Tinker:
There is truly nothing like winning because all the other thrills in life don't quiet measure up to simply winning. Winning is what make us strive to keep playing up to standard, when we do come out victorious, winning seems like everything
There is truly nothing like winning because all the other thrills in life don't quiet measure up to simply winning. Winning is what make us strive to keep playing up to standard, when we do come out victorious, winning seems like everything
This 2013 LSU Baseball team is on a win streak that now has everyone looking.
Wow! How good are these guys - no other Tigers baseball team has had a 30-2 record so fast!?
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.http://www.tigerrag.
By Tiger Rag News Services
METAIRIE, La. - No. 1 LSU scored five runs in the first inning for the second straight game in an 11-2 victory over Southern (12-13) Tuesday night in the 10th annual Wally Pontiff Jr. Foundation Classic at Zephyr Field. The win marked the Tigers’ 13th consecutive victory as they improved to 31-2 on the year.
LSU increased its win streak against Louisiana schools to 22 consecutive games, and the Tigers have won 29 straight mid-week games. LSU’s last loss to a Louisiana school came on April 12, 2011, when the Tigers dropped a 5-2 decision to Northwestern State. That game also marked the Tigers’ last loss in a mid-week game.
Proceeds from Tuesday’s game go to the Wally Pontiff Jr. Foundation, which benefits charitable organizations throughout Louisiana.
LSU and Southern will meet again at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in Alex Box Stadium. The game will be televised by Cox Sports Television, and it can be heard in the Geaux Zone at LSUSports.net and on LSU Sports Radio Network affiliates.
Junior right-hander Kurt McCune (1-0) earned the victory in his season debut, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out three in three innings of work. McCune had been sidelined by a stress fracture in his back suffered prior to the start of the season.
LSU reliever Brent Bonvillain was outstanding on the mound in three innings of work, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out a career-high seven hitters.
“This was a tremendous experience for our players, competing in front of our great New Orleans fans in a Triple-A ball park for a wonderful cause,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “I thought we played with a lot of intensity early and I liked the approach we had at the plate to score those five first-inning runs. It was great to see Kurt back on the mound again, and I thought he delivered an excellent outing that he can build upon. Brent Bonvillain was dominant on the mound in his three innings with seven strikeouts, and that helped us stretch the lead midway through the game.”
Read more...http://www.tigerrag.
.http://www.tigerrag.
LSU bests Southern 11-2
April 9, 2013 - © 2013 Tiger Rag
McCune makes season debut in win
By Tiger Rag News Services
METAIRIE, La. - No. 1 LSU scored five runs in the first inning for the second straight game in an 11-2 victory over Southern (12-13) Tuesday night in the 10th annual Wally Pontiff Jr. Foundation Classic at Zephyr Field. The win marked the Tigers’ 13th consecutive victory as they improved to 31-2 on the year.
LSU increased its win streak against Louisiana schools to 22 consecutive games, and the Tigers have won 29 straight mid-week games. LSU’s last loss to a Louisiana school came on April 12, 2011, when the Tigers dropped a 5-2 decision to Northwestern State. That game also marked the Tigers’ last loss in a mid-week game.
Proceeds from Tuesday’s game go to the Wally Pontiff Jr. Foundation, which benefits charitable organizations throughout Louisiana.
LSU and Southern will meet again at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in Alex Box Stadium. The game will be televised by Cox Sports Television, and it can be heard in the Geaux Zone at LSUSports.net and on LSU Sports Radio Network affiliates.
Junior right-hander Kurt McCune (1-0) earned the victory in his season debut, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out three in three innings of work. McCune had been sidelined by a stress fracture in his back suffered prior to the start of the season.
LSU reliever Brent Bonvillain was outstanding on the mound in three innings of work, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out a career-high seven hitters.
“This was a tremendous experience for our players, competing in front of our great New Orleans fans in a Triple-A ball park for a wonderful cause,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “I thought we played with a lot of intensity early and I liked the approach we had at the plate to score those five first-inning runs. It was great to see Kurt back on the mound again, and I thought he delivered an excellent outing that he can build upon. Brent Bonvillain was dominant on the mound in his three innings with seven strikeouts, and that helped us stretch the lead midway through the game.”
Read more...http://www.tigerrag.
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Dominating performance puts tigers at # 1http://lsu.rivals.com/
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Everyone knows that LSU has won 30 of 32 games. No other Tigers baseball team has had a 30-2 record. LSU has... [
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| Williams starts over |
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| Running back/Athlete Stanley "Boom" Williams of Bethlehem, GA, George Walton Academy pulled back his commitment to Georgia this ... | |
| RCS interview: Dylan Moses |  |
| Class of 2017 athlete Dylan Moses of Baton Rouge-University High has had a scholarship offer from Les Miles and LSU since last ... | |
| Magee is remaining patient |
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| Running back Terrence Magee's opportunity to be a part of the LSU offense may arrive in 2013. | |
| Tigers sweep Wildcats |  |
| JaCoby Jones had three hits, including a home run, and drove in four runs as LSU completed a three-game sweep of Kentucky with an 11-4 ... |
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College baseball polls -- week 8 (Posted on 4/8/13 at 2:47 p.m.)
