BATON ROUGE — LSU’s preparations for Saturday’s non-conference contest against Louisiana-Lafayette continued on Wednesday as the Tigers went through a full pads practice here at the Charles McClendon Practice Facility.
LSU will workout again on Thursday followed by a walk-thru in Friday afternoon. Kickoff for LSU and Louisiana-Lafayette is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. on Saturday. The game will be televised nationally on ESPNU.
The No. 7/9 Tigers go into the game coming off a 23-9 win over Vanderbilt last weekend. LSU brings the nation’s longest non-conference winning streak into the game as the Tigers have won 20 straight against non-SEC foes, all of which have come under Les Miles.
“All in all the work for the week has gone well,” Miles said following Wednesday’s practice. “Today’s practice we improved, although I wish we could’ve been a little bit sharper; it wasn’t exactly what I wanted, but we improved.”
ULL comes into the game with a 2-0 mark after knocking off Kansas State last weekend in Lafayette. The Cajuns are 2-0 for the first time since 1990. ULL opened the season with a win over Southern.
“I think this team we’re playing is a good football team,” Miles said. “I look forward to competing with them. I think this game will give a chance to the people of Louisiana to fill that stadium and celebrate two in-state teams.
”We know every team that comes into Tiger Stadium is going to be prepared to play the Tigers. We look forward to those kinds of games.”
Miles noted that junior defensive end Pep Levingston is improving although he won’t be ready to play this weekend. Levingston is expected back next week when the Tigers travel to face Mississippi State.
The loss of Richard Murphy to a season-ending knee injury last week against Vanderbilt has also put sophomore running back Stevan Ridley in position for some carries at that position. Ridley, who suffered a knee injury during spring training, will backup starters Charles Scott and Keiland Williams along with Trindon Holliday.
“(Stevan) Ridley will play,” Miles said. “His rehabilitation went well and he got ahead going into camp. He’s in a position to play and we’re going to count on him.”
Miles continued to compliment the play of quarterback Jordan Jefferson on Wednesday. Jefferson, who has yet to throw an interception in games in which he’s started, has connected on 31 of 48 passes for 310 yards and three scores this year. He’s added another 52 rushing yards.
“I like how he handles the game,” Miles said of Jefferson. “I like his toughness and his competitiveness; he wants to be successful and he is a winner. There’s really good things about Jordan Jefferson other than being 6-foot-4, 220 pounds and able to throw on the run.”