LSU coach Les Miles said Tuesday that sophomore fullback Stevan Ridley is out for spring practice with a knee injury, and the team is exploring its options in the backfield.Ridley will likely return for the fall, but in the meantime, Miles said former center Richard Dugas got repetitions at fullback.”We threw a ball to Dugas at fullback today,” Miles said. “The guy looked pretty exciting, and he’s done a remarkable job in four practices.”Miles said senior running back Charles Scott will also see playing time at fullback, but he said Scott will play the roles of both a tailback and a fullback.Miles said another option for the spring is true freshman Drayton Calhoun to go with Scott, senior Keiland Williams and junior Richard Murphy at running back.”With four tailbacks, we should be in good shape,” Miles said.Miles said quarterback Russell Shepard has seen time only at quarterback so far this spring, but Miles acknowledged what a weapon the true freshman is on the field.”We haven’t moved him much today,” Miles said. “But with a guy with that kind of skill, you’re constantly looking for opportunities to get the ball in his hands.”On special teams, Miles said junior kicker/punter Josh Jasper is handling kickoffs and extra points in spring practice. Jasper played in all 13 games in 2008, often filling in for former LSU kicker Colt David.”[Jasper] was a guy who could well have competed more effectively [last season] if we so needed him to, but he’ll be fine for this fall.”At placeholder, Miles said junior punter Derek Helton has stood out to him.”Derek Helton is a really good holder, maybe the best holder we’ve had,” Miles said. “We’ll also look at Jarrett Lee and Jordan Jefferson and some of those quarterbacks.”With LSU’s new defensive coaching hires, Miles said certain tactical differences are in place for the spring.”We probably won’t be substituting as frequently, and we’ll leave the three linebackers on the field at times,” he said. “There will be the opportunity to make more common adjustments, and less personnel variation will make it less confusing.”Miles said the secondary is filled with veterans who are reacting well to the coaching transition, and he said junior Chad Jones is stepping up at safety.”You look at some guys who are prospering like Chad Jones, who is making a heck of a difference in the center of our secondary,” Miles said. “And Patrick Peterson is ready to play at a different level. I think the secondary, being veteran, is ready to take some steps and play excellent. They will be something special.”- – – -Contact Rachel Whittaker at [email protected]