BATON ROUGE — LSU continued to fight its way through preseason camp on Thursday as the Tigers worked out in full pads for their only scheduled practice here at the Charles McClendon Practice Facility.
The Tigers will go twice tomorrow before conducting their first scrimmage of camp on Saturday afternoon in Tiger Stadium.
“It was a good, hard practice,” LSU coach Les Miles said after the workout. “It was outside. It was long and we got after it. This is the time during two-a-days when our bodies are getting used to contact and the rigors of football.
“There are some bumps and bruises and aches and pains, but it’s supposed to be that way. That’s what happens. You get sore. You fight through, and by next week, Tuesday or Wednesday, it starts solidifying. That body starts to handle the rigors of contact, running and football. From that point forward, we’ll prepare more earnestly.”
Miles said the play of the quarterbacks and wide receivers stood out during Thursday’s workout.
“I think we are getting better quarterback play from both Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee,” Miles said. “I think our quarterbacks are improving. I think our wide receiver play is good. We’re making some solid improvement overall.”
Miles also singled out the play of defensive tackle Al Woods, punter Derek Helton and kicker Josh Jasper during Thursday’s practice. Woods, a senior from Elton, La., continues to standout on defense as he is putting together the best preseason camp of his career.
On Saturday, the first and second units will each get 24 snaps during the abbreviated scrimmage in the stadium. The scrimmage will also see the first offense square off against the first defense for a portion of those plays.
“We’ll tackle live,” Miles said. “It’s not going to be an 80- or 90-play scrimmage. We plan on about 24 live reps and really a short go overall but one that will be marked with live contact. That’s the end of the week. We’re on track, but we have a ways to go. We want to get them healthy, but we have to do the workload.”
Camp Notebook
Randle adding to depth at wide receiver
“I certainly think Rueben Randle is a guy that adds to the mix,” Miles said. “I think we’re five deep. That’s certainly enough. We need a good, quality receiving corps in this next (recruiting) class. I don’t think you’re ever as deep as you’d like, but I think we’re fine.”
Russell Shepard wearing many hats
“I think Russell Shepard will get running back reps, quarterback reps and receiver reps,” Miles said of Shepard’s whereabouts on offense during practice. “Whatever appears to be an advantage, he might get in a game (at that position).”
Morris Claiborne ? Is he a receiver or a defensive back?
“It’s a fight. There’s no question about it,” Miles said of where to put Claiborne. “He has the ability to play on both sides, and it’s really need-based. I asked Morris today, ?What do you think?’ He said, ?You know what, coach, I’ll play where you want. It’s up to you guys.’ That’s just exactly what you want him to say.”
Going West
When the Tigers play against Washington in Seattle on Sept. 5, it will be the farthest west that an LSU football team has ever traveled for a game. As a result, LSU will change its travel plans, leaving on Thursday afternoon instead of its usual Friday departure. In addition, the Tigers will wait to come home on Sunday, rather than leaving immediately following the game.