After saying the defense won the day after LSU’s second spring scrimmage, coach Les Miles may have liked what he saw from his team as a whole in the Tigers’ third spring scrimmage.
But he was sure to laud to production of his offense first when he met with the media on Saturday afternoon.
“It was very competitive considering half the scrimmage was spent in the red zone,” Miles said. “Some of those touchdowns weren’t long drives or long plays even. But the offense definitely improved. This was probably the best offensive scrimmage. Certainly, with a call, you could say they may have bested the defense today, but it was very competitive.”
According to Miles, junior quarterback Anthony Jennings was effective under center for the second scrimmage in a row, completing “eight or nine” of 14 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns before the offense moved into its red zone looks, where he threw two more touchdowns.
Miles liked the output of Jennings’ competition, sophomore Brandon Harris, who completed a “handful” or “10 to 12” passes on 22 attempts. Miles said he “played pretty well overall” but didn’t say if Harris recorded any touchdowns.
Miles acknowledge that the increased expectation at quarterback has benefited Jennings and Harris, but he isn’t seeing one guy separate himself from the other yet.
“I already know that they are better than they were last year,” Miles said. “But to find a really quality quarterback and have separation from one to the other, that’s what I’m looking for. I’m not necessarily seeing that. One day, certainly, Anthony Jennings probably has performed better on more days. Other days, it has been Brandon Harris.”
Along with a more than 100-yard outing from sophomore running back Leonard Fournette, sophomore wide receiver D.J. Chark continues to impress Miles, hauling in two more touchdowns on three receptions for 99 yards. After appearing in only six games with no receptions last season, Chark has caught at least five touchdowns in three spring scrimmages, according to Miles.
Among other receivers who had receptions today, Miles mentioned sophomore wide receiver Trey Quinn had two touchdowns on 35 yards receiving, and tight end Jacory Washington had two catches for 54 yards and a touchdown.
Miles is also seeing improvement from his offensive line, which is rotating players at different spots along the line.
“There’s a lot of knowledge being built [on the offensive line],” Miles said. “[Junior] Josh Boutte and [sophomore] K.J. Malone are both playing significant football. The tackle position is being manned by [senior] Vadal Alexander and [junior] Jerald Hawkins, and both guys are really improving and doing well. I like the line.”
Sophomore John David Moore, who is listed as tight end, appears to be the frontrunner to replace Connor Neighbors at fullback. Miles has mentioned in that past that freshman David Ducre and redshirt freshman Tony Upchurch, a former wide receiver, are also getting looks at the position.
“‘J.D.’ Moore is doing a really good job,” Miles said. “We’re looking for some other guys to come on. We’re giving a couple of guys reps at it. Anytime you do that, they come on, but they don’t come on necessarily as fast as you like. But they’re getting reps and improving.”
Miles also said junior tight end DeSean Smith did not practice because of a minor injury and does not expect senior defensive tackle Quentin Thomas to practice this spring as he is recuperating from bicep surgery.
