Just 63 days removed from the team’s second BCS National Championship in five seasons, pads were popping inside Charles McClendon Practice Facility for LSU’s first scrimmage of the spring season. “We went about 30 tackle snaps with some live football at the back end of the practice,” said LSU coach Les Miles in a news release. “As you might guess, some things were good, some things weren’t so good. But I enjoyed the crispness of the tackling.” Miles said the scrimmage was designed for the first and second string units to each receive 15 game-reps. The team also spent a session working on special teams. Monday’s scrimmage was originally planned to take place this past weekend but was postponed. Miles revealed on Monday that academic issues surrounding the team caused the delay of Saturday’s practice. “We ran them,” Miles said. “I like to make a point in the academic area at times. This was a good time to do that. It’s just that we pursue excellence both in the classroom and on the field.” Junior quarterback Andrew Hatch and red shirt freshman Jarrett Lee split time in the scrimmage, replacing suspended junior quarterback Ryan Perrilloux. Miles said Lee made the most of his first opportunity performing with the Tigers first-team offense. “[Lee] completed the ball and threw it a little bit better than any of the other quarterbacks,” Miles said. One main focal point Miles said LSU needed to correct during spring practice was replacing All-Southeastern Conference punter Patrick Fisher. Miles said the main competitor’s for Fisher’s former position are senior Bradley Dalfrey and sophomore Josh Jasper. Sophomore safety Chad Jones and junior wide receiver Jared Mitchell have spent the duration of spring practice on both the football and baseball teams. Mitchell had one of the biggest highlights of Monday’s scrimmage, catching a screen and turning it into a 60-yard touchdown reception during the Tigers’ two-minute drill. “He had a nice go today,” Miles said. “He made a great catch before the screen and then made everybody miss on the screen and it was tackle football.” Miles also said he supports Jones’ decision to skip baseball games to participate in all of LSU’s spring drills. “It’s going to help him be an every-down player,” Miles said. “We want that for him. He’ll have plenty of baseball left [at] the end of spring practice and he’ll be able to go over there and swing bats.” The Tigers lost 26 seniors from this past season’s championship team. Earlier in spring practice, Miles expressed concern that LSU would have a slow start to spring practice because of this past season’s success. After Monday’s scrimmage, Miles seemed to look forward to bringing together the new team to compete for another national championship. “We’ve got our team; we’re moving on,” Miles said. “It’s 2008. It’s a new task with the same goal and desire to achieve at this level, but with different guys. That’s what makes it fun. It’s a challenge.”
—-Contact Casey Gisclair at [email protected]