TD.com poll -- LSU is #1
College Baseball Nation -- LSU is #1
Perfect Game -- LSU is #2
Baseball America -- LSU is #3
Collegiate Baseball -- LSU is #1
USA Today/Coaches Poll -- LSU is #2
NCBWA -- LSU is #2
Chasing Omaha -- LSU is #2
Boyd's World RPI -- LSU #3
Warren Nolan RPI -- LSU is #3
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Dandy Don's LSU Sports Report
After winning four games last week including a dominating
series sweep against Kentucky, the LSU baseball team has moved up to No.
1 in the Collegiate Baseball poll and remains at No. 2 in the USAToday
Coaches Poll. LSU's next SEC opponent, the Arkansas Razorbacks, came in at No. 10 in both polls.
Yesterday when the SEC Player of the Week awards for dished out, I thought sure Jacoby Jones would have been named Player of the Week, but surprisingly he was not. Instead, Missouri's Keaton Steele got the honor after batting .500 with three doubles, one homer and three RBI. By comparison, Jones hit .615 with one homer, two doubles and six RBI. With that said, I don't mean to take anything away from Steele who is an extremely talented player who had an outstanding weekend, and it helped that he drove in the winning run with his homer on Friday and then took over on the mound Sunday with Mizzou trailing 4-0 and allowed just one earned run over the final 7.1 innings.
While I was doing research for today's report, I pulled up the SEC stats and was pleased to see that LSU leads the conference in several categories. Counting SEC games only, LSU leads in team batting average (.310) and team fielding average (.991), and several LSU players lead in the individual stats. For example, Mason Katz and Alex Bregman lead the conference in individual SEC batting with averages of .500 and .462 respectively, and in runs batted in with 24 and 13 respectively. When non-conference games are included in the mix, Bregman’s batting average is a team-high .441 while Katz’s is .436. Of course, we don’t need stats to tell us that this LSU baseball team is something special, and my only concern is that the team doesn't peek too early as there's still a lot of baseball to be played.
The Tigers will return to action tonight against Southern in the annual Wally Pontiff Jr. Foundation Classic at Zephyr Field which was originally scheduled for last week but was postponed due to rain. The timing of the game seems quite fitting as a win would give the Tigers their 31st win of the season. As most of you know, Wally Pontiff wore No. 31 for LSU and was an all-SEC third baseman who died in 2002 at the age of 21 due to a heart abnormality. Proceeds from Tuesday’s game will go to the Wally Pontiff Jr. Foundation, which benefits charitable organizations throughout Louisiana.
Here is this week's LSU baseball schedule:
Today – Southern (at Metairie, La.), 7 p.m. CT (CST/JSN)
Wed. – SOUTHERN, 6:30 p.m. CT (CST)
Fri. – at Arkansas, 6:30 p.m. CT
Sat. – at Arkansas, 6 p.m. CT (CST)
Sun. – at Arkansas, 1 p.m. CT (CST)
Kurt McCune will make his junior season debut on the mound for the Tigers tonight after suffering a back injury before the start of the season. McCune had a great freshman season (7-3, 3.31 ERA, 89.2 IP) and was a second team All-America selection, but then took a step backward in his sophomore season and went 3-4 with a 4.04 ERA in 42.1 innings pitched. Coach Mainieri has said that he would like to get three good innings out of McCune tonight. Southern will counter with freshman right-hander Camilo Godoy (0-2, 7.11 ERA, 12.2 IP, 8 BB, 10 SO).
In football news, the Tigers will return to practice today after taking 10 days off for Spring Break. The team will practice again Thursday before concluding Week 4 with a scrimmage on Saturday. Next week the team will practice again on Tuesday and Thursday before concluding the spring session with the National L-Club Spring Game in Tiger Stadium on Saturday, April 20 at 2 p.m.
Speaking of the Spring Game, yesterday it was announced that New Orleans native Mark Adam Miller will put on a free concert in Lot A prior to the game. The free concert is part of the pre-game Fan Fest, which starts at 11 a.m. and will also take place in Lot A at Tiger Stadium. The fan fest will provide family entertainment to all ages with such things as contests, inflatables, music along with food and drinks.
