Saturday’s game against Auburn marks the opening of conference play for the LSU football team, making Monday’s Lunch with Les the first Southeastern Conference news conference of the year.
“You better be ready,” said LSU coach Les Miles. “It’s going to be a highly contested, very competitive game. It generally goes down to the end. If you enjoy competition at the very highest level, you love these games.”
Auburn marks the first primarily up-tempo offense the Tigers will face this season, and LSU is changing things up in practice to get ready to defend the onslaught, Miles said.
The Tigers devote a period of practice each day to training for the physical demands of the up-tempo offense — something Miles said began about two springs ago.
“Ready is the issue,” Miles said. “You have to make sure that the call is in, communications is done and we’re ready, and we’re not paused to communicate, but in fact we are feet north and south, keyed in on our responsibility and ready to play. I look forward to that.”
Miles credited the Auburn defense as well, saying he doesn’t believe the 17 points and 433 yards per game are reminiscent of how good the unit actually is.
He also commented on several player injuries, saying freshman defensive back Tre’Davious White, senior safety Craig Loston and senior linebacker Lamin Barrow should play this weekend.
Barrow and White both left last week’s game against Kent State early with minor injuries while Loston missed the entirety of Saturday’s game after sustaining a leg injury against UAB the previous week.
Miles said Loston probably could’ve returned to the field last week, but he felt more rest would be beneficial. The same goes for Barrow, who could have returned to the game, but the coaches decided to err on the side of caution.
“Lamin Barrow could have gone back in the game probably within about five, seven minutes,” Miles said. “He’ll practice today. And, to be honest with you, I don’t know that there will be anybody that misses practice today.”