LSU Spring Practice Report: March 22

By  Hunt Palmer

Brian Kelly’s Tigers took to the practice field on a gorgeous spring Saturday in the capital city.

The news of the day was that Northwestern transfer Josh Thompson was a full participant. He completed his course work, exams and degree last week and will be involved for the rest of the spring. Thompson worked exclusively at right tackle, mostly with the second unit.

LSU’s first and second team offensive lines looked like this to begin practice:

(L-to-R) 1st Team: Tyree Adams, Paul Mubenga, DJ Chester, Coen Echols, Weston Davis

(L-to-R) 2nd Team: Carius Curne, Ory Williams, Braelin Moore, Bo Bordelon, Josh Thompson

For the first time that I have personally seen, Moore rotated in with the first team at center. He did so in goal line running game drills and the 11-on-11 session near the end of practice. When Moore was inserted at center, Chester moved to right guard replacing Echols.

RUNNING GAME EMPHASIS

LSU worked a ton on the running game Saturday.

We saw some real creativity in the play designs. Bauer Sharp took a couple of handoffs on misdirection plays from the tight end spot. We also saw Zavion Thomas lineup up in the backfield a significant amount. He both rushed the ball and went out in pass routes from his backfield spot.

We also saw some misdirection run concepts with the tailbacks. Garrett Nussmeier looks very comfortable with his footwork and ball placement all afternoon.

I’ve mentioned this on the air a few times, but it bares writing. LSU is very much focused on finding a way to run the ball more effectively this fall. That’s obvious in watching practice and speaking with the players.

1 on 1s

The pass catchers and defensive backs went through 1-on-1s for about five minutes. Here were some noteworthy matchups:

• Chris Hilton made a great leaping catch over Michael Turner for a touchdown.
• Dashawn Spears ran stride for stride with Sharp and batted a crossing route down.
• Joel Rogers got a hand on a pass intended for Thomas.
• Barion Brown ran by DJ Pickett on a deep post, but the freshman closed on him down the field and knocked the ball away. It was just slightly underthrown.
• Thomas put Javien Toviano in a blender on a double move in the red zone for an easy touchdown pitch and catch.

7 on 7s

They moved to 7-of-7 drills both in the middle of the field and down near the goalline. We’ll start with Nussmeier’s reps. He was 5-for-6 in the middle of the field.

• Completion to Aaron Anderson in the flat.
• Complete to Chris Hilton on a crossing route about 15 yards down the field. Hilton is having a nice spring.
• Complete to Kaleb Jackson in the flat.
• Complete on a line of scrimmage checkdown to Harlem Berry.
• Incomplete on an out route to Thomas. The ball was slightly wide.
• Completion to Sharp on an in-breaking route.

Michael Van Buren completed just one of his three throws. He hit TaRon Francis on a crosser for a nice gain. Francis made four or five nice plays over the course of practice.

Then they moved into the red area where the coverage won the period. Here were Nussmeier’s snaps.

• Scramble right that was blown dead. Good coverage.
• Incomplete to Anderson in double coverage.
• Touchdown on a tipped ball that Trey’Dez Green hauled in.
• Touchdown on a gorgeous throw through a tight window to Brown.
• Hilton drop in the corner of the end zone. It would have been a great catch.
• Flat completion to Jackson that would have gone for minimal gain.

11 on 11s

Candidly, this period was difficult to chart. The players were two fields over, so about 150 or 160 yards away. There was a tower between us and much of the action, and many of the players have their jerseys rolled up making numbers tough. But here’s what I got. Braelin Moore was the first team center for these reps.

• Green caught a five yard out and was immediately dropped by Spears who had a nice day.
• Spears again came up and made a tough tackle at the line of scrimmage on a run play.
• Nussmeier….ran the ball for 20 yards! That drew a reaction from the media.
• Caden Durham dropped a screen pass.
• Ja’Keem Jackson made a really nice play to break up a pass near the sideline.
• Aaron Anderson made a 12 yard catch and run.
• West Weeks batted a Nussmeier pass down at the line of scrimmage.
• Durham ran for five yards.
• Hilton caught an out for 10 or 12 yards.
• Damian Ramos missed a 49 yard field goal.

The last rep worth noting was when the third team offense and defense were out there. Ju’Juan Johnson was at quarterback. He tucked the ball and juked his way to about a 50 yard gain. He’s electric in space.

LAGNIAPPE

• Tamarcus Cooley was not seen at practice. Rogers worked with the first team defense in his spot.
• The first defense out in 11 on 11 was Jimari Butler, Ahmad Breaux, Dominick McKinley and Patrick Payton up front, Weeks and Davhon Keys at linebacker, Pickett and Turner at corner, Austin Ausberry at nickel and Spears and Rogers at safety. I did not see Ashton Stamps at practice.
• LSU worked a lot of screen passes as well. Most of them involved Sharp, Berry, Durham and Thomas.
• Brown has impressed me. He’s not just a deep threat. He has run some good routes and made plays all over the field.

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