Last but not least, I'd like to give props to LSU junior forward Theresa Plaisance for being named to the Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Association Honorable Mention All-America Team. Plaisance went from posting 4.5 points per game as a sophomore to a league-best 17.0 points per contest in her first year as a starter. From November 16 to March 24, the New Orleans native recorded 31 consecutive double-figure scoring games, representing the longest streak by an LSU player since Seimone Augustus did it in a school-record 97 straight games from 2003-06. She was also the first LSU player since Augustus to lead the Southeastern Conference in scoring.
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http://lsufootball.net/
Yesterday when the SEC Player of the Week awards for dished out, I thought sure Jacoby Jones would have been named Player of the Week, but surprisingly he was not. Instead, Missouri's Keaton Steele got the honor after batting .500 with three doubles, one homer and three RBI. By comparison, Jones hit .615 with one homer, two doubles and six RBI. With that said, I don't mean to take anything away from Steele who is an extremely talented player who had an outstanding weekend, and it helped that he drove in the winning run with his homer on Friday and then took over on the mound Sunday with Mizzou trailing 4-0 and allowed just one earned run over the final 7.1 innings.
While I was doing research for today's report, I pulled up the SEC stats and was pleased to see that LSU leads the conference in several categories. Counting SEC games only, LSU leads in team batting average (.310) and team fielding average (.991), and several LSU players lead in the individual stats. For example, Mason Katz and Alex Bregman lead the conference in individual SEC batting with averages of .500 and .462 respectively, and in runs batted in with 24 and 13 respectively. When non-conference games are included in the mix, Bregman’s batting average is a team-high .441 while Katz’s is .436. Of course, we don’t need stats to tell us that this LSU baseball team is something special, and my only concern is that the team doesn't peek too early as there's still a lot of baseball to be played.
The Tigers will return to action tonight against Southern in the annual Wally Pontiff Jr. Foundation Classic at Zephyr Field which was originally scheduled for last week but was postponed due to rain. The timing of the game seems quite fitting as a win would give the Tigers their 31st win of the season. As most of you know, Wally Pontiff wore No. 31 for LSU and was an all-SEC third baseman who died in 2002 at the age of 21 due to a heart abnormality. Proceeds from Tuesday’s game will go to the Wally Pontiff Jr. Foundation, which benefits charitable organizations throughout Louisiana.
Here is this week's LSU baseball schedule:
Today – Southern (at Metairie, La.), 7 p.m. CT (CST/JSN)
Wed. – SOUTHERN, 6:30 p.m. CT (CST)
Fri. – at Arkansas, 6:30 p.m. CT
Sat. – at Arkansas, 6 p.m. CT (CST)
Sun. – at Arkansas, 1 p.m. CT (CST)
Kurt McCune will make his junior season debut on the mound for the Tigers tonight after suffering a back injury before the start of the season. McCune had a great freshman season (7-3, 3.31 ERA, 89.2 IP) and was a second team All-America selection, but then took a step backward in his sophomore season and went 3-4 with a 4.04 ERA in 42.1 innings pitched. Coach Mainieri has said that he would like to get three good innings out of McCune tonight. Southern will counter with freshman right-hander Camilo Godoy (0-2, 7.11 ERA, 12.2 IP, 8 BB, 10 SO).
In football news, the Tigers will return to practice today after taking 10 days off for Spring Break. The team will practice again Thursday before concluding Week 4 with a scrimmage on Saturday. Next week the team will practice again on Tuesday and Thursday before concluding the spring session with the National L-Club Spring Game in Tiger Stadium on Saturday, April 20 at 2 p.m.
Speaking of the Spring Game, yesterday it was announced that New Orleans native Mark Adam Miller will put on a free concert in Lot A prior to the game. The free concert is part of the pre-game Fan Fest, which starts at 11 a.m. and will also take place in Lot A at Tiger Stadium. The fan fest will provide family entertainment to all ages with such things as contests, inflatables, music along with food and drinks.
Last but not least, I'd like to give props to LSU junior forward Theresa Plaisance for being named to the Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Association Honorable Mention All-America Team. Plaisance went from posting 4.5 points per game as a sophomore to a league-best 17.0 points per contest in her first year as a starter. From November 16 to March 24, the New Orleans native recorded 31 consecutive double-figure scoring games, representing the longest streak by an LSU player since Seimone Augustus did it in a school-record 97 straight games from 2003-06. She was also the first LSU player since Augustus to lead the Southeastern Conference in scoring.
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LSU Football - Geaux Tigers!!!
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TigerBaitWill Paramus Catholic (N.J.) football coach Chris Partridge said CB Jabrill Peppers - the nation's No. 2 prospect - will be at #LSU Friday. about 1 hour ago · reply · retweet · favorite
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SEC Blog
Mel Kiper Jr. Mock Draft 4.0
April, 8, 2013
By
Edward Aschoff | ESPN.com
We are getting even closer to this month's NFL draft, so get ready for yet another mock draft.
