Most people would say the LSU football team needs to take inventory and make improvements, particularly on offense, if it wants to surpass its 9-4 record this past season.Both students and those close to the football program say 2010 will yield better results with greater experience at key positions as spring football practice begins today at 4 p.m. Practice, which ends March 27 with the National L Club Spring Game in Tiger Stadium, was originally supposed to start Feb. 25 but has been delayed twice.Stefan Pitre, architecture senior, said he hopes the football team will assuage the “anger” he felt watching games last season.”I felt [the problems] had a lot of talent that wasn’t utilized in the correct way, and we could have been better if better decisions had been made,” Pitre said. “I don’t have anything against the coaching staff like some of my friends do. In years past, the same staff has shown they know how to run a good team.”James Raff, mass communication sophomore, displayed more cautious optimism. Raff said rising junior quarterback Jordan Jefferson “is trying” to improve in the huddle.”Our defense is pretty solid, but we have a horrible passing game,” Raff said. One of LSU’s biggest defensive losses for 2010 will be the departure of safety Chad Jones for the NFL draft. ESPN.com Southeastern Conference writer Chris Low said defensive coordinator John Chavis has the “flexibility” to find replacements for Jones, LSU’s leader in interceptions in 2009.”[Rising redshirt freshman Craig] Loston would be the top guy,” Low said. “He might have played some last year had he not gotten hurt. [Rising senior] Jai [Eugene] is always valuable at cornerback and safety.”Low said the two main areas where the Tigers need to re-lay the groundwork during spring practice are rushing offense and pass protection. LSU was No. 11 in the Southeastern Conference in total offense and rushing and No. 9 in passing in 2009.”Last year they made that step defensively after an underachieving season in 2008,” Low said. “This year they have to make that same step offensively. If you can’t run the ball and you can’t protect the passer, that’s a horrible combination.”Rising junior running back Stevan Ridley emerged into a starting role with the injuries of Charles Scott and Keiland Williams in November. Rising senior Richard Murphy is returning from a season-ending knee injury he suffered against Vanderbilt.”Ridley is a big, strong guy who fits the mold of an SEC running back,” Low said. “Murphy, if he’s healthy, is that breakaway threat with a lot of speed. You pretty much have to have three running backs to get through the season and do well in the SEC.”An LSU offensive weapon who showed some spark with his first career touchdown — a 69-yard run against Auburn last season — is rising sophomore Russell Shepard. Shepard played at quarterback, running back and wide receiver in his first year, but LSU coach Les Miles said Shepard will play wide receiver in spring practice.”Shepard is all at wide receiver,” Miles said. “He’ll get ball handling and running back play on the side with his receivers position. It gets him in the field every down.”Low said the duo of Shepard and rising sophomore Rueben Randle will be a powerful asset to the LSU offense.”Anything they can do to get [Shepard] in a comfort zone, they need to do,” Low said. “He needs to touch the ball 10 or more times a game next year. He and Randle are big-play guys who can take an ordinary play and turn it into a touchdown. There’s no substitute for that.”Matt Scallan, psychology sophomore, said communication between the coaching staff and a young LSU team will be crucial for improvement, and Pitre said the Tigers “will be competitive” only if the coaches work harder to unify the offense.”I don’t think we have the right player at quarterback for the system they’re running now,” Pitre said. “They need to either change the system or change the quarterback.”Sylvia Bolar, political science sophomore, said she was not happy with LSU’s performance in 2009, but she is eager for Jefferson to gain confidence.”Our quarterbacks have a lot to live up to, but I think Jefferson is not seasoned yet,” Bolar said. “He’s getting seasoned, so he’s going to get better.”–Contact Rachel Whittaker at [email protected]
Football: Spring practice begins today, students look forward to team improvements
February 28, 2010