Wednesday Practice Videos

Watch LSU spring football - WRs, RBs and teaching technique

Second-year wide receiver James Wright, pictured left, enters 2011 with enhanced expectations (photo by Jay Potter).

By BEN LOVE
Tiger Rag Editor

Wednesday afternoon marked the 13th practice of the spring for LSU. By this point, the team knows the drill. I know the drill, and so too do you. So let’s get right down to it.

Weather: 75 degrees with clear skies, which meant the team was again outdoors at the Charles McClendon Practice Facility.

Pad level: Not a full pads day, instead Wednesday was the team’s second straight day (following yesterday) to be in helmets and shoulder pads. My guess is that there will be more of the same at tomorrow afternoon’s practice to save the players’ legs in preparation for Saturday’s spring game (remember this is the first week of spring the team has gone three times on week days, much less three straight week days).

M.I.A. list: DE Sam Montgomery (knee), DE Lavar Edwards (ankle), DT Josh Downs (ankle), LB Stefoin Francois, TE Chase Clement (broken collarbone), WR Chris Tolliver (concussion), RB Kenny Hilliard, RB Michael Ford, FB J.C. Copeland (each of the last two have missed two straight days), RB Jakhari Gore and WR Kadron Boone (who was there in street clothes watching drills next to Billy Gonzales)

Green jersey list: LB Karnell Hatcher, S Brandon Taylor

Today’s practice did depart from the norm by skipping the Big Cat drill. Once reporters were allowed in the gates, the team was already into individual drills.

Here were some generic things I noticed before moving onto the Flip Videos: The LBs were working on pursuit drills and running to the ball. With Francois out, the starting three still appeared to be Ryan Baker (Will), Kevin Minter (Mike) and Tahj Jones (Sam). Karnell Hatcher will likely be slotted ahead of Jones come Fall Camp, but for now he’s still doing a bit of watching and learning in that green no-contact jersey. D.J. Welter is taking the second-team reps at Mike behind Minter … The RB stable is a thin group these days. Just look at all those names above who were out. Today’s show in the backfield belonged just about exclusively to Spencer Ware and Alfred Blue. The only new back who was out today was Jakhari Gore. A number of reporters said he was at post-practice interviews yesterday (we were live on Tiger Rag Radio) and looked just fine. So nothing to be too woried about there, it seems … WR Kadron Boone was donning a splint on one finger and that is likely why the second-year player was out of action today … C T-Bob Hebert was also back out there working with the offensive line … Finally, today had more the feel of a teaching day, more in-line with preaching technique and moving through things diligently rather than a rough-and-tumble affair where players were craving contact. Probably just a sign that the guys are starting to wear down a bit, plus they’re all saving energy for Saturday’s full scrimmage on national television. Be sure to check out the videos below for evidence of the teaching going on out there today.

Now, to explain what you’re about to see below.

In the first two videos, wide receivers coach Billy Gonzales is working with the wide-outs to be quick and get out of their breaks (commonly known as the “burst”) efficiently and without standing straight up or using wasted motion. The drill’s done in close quarters and gets even more interesting when Coach G starts to take swipes and rips at the players’ arms as the ball approaches in the second of the two clips.

In the third video — with the running backs and position coach Frank Wilson — there’s a definite teaching moment just less than halfway through. It’ll be difficult for you to hear, so I’ll explain it. The QBs are working on the quick toss play that LSU favored so much last year to Stevan Ridley. On the play, the signal caller is expected to take one drop step left or right then pitch the ball straight back, allowing the back to receive it without moving his hips and giving a direction away. What Wilson eventually steps in and explains is that the back needs to be able to receive the ball heading straight ahead toward the ‘A’ gap when he’ll then have options to veer off depending on line penetration. Not bad stuff, and some good insight into how LSU does what they do in the backfield with the running game.

Finally, I’ve come back with another D-Line sled video (the last one) and some QBs slinging it to make up for yesterday. In the QB video (fourth down), the three signal callers are gunning in 5-yard square-in routes to the wide receivers. Coach Gonzales is working with his guys to get routes which are less rounded-off.

Enjoy.

1. WRs work on burst, hands: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F76G8KmPq-4