With temperatures in the high 80s Wednesday, the LSU football team practiced in the Charles McClendon indoor practice facility because of health concerns said LSU coach Nick Saban said at Wednesday’s press gathering.
“Yesterday we had a couple of guys that had problems,” Saban said. “This is as hot as it’s been in a while. It was actually a little hotter today than it was yesterday. We had a couple of guys who needed IVs after practice yesterday, which is unusual for this time of the year. We had a couple of other guys who really got hurt out there.
“We had a choice to make, either cut down the work we did or maybe go inside and cool it off and try to get it done.”
The Tigers did not suffer any injuries during practice Wednesday – a concern Saban said he has when the Tigers play on indoor turf.
“We didn’t get any [injuries] today,” Saban said. “I always worry about that when we practice inside or play on any turf, whether it’s inside or outside. But that’s pretty good stuff there. Everybody wears tennis shoes so we’ve been able to minimize the problems and we were fortunate today.”
LSU linebacker Eric Alexander said Saban has told the defense to focus on one thing this week – Auburn’s running game.
Basically, he’s just drilling it into our heads that we have to stop the run,” Alexander said. “Get ready to stop the run. We’re not going to win if we don’t stop the run.”
Saban said he is not sure which LSU running backs will be in the backfield on Saturday night. He said Shyrone Carey looked better at practice on Wednesday, but he has not made a decision on whether Carey will play.
The Tigers will continue to play multiple backs in its backfield, Saban said. No LSU running back has carried the ball more than 21 times in a single game.
“I think that when you have good players, you like to see them touch the ball 15 or 20 times a piece in the game,” Saban said. “I definitely am of the opinion that to have two guys do that is better than have one guy touch it 40 times only from a durability standpoint and being effective over the long haul.”
Saban said Auburn’s trio of Carnell Williams, Ronnie Brown and Brandon Jacobs with 1,365 rushing yards combined are a perfect example of how multiple backs can play well in the same backfield.
“I actually think Auburn’s a good example … they actually have three guys that have played a significant amount, two at a time, and it probably helps them all play better longer,” Saban said.
Saban said he has been sent letters via e-mail asking him why he did not play Justin Vincent, Alley Broussard and Barrington Edwards earlier in the season – the three running backs racked up 222 rushing yards against South Carolina. The three running backs replaced Joseph Addai and Carey, who both started at the position to begin the season.
“We weren’t disappointed in Joseph Addai,” Saban said. “We weren’t disappointed in Shyrone Carey. I got e-mails about why’d the guy get hurt? Why are you playing him with 14 minutes to go in the game or whatever?
“We get e-mails when Shyrone gets hurt. We get e-mails when Shyrone’s replacement should have been playing before he did. It’s probably the same person sending all the e-mails.”