going into fall camp…
“The pace has definitely stepped up on the defensive side. Coming into spring, it was our first time ever running the defense, so coming into camp, we’ve got a better feel for the defense. It’s more fast paced and there’s less teaching and more running with the defense. In the spring, it was more teaching and learning, but now we just go out and play.”
On the leadership roles of older players…
“All the older guys at every position are trying to get on to the younger guys and get them more focused. Seniors and juniors are definitely more focused than the guys who are younger and might not play as much, so we’re definitely staying on them and keeping them focused, and making sure they know how important this season is for the team.”
LSU RUNNING BACK CHARLES SCOTT
On if there is a difference in the mentality of the running backs …
“No not really, it’s all competitive. The running backs are just competing to make each other better and this team better. We challenge not only each other, but we challenge the receivers, the lineman, the quarterback and everybody to be better.”
On how much it helps to have the starting quarterback known this year …
“Honestly I feel that it’s not written in concrete yet, so I wouldn’t say the starting quarterback is known. We know that whoever it is they are going to be ready to put up some points for us.”
On his impression of the offensive line …
“I am very impressed. I’ll take them over any other offensive line in the country. I love the guys, they work hard. The guys who came in, PJ Lonergan and Josh Dworaczyk, they came in and knew they had to fill some shoes and they worked hard all summer. They came in the first day and looked pretty good. We also brought in a young guy, Chris Faulk who is just a freshman, into the veteran practice and he also looked good. And of course, Ciron Black and Joe Barksdale are holding it down on the ends so we are looking pretty good.”
On if he thinks he can top his numbers from last year…
“It is definitely a goal for me and that is what I am working towards. It is definitely something that I know I can do.”
LSU RUNNING BACK KEILAND WILLIAMS
On how the first day of practice was …
“It was pretty good. I’m glad everybody’s back out there. Everybody is flying around and pretty excited, trying to get the feel of things and trying to get back in the swing of things.”
On how he is going to be more consistent this year than in past years …
“I am not really worried about what I’ve done in my freshman, sophomore, and junior years. I just have to focus on this year. What I’ve done or didn’t do these past years, I can’t go back and change that. I just need to focus on what’s going to keep me on the field the most and I am confident in my abilities. I think that if I am out there and receiving touches that my talent will speak for itself.”
On what he has to do to earn more touches …
“I need to work on becoming a complete back. Working on my weaknesses are things I need to do to become a complete back. I feel that I do a couple good things but it hasn’t been enough to keep me on the field every down. Just running between the tackles harder and breaking tackles. I think the coaches are confident in other things like my big play ability, pass blocking and being able to catch the ball out of the backfield. So when I add that other element this season I will see myself on the field more.”