The LSU football team practiced for the first time in full pads Friday before holding the team’s annual preseason media day.
Friday’s practice marked the first time the entire Tigers’ roster took the field together since the completion of spring practice a few months ago.
LSU coach Les Miles said that with the entire roster together for the first time, he feels a lot better about where his team stands as it prepares to defend its 2007 Bowl Championship Series National Championship.
“I may have questioned whether they understood [the expectations] until today, but I liked today,” Miles said. “Today was one damn good practice.”
Miles said he spent a portion of his summer studying teams who have won back-to-back championships in the past and said he believes the LSU’s best way to get back to the top of college football is by doing the same things that allowed them to get there this past season.
“Our process is making sure that nothing changed, so we can be a team that’s not only had success in one year, but in many years,” Miles said.
QUARTERBACKS STILL IN LIMBO
Miles reiterated that true freshman quarterback Jordan Jefferson will join sophomore transfer Andrew Hatch and redshirt freshman Jarrett Lee in the team’s competition for the starting quarterback position.
“Lee and Hatch are guys that have been through it a little longer and understand it a little bit better,” Miles said. “But I think Jordan Jefferson also has ability and is one of those guys that will take snaps yet this fall.”
LSU’s three scholarship quarterbacks have combined for just two pass attempts in their careers. Hatch completed one of two passes against Middle Tennessee State this past season.
INJURY UPDATE
Senior kicker Colt David, senior center Brett Helms and senior defensive tackle Charles Alexander have all gotten knicked up since the opening of fall camp a week ago, Miles said.
Miles said Helms suffered a calf contusion, and Alexander has a soft-tissue injury.
The Tigers’ coach did not specify David’s injury, which he said earlier this week was a twisted ankle.
But Miles said he feels all three players will be ready for the season opener Aug. 30 against Appalachian State.
“[David’s injury] is a short term issue,” Miles said. “All of these are. I like the position we’re in.”
—-Contact Casey Gisclair at [email protected]