The LSU football team runs a notoriously tight ship, but Thursday evening’s practice was considerably more crowded than usual.
With several scouts sticking around after Pro Day festivities and approximately 100 high school coaches in attendance as this weekend’s coaching clinic kicked off, the sidelines were packed with past and future talent evaluators.
The Tigers barely noticed, as LSU coach Les Miles ran the players through the usual gamut of position drills and conditioning exercises with a keen focus on blocking hand position and defensive tackling form.
Though the sidelines were packed, the roster was relatively light, as several LSU players were conspicuously absent from practice.
Junior running back Michael Ford, junior safety Craig Loston, senior center P.J. Lonergan, sophomore rusher Terrence Magee and junior linebacker Tahj Jones all missed Thursday’s session.
Miles said earlier this week that no Tigers have significant injuries, though Ford has either missed practice or worn a green no-contact jersey at all practices so far this spring.
DEFENSIVE LINE ADJUSTING
Mere hours after former defensive tackle Michael Brockers solidified his top-20 draft status at Pro Day, the current LSU defensive line continued its quest to adjust without him.
Junior defensive end Sam Montgomery said sophomore tackle Ego Ferguson has been spring’s breakout candidate to fill Brockers’ hefty cleats.
“Ego’s coming off the ball so quickly,” Montgomery said. “He can be just as good, maybe better than Brockers. His speed is tough to contain.”
Montgomery said next season’s line could be even better than 2011’s decorated unit.
“It’s fair to expect better,” he said. “Before Brockers, there was [Drake] Nevis. It’s a long line here, and there’s the young talent to do it. We have too much speed and depth not to continue rotating nine, 10 guys in there.”
OFFSEASON HANDOFFS A PRIORITY
LSU running backs have rarely taken handoffs from a quarterback other than Jordan Jefferson or Jarrett Lee during the last four seasons.
The backfield unit worked extensively on handoffs and ball-security drills Thursday, getting familiar with junior quarterback Zach Mettenberger’s exchanges.
“Fall isn’t the time to find that comfort zone,” said junior running back Spencer Ware. “[Zach] needs to be on our level, so we’re not figuring his style out in games.”
Ware said Mettenberger’s lanky 6-foot-5 stature has been an important adjustment in the handoff process.
“We can’t go through the hole standing up,” he said. “That’s why we do those drills in the spring, so it’s automatic.”
 
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Contact Chris Abshire at [email protected]