This time, ESPN NFL draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. is at it again, but has added a second-round mock as well in his Mock Draft 4.0
.
Kiper projects that 21 former SEC players will be taken within the
first two rounds, including what would be a record 13 in the first
round.
2013 NFL Draft
Rd. 1: April 25, 8 p.m. ETRd. 2-3: April 26, 7 p.m. ET
Rd. 4-7: April 27, noon ET
Radio City Music Hall
New York City
Draft order | Draft home
• Mel Kiper's latest mock
• Todd McShay's latest mock
• Mel Kiper's Big Board
• Top prospects by position
Texas A&M offensive tackle Luke Joeckel is still projected to be taken No. 1 overall by the Kansas City Chiefs.
Here's a look at where Kiper has SEC players in the first two rounds:
FIRST ROUND
No. 1: Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M (Kansas City Chiefs)
No. 3: Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida (Oakland Raiders)
No. 5: Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama (Detroit Lions)
No. 9: Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU (New York Jets)
No. 10: Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama (Tennessee Titans)
No. 12: D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama (Miami Dolphins)
No. 14: Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri (Carolina Panthers)
No. 15: Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia (New Orleans Saints)
No. 21: Alec Ogletree, ILB, Georgia (Cincinnati Bengals)
No. 23: Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee (Minnesota Vikings)
No. 25: Kevin Minter, ILB, LSU (Minnesota Vikings)
No. 26: Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama (Green Bay Packers)
No. 29: Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee (New England Patriots)
SECOND ROUND
No. 34: Matt Elam, S, Florida (San Francisco 49ers)
No. 44: D.J. Swearinger, S, South Carolina (Carolina Panthers)
No. 48: Cornelius Washington, OLB, Georgia (Pittsburgh Steelers)
No. 50: Jesse Williams, DT, Alabama (Chicago Bears)
No. 53: Johnthan Banks, CB, Mississippi State (Cincinnati Bengals)
No. 57: John Jenkins, DT, Georgia (Houston Texans)
No. 58: Damontre Moore, DE, Texas A&M (Denver Broncos)
No. 59: Tyrann Mathieu, CB, LSU (New England Patriots)
- Alabama leads the way with five players projected to go within the first two rounds.
- Moore has really seen his draft stock fall since his dismal showing at the NFL combine in February. He went from a top-five pick to out of the first round. Now, he's projected to go 58th to the Broncos. LSU defensive end Sam Montgomery, who was viewed as a first-round pick before last season, has also seen his stock plummet.
- Swearinger is rising up the draft charts. His impressive workouts this spring and keen field instinct make him a very attractive prospect to teams looking for a ball hawk in the second round. While Swearinger is moving upward, LSU safety Eric Reid is falling. Another projected first-rounder before last season, Kiper doesn't even have him in the first two rounds, despite a solid workout at the combine.
- Mathieu looked to have played himself out of the first couple of rounds because of his off-field issues, but after impressing scouts this spring, he's back in the good graces of the draft. He might not be an every-down cover corner, but there's no denying Mathieu's athleticism and game-changing ability.
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Check out this blog throughout spring practice!
Photo by: LSUsports.net, LSU Athletics Publications
Emily's Spring Football Blog - Break is Over
Published: March 28, 2013, 04:10 PM (CT)
by Emily Villere, Coordinator of Offensive Operations
CommentsApril 8, 2013
The Tigers are well-rested after a week of spring break, and the team will be back on the field Tuesday for the 10th practice of the spring. They will practice again on Thursday, which will set up the scrimmage set for Saturday.
Throughout spring ball, I’ve been able to talk to players and coaches about how things have shuffled out during the first half of spring, so moving forward you will get to see interviews with players as well as some evaluations from the staff.
First up is defensive lineman Anthony Johnson.
NAME: Anthony Johnson
POSITION: Defensive tackle
CLASS: Junior
HOMETOWN: New Orleans, LA (O.P. Walker High School)
NICKNAME: “Freak”
After two seasons at LSU, Johnson is ready to move into a leadership role on the defensive line, which makes spring practice big in terms of making a lasting impression on the staff. I asked defensive line coach Brick Haley how Johnson is progressing through camp thus far, and Haley seemed very pleased with the direction one of his most talented tackles is headed.
“I think he has made steady progress and he’s done the things we’ve asked him to do,” Haley said. “I see him on a daily basis getting better and better. I am expecting big things from him, and right now, there has not been any disappointment.”
Johnson told me he is helping the younger guys learn the ropes, especially since he was in the same position as the eight early enrollees. And to the junior’s credit, Haley said Johnson has the ability to be a leader for the Tigers on the field as well as in other aspects of the game.
“We would like for that to happen,” Haley said. “Those things happen over time. I think that is something that will evolve if he continues on the path that he is on right now. I feel like he will be a leader in that room and be a leader for us up front.”
