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Quarterback Andrew Hatch did not practice Wednesday, but LSU coach Les Miles said he anticipates the sophomore will play against Mississippi State on Saturday night at Tiger Stadium.Hatch, who has started all three of LSU’s games this season, suffered a mild concussion in the third quarter of LSU’s win against Auburn last Saturday and did not return to the game.”[Hatch] took some throws early on in the week,” Miles said. “We decided to cool him down and rest him and not practice him today. I expect him to play Saturday.”Miles said redshirt freshman Jarrett Lee, who replaced Hatch against Auburn, has “had a good week” at practice, but his play is not unlike anything he has seen from him so far.Lee led LSU past Auburn and threw two touchdown passes, including a game-winning, 18-yard strike to junior wide receiver Brandon LaFell.Miles said true freshman quarterback Jordan Jefferson, who played briefly in LSU’s 41-3 victory Sept. 13 against North Texas, has been seeing more action in practice this week.”Jordan has been taking some first-team snaps since he’s been here in preparation for some of the things he might do when he gets in the game,” Miles said. “But he’s taking more first-team snaps now. I envision him getting on the field in the heat of the game [Saturday].”Miles also raved about the play of his defensive line against Auburn. “I am very happy Charles Alexander played as much as he did against Auburn and is ready to step in and play some significant snaps,” Miles said. “I like the way our defensive line is coming. Drake Nevis practices so hard, and those ends are playing awfully well. I like where this line is at.”Miles said senior linebacker Darry Beckwith, who missed LSU’s game against Auburn, did not practice Wednesday, and junior Jacob Cutrera will start in his place for the second straight game. Cutrera had five tackles and one forced fumble against Auburn.”Beckwith is getting better,” Miles said. “He’s out for this game, but we look forward to having him as we go forward.”Miles said he expects junior safety Danny McCray to play against Mississippi State. McCray has been battling an ankle injury this season.LSU played Mississippi State in its 2007 season opener and shut out the Bulldogs, 45-0. Miles said if the team wants to beat them again, it will have to put on a similar dominating performance.”[Last year] our defense got seven turnovers, six interceptions,” Miles said. “Thirty-eight points came off turnovers, so our defense has to play better than they played, and offense has to play better than they played last time we played this team. There’s a respect for MS State that has nothing to do with some of the teams we’ve already played.”—-Contact Rachel Whittaker at [email protected]
Miles expects Hatch to play Saturday
September 24, 2008