Spring football has its pros and cons, giving teams the chance to shake rust and develop early enrollees while lacking the structure and focus of regular-season training.
But with the spring game looming this weekend, the LSU football team used Tuesday’s practice to begin preparation for Saturday’s showcase.
Junior cornerback Tharold Simon said LSU coach Les Miles and his staff treated Tuesday’s session much more like a fall practice.
“That’s what Coach Miles mentioned, ‘We’re going to prepare this week like it’s a game week,'” Simon said.
Junior receiver Odell Beckham Jr. said it was a more intense practice on Tuesday. That ferocity was evident during individual drills.
During the early periods, the defense ran a violent, gauntlet-style drill where one player has to maneuver around, or through, three other athletes to touch a dummy. Simon said he had never gone through the drill before and thinks new defensive back coach Corey Raymond introduced the drill to adjust the younger players to getting off blocks and making tackles.
“We’re just trying to get those young guys tougher,” said sophomore cornerback Tyrann Mathieu. “Just get them familiar with getting off blocks and really just get them ready for the fall and the season coming up.”
Defensive coordinator John Chavis was especially animated during the drill and could be heard clearly from the other side of the field, yelling when players made mistakes.
“That’s just Coach Chavis,” Simon said. “He wants everything fast and physical.”
When one player wasn’t using his hands while blocking sophomore cornerback Ronnie Vinson, Chavis sent Vinson back to the start to get a full run-through. Vinson made the blockers pay when he bowled over two of them on the next rep.
Beckham, who played with Vinson at Isidore Newman in New Orleans, said he’s excited to see what his old high school teammate can contribute.
“I know that when he gets his opportunity to play he’s going to take advantage of it,” Beckham said. “I’m just waiting to see it.”
Students will be able to watch the Tigers’ spring game preparation Thursday during LSU Student Appreciation Day. With an LSU ID, students can attend practice starting at 4 p.m. with a meet-and-greet after.
 
 
 
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Contact Alex Cassara at [email protected]