With the LSU football team set to scrimmage Saturday for the second time this spring, head coach Nick Saban wants to see a more crisp performance from the Tigers.
Saban said the first team played well, but the players behind them need to continue to improve. He said many of the younger players were tentative in their first scrimmage of the spring, but he looks for them to improve this week.
“I wasn’t displeased with the character and toughness we played with our ones,” Saban said. “The immaturity of some of our next players was pretty obvious and evident … We’re hopeful that those guys will make a big improvement this week.”
The LSU coaching staff has been working on the aspects of the game which LSU lacks the most. Saban mentioned the team’s passing efficiency and tackling as a couple of weak points.
Saban said the team cannot neglect other aspects of the game. He said the Tigers defense worked against the no-huddle offense and quarterback rushes today, while the offensive unit worked against the 3-3 defense.
“We evaluate some things and decide whether we want to do it or not,” Saban said. “We really just keep moving on. If you don’t, you never get done what you want to get done because you run out of days, and you don’t have all the questions answered, or you don’t have everything accomplished like you want to have accomplished.”
Saban said the team practiced with more intensity this week than the previous two weeks.
“I think we’ve had really good practices — been more physical, more aggressive and more guys competing out there,” Saban said. “It’s okay if you play hard and make a mistake but not to play hard whether you make a mistake or not doesn’t get it, and I think that’s part of the character and identity that we want to continue to get established, and I see progress being made on that day to day.”
Saban was pleased with the rushing game in the scrimmage and had high praise for the offensive line, which makes the running game successful. He said new offensive line coach Stacy Searels helped the unit to improve.
“It seems like the players are responding very well to him, and I think our offensive line is playing very well,” Saban said. “They’ve got a lot of experience, and we’ve got some pretty good football players there.”
On the defensive side of the ball, Saban continues to evaluate Justin Vincent’s play in the defensive secondary. He said Vincent has difficulty learning the defensive system along with the offense but likes his play over all.
“Justin’s very active as a defensive player and makes a lot of plays,” Saban said. “We were very pleased with him as a running back, and we’ll do this for a couple of more days and just see where it takes us.”