With Bennie Logan and Josh Downs gone from the defensive tackle spot, all eyes are on Johnson to emerge as one of the premier interior linemen not just for the Tigers, but in the SEC.
Be sure to check back for more player interviews and coach updates throughout the week!
March 28, 2013
It's been a busy week around the LSU football operations building, with a pair of practices on Monday and Tuesday followed up by Pro Day on Wednesday.
Here is a link to our “Pro Day Live” show that Gordy Rush and I hosted. We had some great guests on and Gordy helped iron out some questions us non-football players might have about what goes on at Pro Day. I thoroughly enjoy Pro Day. It is so great to see the support for our guys with the former players coming back to watch as well as so many NFL representatives. You can really see how far the LSU name goes on a day like this.
Also, here is a link to all of the final stats for the Tigers who participated.
More
than 20 former players worked out for scouts and coaches. It was no
surprise to see representation from all 32 NFL teams in the building,
including head coaches Sean Payton, Mike Tomlin and Chip Kelly, who was
most recently coaching up the Oregon Ducks before accepting a job as the
head man for the Philadelphia Eagles. Of course I knew about Kelly’s
change in employment, but it did kind of take me off guard seeing him
there. He should know enough about these Tigers after facing them in
Dallas in 2011. Lots of people (and Tigers) were excited to see the
hometown team, the Saints, well represented throughout the day.For Payton and the Saints, all eyes were on the defensive stars, with a focus on cornerback Tharold Simon and defensive end Barkevious Mingo. Keke is being eyed as a possible first-round selection for the Saints. Some New Orleans fans would probably like to know how Mingo would fit in as an outside linebacker in the team's new 3-4 look. Well, first-year Saints defensive coordinator Rob Ryan wanted those questions answered, and he was the main coach working out the defensive linemen during drills. Following his workouts, Mingo said the Saints have had plenty of contact this offseason, but he's not certain where the dominos will fall come draft day.
Lavar Edwards, who played in the shadows of Mingo and Sam Montgomery the past two seasons, also had a strong day, and plenty of scouts had a close eye on the 6-foot-4, 270-pound defensive end, who could well surprise some people with how high he is selected on draft day. After testing at the NFL Combine and Pro Day, his top numbers are a 4.78 40 time, 21 reps at 225 pounds, 119-inch broad jump and a 33-inch vertical jump. We were able to catch up with players once they were done with individual drills, and it was neat to get their perspective on the day.
"I hear that I'll get picked in the third or fourth round," Edwards said. "But I don't listen to that stuff. I don't want to go in thinking one thing and then something else happens."
One new name on the defensive side of the ball was Russell Shepard, who worked out at wide receiver before scouts asked to see his talents at defensive back, where he joined up with Simon, Eric Reid and Tyrann Mathieu.
"About six teams wanted me to do defensive back work," Shepard said. "I think I looked pretty decent. I had done no defensive backs drills before today. The coaches here never asked me to play defense. It came up a couple of times, but it was nothing serious. Being able to play defensive back adds value to me. The scouts told me the more value you've got, the longer you get to play in the NFL."
While Simon impressed with an official 4.50 40 time, it was Mathieu who stole the day at defensive back.
Back working out at LSU for the first time since his dismissal this past year, Mathieu elected not to do any testing, instead confident that his times from the NFL Combine were all he needed.
Instead, Mathieu wowed onlookers with his speed at cornerback, and he was one of the most fluid prospects throughout the day, showing the ability to turn and run better than anyone else in attendance.
"I had a pretty good time at the combine, so I didn't run today," Mathieu said. "I just wanted to be fluid in my movements in the drills and catch the ball. I think I dropped one."
As for his life away from football, Mathieu appears to be headed in the right direction.
"The NFL people are telling me I'm doing a pretty good job with the way I'm carrying myself," he said. "The scouts know everything. I was told to be honest and open with those guys. I just try to answer every question honestly. I know I made some mistakes. I have to put all that behind. I am still working at it. Every day is a process."
The process continues for the group as they take off for individual workouts with NFL teams across the board, a final stretch audition before the NFL Draft arrives.
Back in Baton Rouge, the Tigers are setting up for their second scrimmage of the spring, which will take place in Tiger Stadium on Thursday afternoon. I will catch up with Les Miles afterwards to get his take on the team's progress through the first half of spring practice. Beginning Friday, the team will take a week-plus hiatus for spring break, then return for six more practices and the spring game.
I also want to say congrats to the Lady Tigers for beating Penn State and making it to the Sweet Sixteen! Good luck against Cal on Saturday!
Be sure to check back for all the latest!
March 25, 2013
On Saturday in Tiger Stadium, the LSU football team scrimmaged for the first time this spring.
I was able to take in some of the scrimmage, and here’s what I came away with.
