By Matt Moscona
LSU spent just under two hours outdoors Tuesday at the McClendon Practice Facility for its sixth workout of spring practice. The media was invited to observe the entire practice, which included two 11-on-11 scrimmage periods and plenty of special teams work.
In the first scrimmage period, the starting offensive line was Tyree Adams, Paul Mubenga, DJ Chester, Coen Echols and Weston Davis from left to right. Nic Anderson, Barion Brown and Aaron Anderson were the first receivers, although they rotated liberally. Defensively, Mansoor Delane and Ashton Stamps were the first cornerbacks while transfers Patrick Payton and Jimari Butler got the first reps at defensive end. Here is the play-by-play:
First Team
1 – Caden Durham rush for no gain
2 – Bootleg pass incomplete for Trey’Dez Green. Route was covered so Nussmeier threw at Green’s feet.
3 – Durham sweep left for short game. West Weeks on the tackle.
4 – Zavion Thomas sweep right.
5 – Kaleb Jackson dive right
6 – Jackson dive right
Second Team
1 – Michael Van Buren read option keeper
2 – Barion Brown reception on right sideline falling out of bounds
3 – Harlem Berry rush for no gain
4 – Berry rush left for short gain
First Team
1 – Nussmeier evades pressure, rolls right and completes to Chris Hilton on the sideline in double coverage. Throw and catch of the day!
2 – Durham rushes around right end for 20-yard gain
3 – Destyn Hill “Go” route incomplete down right sideline covered by Ja’Keem Jackson
4 – Jackson tackled for loss by STAR Austin Ausberry
5 – Nussmeier rolling right complete to Thomas on sideline
In the second scrimmage period, it was treated like a drive with referees and down and distance markers. Butler and Jack Pyburn were the first defensive ends. Dashawn Spears worked with the first group at safety. Anderson, Hilton and Thomas worked at receiver.
First Team
1st and 10 – Defense offside, Nussmeier throws deep to Hilton on a free play. Hilton cut the route short drawing Brian Kelly’s ire
1st and 5 – Nussmeier burns a timeout
1st and 5 – Nussmeier rolls right and completes to Aaron Anderson for 8 yards.
1st and 10 – Caden Durham 3 yard rush
2nd and 7 – Trey’Dez Green reception for first down (Kelly wanted the offense to face a third down, so they set up 3rd and 3)
3rd and 3 – Durham screen reception for 5 yards
1st and 10 – Bauer Sharp with a contested reception on sideline for 7 yards
2nd and 3 – Nussmeier incomplete to Zavion Thomas
3rd and 3 – PJ Woodland pass break up against Anderson
4th and 3 – Davhon Keys pressure forces incompletion
Notebook:
- Garrett Nussmeier had a fantastic day. During 7-on-7, he threw a beautiful deep ball touchdown to Destyn Hill over Ja’Keem Jackson and showed off his accuracy on a contested out route where he put the ball in Thomas’s belly as soon as he turned around. The only blemish was an interception by Ausberry on a pass that was deflected twice.
- The offense continues to show a lot of two-tight end sets with Green and Sharp. They worked together attached in short yardage situations and with Green flexed out and as a H-Back. Expect to see plenty of both players.
- Chester and Braelin Moore continue sharing reps at center with the first unit.
- Ory Williams returned and worked as the second team left guard, replacing Solomon Thomas. For a chunk of individual period, Thomas was working by himself with a staffer on a separate field.
- Punting continues to be inconsistent at best. Peyton Todd, Grant Chadwick and Badger Hargett rotated. Hargett hit the punt of the day that went 60 yards in the air inside the 10 yard line. Jonathan Ferguson is working as the long snapper and had one errant snap that rolled back to the punter.
- Thomas, Anderson and Brown are working as the punt returners.
- In OL/DL 1-on-1 drills and 3-on-3 drills, the offense consistently won the day. The exceptions were impressive wins by Shone Washington and Dominik McKinley over DJ Chester and Sydir Mitchell against Paul Mubenga.
