Summer Film Session: QBs, Part 2

More spring practice videos of LSU signal callers in action

Rising senior quarterback Jordan Jefferson lets one fly during spring practice (photo by Jay Potter).

By RICHARD FISCHER
Tiger Rag Assistant Editor

We’ve reached another Tuesday in the summer, and that means it’s time for the next installment of TigerRag.com’s summer film sessions.

Every Tuesday from now until SEC Media Days in late-July (July 20-22, to be exact), we’ll run out a series of videos from this past spring’s LSU practice sessions.

Last week we broke down the deep LSU secondary, checking out video of the Tigers’ cornerbacks and safeties from spring drills.

The week prior we went on positional hiatus, instead watching players compete in the Big Cat drill.

Before that, we took a look at the LSU wide receivers being put through a series of drills and catching passes from the three LSU signal callers.

Finally, in our first Tuesday installment, it was time to dissect the Tiger quarterbacks during spring practice sessions.

Today, we’ll pick up where that first film session left off, poring over more video of the LSU quarterbacks.

One final note: The first time around, all the QB videos were from March 12 - 17, the very beginning of spring drills. In contrast, every video below was taken during later stages of spring practice.

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Below is Tiger Rag Editor Ben Love’s write-up on the QBs from that first QB film session:

In 2011 LSU returns two seniors to the position in Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee. Jefferson enters Fall Camp the starter, coming off two full seasons pulling the strings of the Tiger ‘O’ after Lee, now a redshirt senior, piloted the offense in 2008.

Both have experienced a fair amount of turbulence in their collegiate careers in Baton Rouge. Which is why, when LSU landed strong-armed JuCo transfer and former Georgia quarterback Zach Mettenberger in its Class of 2011, the sense of competition was heightened immediately.

That much will be evident as you view the videos below. The returning seniors, in particular Jefferson, appeared anxious to prove themselves anew. For that, credit not only the addition of Mettenberger, a sophomore, but the fact that there’s a new offensive coordinator, Steve Kragthorpe, in town.

As you’ll see below, Kragthorpe was very hands-on with his signal callers, especially in comparison to his predecessor Gary Crowton. The former Louisville and Tulsa headman can repeatedly be heard barking instructions and constant mechanical reminders to all three quarterbacks.

Check out today’s film session footage on the LSU quarterbacks, complete with notes and observations following each clip. For identification purposes: Jefferson is No. 9, Lee is No. 12 and Mettenberger is No. 8.

Video 1: QBs throw corner to TEs
Thursday, March 17
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77IX6pq3UY4

NOTES: In the first video, the quarterbacks are throwing flag routes to the tight ends. As you can see, the tight ends are simulating chipping the defensive end before they go out for their routes - something that is very important in helping your tackles pass block. As the quarterbacks did for all of spring practices, they rotated with Jordan Jefferson getting the first reps followed by Jarrett Lee and Zach Mettenberger. If you listen closely, you can hear tight ends coach Steve Ensminger barking out instructions in the middle of the field.

Video 2: QBs throw mid-range fade, deep cross to WRs
Tuesday, March 22
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fk-CTZxrLrY

NOTES: Here we see LSU quarterbacks begin close to the goal line throwing fade routes to the wide receivers. The targets are faking like they are running slant routes before taking off for the corner of the end zone, and you can see the quarterbacks selling the fake as well. The goal of this route is to make an overly-aggressive cornerback jump the slant, leaving the receiver wide open in the end zone.

About 90 seconds in, the players switch sides, and they begin connecting on post routes.

Video 3: QBs to WRs, dig route
Thursday, March 31
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKVEi5VXdc8

NOTES: In this video, quarterbacks and receivers work on deep dig routes. After Jefferson misfires with his first throw, all quarterbacks deliver accurate balls for the remainder of the drill.

Video 4: QBs to WRs, quick outs
Thursday, March 31
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVF0nAkWyiI

NOTES: Immediately following the deep dig routes during LSU’s last practice in the month of March, quarterbacks and receivers began working on quick outs. This is a timing pattern that in game circumstances would usually require the quarterback to throw the ball before the receiver breaks to the outside. As you can see, the signal callers are releasing the ball before the receiver gets his head around. Take a look at the tremendous one-handed catch Russell Shepard makes on a high delivery from Lee.

Video 5: RBs catch balls out of backfield
Thursday, April 7
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8c6_MAmxbU

NOTES: As we move into the final practice of LSU’s spring session, the running backs are practicing catching balls. The backs are reacting to what running backs coach Frank Wilson does posing as a defender in order to determine which route they run on a particular snap. The running backs were thin at this point of practice as only Jakhari Gore, Spencer Ware and Alfred Blue are alternating reps.