Quarterback Zach Mettenberger looked solid and was making some good decisions with the ball. The day’s lone interception came because of a dropped pass, not a poor throw. The effect offensive coordinator Cam Cameron is having early on appears clear. The offense looks crisp and guys are turning in solid days on the stat sheet.
Freshman quarterback Anthony Jennings is continuing to grow and impress during this spring period. One of the biggest draws to Jennings is the fact that he can be used in several types of packages because of his feet and ability to throw the ball while outside the pocket. It’s clear that his mechanics, intangibles and ability to make good decisions have the staff high on Jennings right now. That being said, remember that he is still a freshman, and the learning curve means he has a little way to go when catching up with the older guys.
The running game looks just like it did last season – really good. Not only are guys like Jeremy Hill and Kenny Hilliard stepping right back into their familiar roles, but Terrence Magee is now with the running backs, where he can be used as a change-of-pace option who can catch balls out of the backfield (he caught a touchdown pass from Rettig at the scrimmage). This gives the Tigers another great option at running back. Of course, Alfred Blue, who could well earn the starting job, is still in a green no-contact jersey, so he didn’t participate in the live-tackling scrimmage on Saturday.
Junior La'el Collins is looking good at left tackle right now, and the biggest question mark now seem to be who will become the starting center and left guard. On Saturday, Elliott Porter got the start at center and Josh Williford was at left guard, but freshman Ethan Pocic has looked strong on the second-team and could make a push for playing time next year. All three guys have taken starting center reps so far this spring.
On the receiving in are the usual suspects in Odell Beckham, Jr. and Jarvis Landry. But fans are going to have to add a new name to that list: Travin Dural. Dural missed all of last year with a knee injury but is back to full health and ready to go. I can tell you from watching him, the excitement is justified. He is a speedy receiver (just like we saw from him in high school) and is very versatile in terms of the catches he can make. He will definitely be one to look for this upcoming season.
On defense, linebacker Lamin Barrow was the leading tackler. The senior has talked about becoming more vocal, and you can see him doing just that. Barrow has certainly taken on a leadership role and wants to run the defense. So far, he's off to a good start. D.J. Welter is still at that middle linebacker position, and it looks like there's a chance that defensive coordinator John Chavis could start three seniors at linebacker. Still, keep an eye on young names like Deion Jones and Kwon Alexander. Both guys proved they could play outside linebacker as freshmen last fall, so they will push for more playing time throughout the spring and into fall camp in August.
Defensive end Jordan Allen was participating, even though he's been in a green no-contact jersey through practice. Allen is pressing sophomore Danielle Hunter for that starting defensive end spot opposite of Jermauria Rasco. And while Anthony Johnson has been the most talked about defensive tackle, Ego Ferguson is having a good spring so far and had a solid scrimmage.
The Tigers are back on the practice field this afternoon.
SCRIMMAGE STATS:
Mettenberger - 20-of-30 passing for 200 yards, 2 TD
Jennings - 5-of-11 passing for 54 yards
Rivers - 4-of-11 passing for 48 yards
Rettig - 4-of-6 for 61 yards, 2 TD
(Rob Bolden was held out - injury)
Hill - 60 yards rushing, 1 TD
Magee - 60 yards rushing
Hilliard - 37 yards rushing
Jennings - 25 yards rushing
(Alfred Blue was held out - injury)
Landry - 10 catches, 141 yards, 2 TD
Beckham - 6 catches, 75 yards
Dural - 4 catches, 72 yards
Magee - 1 receiving TD (no other stats given)
Diarse - 1 receiving TD (no other stats given)
Barrow - 7 tackles (team-high)
Rasco - 4 tackles (1 tackle for a loss)
Ferguson - 2 tackles for a loss
March 22, 2013
The Tigers finished up their fifth practice of the spring on Thursday evening preparing for their scrimmage on Saturday.
I caught up with Coach Miles as the Tigers were headed to the locker room to see how players were progressing on the field after going through a full week of practice. He talks to me about how the early enrollees are filling in for the Tigers’ early entrants to the draft and the leadership that is developing amongst the guys.
Coach Miles also congratulated the Southern Jaguars for their play against top seeded Gonzaga yesterday afternoon. He said even though Southern lost the game, it was a great effort by the team to win the SWAC, make it to the tournament and give Gonzaga a tough game.
I hope everyone has a great weekend and be on the lookout for updates on Saturday’s scrimmage!
March 21, 2013
Two days off and one Harlem Shake later (see below), the LSU football team practiced on Tuesday, the fourth time the Tigers have hit the fields for an afternoon practice this spring. Here are some main points from practice, and a handful of player interviews are coming soon.
Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron is keeping his up-tempo speed throughout practice and is very vocal when he is out on the field – with both the quarterbacks and the rest of the offense. His influence is easily seen, from the swiftness of changing drills to the attitude in some of the players. Coach Les Miles has joined with coach Greg Studrawa in working with the offensive line each day.
That attention to detail from both former linemen will pay off for a young offensive line.
Elliott Porter is back at practice and working as the starting center. Now, it's about finding a left guard. The options here seem to be Josh Williford or Jonah Austin. I talked to Williford on Tuesday and he said his goal this spring is to learn every position so he can jump in wherever he is needed. As I said before, we saw some shakeup on the line last year, so the senior wants to be prepared.
Running back Alfred Blue is still wearing a green jersey, meaning no contact, but is taking No. 1 reps at the position, followed by sophomore Jeremy Hill. With Blue back on the field healthy this season, they should be a great tandem. When I spoke with Blue on Tuesday, I could tell how excited he was to be back on the field instead of watching from the sidelines. Hill also said it was great to have Blue back on the field, which brings their whole group back together again.
One of the tidbits I keep hearing this practice season is about the play of quarterback Anthony Jennings. Multiple teammates have told me really good things about him, sometimes even pausing in hopes of coming up with words to describe him. I have seen Jennings out there and can attest to what everyone else is saying. Junior wide receiver Jarvis Landry gave the freshman praise and put the thought out there that a redshirt might not be used on Jennings.
Next week we will see the tandem of Sam Montgomery and Barkevious Mingo work out for NFL scouts at LSU’s Pro Day. But just because these two defensive ends are heading to the league doesn’t mean the Tigers have to be weaker on the line. Danielle Hunter and Jermauria Rasco have both said this spring that they want to show LSU fans they are the next best thing on the defensive line. Defensive line coach Brick Haley is known by his players as a no-nonsense guy, and one that really teaches these guys how to be better and successful at their position. This is their time to really develop, so fans should keep an eye on them.
March 19, 2013
It was about time the Harlem Shake hit LSU Football. The dance craze has been interpreted all over the country by universities (LSU did one a few weeks back), professional teams, animals and just about anything you can think of that can dance.
Our team's version definitely has a lot of crazy costumes and dancing, but it might be the head coach's moves that have most people talking. The players decided to have Coach Miles showcase his skills, and well, you just have to watch it for yourself!
The Tigers are improving each day of practice, but in the words of Coach Miles, their dancing skills might need to get a bit stronger.
LSU hits the practice field again today after two days off, so stick around for some more updates.
March 15, 2013
I was able to catch up with Coach Miles on Friday afternoon after the Tigers finished up practice. He talks to me about how new offensive coordinator Cam Cameron is fitting in and how spring ball is starting up.
The last two practices have been a lot of what we have seen since Day 1 - the quick pace is still out there. The Tigers now have three practices in the books and will hit the field again on Tuesday.
Emily's Spring Football Blog #2
The Tigers kicked off spring practice in a quick way on Thursday afternoon as the theme of the day was the up-tempo offense new offensive coordinator Cam Cameron was running. It was just the first practice for the Tigers under Cameron, but it was easy to see the impact that he made in only his first session leading the offense.
As a bystander, it appears that Coach Cameron was very excited to finally be working with the quarterbacks on the field. Starter Zach Mettenberger looked on point and backup Stephen Rivers was looked really good as well. Both players have made big strides with their development over the past year. True freshmen quarterbacks Anthony Jennings and Hayden Rettig got their first on-field reps in an LSU uniform and showed that they both belong at LSU but that they also have a lot to learn before getting under center in a college game.
It's great to see Alfred Blue back on the field after his season-ending knee injury. He was in a noncontact green jersey, but Coach Miles said on Wednesday that he would not be held out for practice this spring. This is very good news that he is getting healthy, because the Tigers have a handful of backs they can turn to next fall.
While Blue was injured, Jeremy Hill
had the opportunity to step up last season, and the young back did just
that. Expect to see Hill in the same role you saw him in last year. Last season, the offensive line seemed to be ever changing, with a new lineup shaking out throughout the season. The opening day of spring practice was no different.
Josh Williford is now the only senior left on the line, which should provide the leadership needed there.
But there is a good group of younger guys, like Trai Turner and Vadal Alexander, who have seen plenty of game action. Freshman Ethan Pocic, along with Williford, took reps at center, while junior La'el Collins took his first reps at left tackle. Like I said before, this is only practice one, meaning things will still change. We saw last year that there needs to be versatility on the line where players can jump in at other positions when needed, and there already appears to be some cross-training going on with the group this spring.
The attitude is still the same over on the defensive side of the ball. Defensive coordinator John Chavis and defensive line coach Brick Haley are known for their tough mentality in practice, whether it is a game week or in the spring. This was the same on Thursday, just as it has been every other offseason they have been in Baton Rouge.
