The LSU football team ran 48 plays Saturday in its first of four scrimmages this spring.LSU coach Les Miles said his team competed well in the scrimmage, but the Tigers aren’t close to being ready for the first game in September.”The practice was a good one,” Miles said. “We’re not sharp. We’re not ready to play, but … there’s a lot of enthusiasm.” Miles was encouraged by the defense’s play under new defensive coordinator John Chavis. “They played with a chip on their shoulder,” he said. Miles said there have been a lot of leaders on the defense so far this spring.”The defensive is a little ahead of the offense at this point,” Miles said. “I like the expression of energy that’s come from the defensive side.”The offense had some confusion under a new center, but Miles said the offensive unit made some big plays as well. Freshman offensive lineman P.J. Lonergan and sophomore offensive lineman Will Blackwell shared snaps at center during the scrimmage. Junior Richard Dugas, a former center, started at fullback while sophomore Stevan Ridley is out with a knee injury. Four quarterbacks shared the 48 plays — sophomores Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee and freshmen Russell Shepard and Chris Garrett. “We are allowing the young guys to gain reps at the expense of the old guys,” Miles said.Miles said Jefferson and Lee are further along right now than they were at the same time last season.”Both Jefferson and Lee looked like they have been in the system,” Miles said. “They look like they are ready to play.” Shepard has been taking all of his reps under center, but the freshman quarterback may be used in other ways.”That’ll be something that we’ll plow as we go forward that will get [Shepard] out of the quarterback spot,” Miles said.Miles said he has been impressed with freshman punter Derek Helton, a 2009 recruit that enrolled early at LSU. ——Contact Michael Lambert at [email protected]