Miles said on Wednesday he was looking forward to watching defensive ends Jermauria Rasco and Danielle Hunter this spring. Those two, paired with defensive linemen Ego Ferguson and Anthony Johnson, completed Haley's front four.
Also, watch out for freshman Christian LaCouture as spring progresses. Strength and conditioning coordinator Tommy Moffitt said he is a very mobile guy and came in working hard from day one. LaCouture, a high school defensive end, looks like he will fit in just fine as an athletic tackle in the rotation.
The departure of linebacker Kevin Minter is noticeable on the depth chart, but Coach Miles said this is one of the stronger linebacker corps the Tigers have seen. Lamin Barrow was back at weakside linebacker, while Tahj Jones worked out at strongside linebacker. D.J. Welter was also back on the field and lined up as middle linebacker, though watch for Barrow to test his hand at the position this spring, which would allow a younger linebacker to step into a starting role on the outside.
The leader for this year's defensive backs unit will definitely be senior safety Craig Loston. There are a lot of young guys at this position, and I think there definitely needs to be a vocal person like Loston around this group. Jalen Mills and Jalen Collins took reps at cornerback, while Loston and Ronald Martin took the safety role.
There can never be enough coverage of spring ball, so click below to find photos and video from yesterday's practice!
I know this isn't technically spring ball related, but there were lots of Tigers involved. Former linebacker and current Houston Texan, Bradie James, held his annual "Tailgate for the Fight" last week. James started Foundation 56 in memory of his mother, Etta, who passed away from breast cancer. The silent auction was held at Tiger Stadium, and was really a nice time for everyone who came out to show their support for Bradie and his foundation. It's always nice to see Tigers coming back to Baton Rouge to support each other.
Congrats to the Men's Basketball team for beating Georgia, 68-63, yesterday in the SEC Tournament. Good luck to them as they face Florida on Friday, and also good luck to the baseball team, who heads to Mississippi State for their first SEC series. There is a lot going on in LSU athletics right now!
March 14, 2013
Emily's Spring Football Blog #1
It's official. Football is back in Baton Rouge!
Head coach Les Miles addressed the media Wednesday and previewed spring football for the first time, which kicked off today.
The Tigers concluded their 2012 season with a loss to Clemson on New Year's Eve in the Chick-fil-A Bowl, and the team is eager to get back on the field with this year's new roster.
There are new faces this March, and in turn, some familiar ones who are no longer around. A total of 11 juniors declared for the NFL Draft and will participate in LSU's Pro Day before they take the leap into the NFL.
The Tigers have eight early enrollees this spring and a new offensive coordinator, Cam Cameron, calling the shots.
I can tell you from being around Cameron each day since his arrival, things are definitely getting organized for these next 15 practices.
Coach Miles and Coach Cameron are friends from way back - all the way to Miles' coaching days at Michigan. The head man says Coach Cameron "will have a great effect" on the Tigers' offense, so stay tuned.
As far as the early enrollees, strength and conditioning coach Tommy Moffitt said this is one of the hardest working group of early guys he has seen. He said their work ethic in the weightroom has been tremendous. It is kind of hard to believe the majority of this group was playing high school football a couple of months back and now they are suiting up as Tigers. It's always great to get kids on campus early, but hearing this should make fans excited about this new group of Tigers.
Also, here is a list of important dates to mark on your calendar for this spring.
March 27 - LSU Pro Day
All Tigers who have declared for the NFL Draft will work out for NFL scouts at the LSU Football Operations Facility. This will be broadcast live on ESPN3 as well as a postgame live wrap on LSUSports.net.
April 18 - Student Appreciate Practice
All LSU students are welcome to come out and watch the Tigers practice before the Spring Game. Bring your LSU student ID to enter and then there will be a meet and greet with the players and coach Miles after practice.
April 20 - National L Club Spring Game
The annual Purple vs White game in Tiger Stadium. Admission is free to all!
Check back all spring for updates, pictures and interviews from practice. If you have any questions, ideas, etc. tweet me @EAVillere ! GEAUX TIGERS!
Comments
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Kenneth Stewart · Holden, Louisiana
Mett talking about this offense is going to have growing pains, well they better be short ones because there won't be any mercy because the offense may need to carry the defense for a change.
Thomas Williams
I am surprising myself because I am not complaining about losing the runaway 11 into the NFL, but instead, I really feel like looking forward. To watching a very talented LSU football team playing better college football games against the rest of the SEC college football team in 2013. My favorite football team LSU is going to be hell to play in 2013.
Randy Mcgee · Top Commenter
Defense will be more than fine with who is staying plus the new recruiting class being so defense heavy. Throw in the fact so many starters got hurt last season cause guys to get a lot more playing time. I think the new OC is a perfect fit to the style LSU plays. This will be a great year.
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