LSU had its fifth practice of fall camp today. We got about a 45-minute viewing period, give or take. But were not able to shoot photos/video today.
Continuing Heat Acclimation
Big surprise, another hot one. LSU head coach Brian Kelly did address the heat and acclimation process during his media availability following practice. He extended the time the team was outside today which explained some of the heat fatigue I was seeing on the sidelines during practice, more on that in my notes below.
"Practice today we were definitely challenging our football team with the elements," Brian Kelly said after practice Tuesday. "We went past our original threshold of about an hour to about an hour and 15 minutes to an hour and 20 minutes outside. The elements are what they are, they're real. My sense is that we need to continue to add on to our exposure outside and build the mindset that you know obviously allows us to fight through those times where mentally we could lose our concentration because of the environment."
"We got a long way to go and we gotta continue to work on our conditioning in these elements," Kelly added on the acclimation process. "It looks like the weather is going to cooperate, Looking at the long range weather we're in for a very warm August. We'll be smart and we'll be careful with our guys but we're going to to continue to build on what we need to do to be ready for our opener in Orlando which I can guarantee you is going to be extremely warm."
Kelly also acknowledged five former LSU football players that are graduating with degrees from LSU on Friday. Jay Ward, JaCoby Stevens, Grant Delpit, Trindon Holliday and Kentravis Aubrey will all earn degrees from LSU later this week.
Update on Jimmy Lindsey
Kelly said during his media availability that LSU defensive line coach Jimmy Lindsey is expected to be released from the hospital possibly as early as today, if not today "Really soon". But he also noted without going into detail that he had a long road of recovery ahead and that there are other things he'll have to handle that are personal and private to Lindsey and his family that they're going to have to deal with. But he said it was very encouraging that he's able to talk about it in terms of him leaving the hospital.
News & Notes
A Few Early Camp Takeaways
Continuing Heat Acclimation
Big surprise, another hot one. LSU head coach Brian Kelly did address the heat and acclimation process during his media availability following practice. He extended the time the team was outside today which explained some of the heat fatigue I was seeing on the sidelines during practice, more on that in my notes below.
"Practice today we were definitely challenging our football team with the elements," Brian Kelly said after practice Tuesday. "We went past our original threshold of about an hour to about an hour and 15 minutes to an hour and 20 minutes outside. The elements are what they are, they're real. My sense is that we need to continue to add on to our exposure outside and build the mindset that you know obviously allows us to fight through those times where mentally we could lose our concentration because of the environment."
"We got a long way to go and we gotta continue to work on our conditioning in these elements," Kelly added on the acclimation process. "It looks like the weather is going to cooperate, Looking at the long range weather we're in for a very warm August. We'll be smart and we'll be careful with our guys but we're going to to continue to build on what we need to do to be ready for our opener in Orlando which I can guarantee you is going to be extremely warm."
Kelly also acknowledged five former LSU football players that are graduating with degrees from LSU on Friday. Jay Ward, JaCoby Stevens, Grant Delpit, Trindon Holliday and Kentravis Aubrey will all earn degrees from LSU later this week.
Update on Jimmy Lindsey
Kelly said during his media availability that LSU defensive line coach Jimmy Lindsey is expected to be released from the hospital possibly as early as today, if not today "Really soon". But he also noted without going into detail that he had a long road of recovery ahead and that there are other things he'll have to handle that are personal and private to Lindsey and his family that they're going to have to deal with. But he said it was very encouraging that he's able to talk about it in terms of him leaving the hospital.
News & Notes
- We only got to see a few minutes of actual 11-on-11 today, which was enough for a couple of drives. Pads, but still no full contact.
- On the first drive during the viewable period, I noticed that Armoni Goodwin was getting some reps with the first team offense pretty much as soon as we walked outside and the drill started.
- They were working on tempo, going down the field.
- Duce Chestnut and Zy Alexander were the first team corners that I saw out there the most. Though they did sub some guys in and out.
- Goodwin did have a run on the inside, making a few defenders miss in what looked like it would have been a long run. Hard to really grade running plays without full contact, but no defenders got any arms around him.
- Jayden Daniels hit Ka'Morreun Pimpton had a nice out right towards the right sideline from Jayden Daniels.
- Landon Ibieta caught a nice hitch route from Jayden Daniels and immediately planted, turned and ran upfield to get about 15 yards.
- Offensive line did a great job of protecting the pocket during the tempo drills.
- Garrett Nussmeier completed a nice corner route toward the left sideline to Javen Nicholas.
- Ashton Stamps had a nice pass breakup on a hitch route from Nussmeier.
- Ashton Stamps and Latterance Welch were getting the majority of the second team reps at CB.
- Garrett Nussmeier completed hitch route to the right sideline to Gregory Clayton JR
- Garrett Nussmeier completed a slant route to the left sideline to Kyren Lacey who worked his way inside to the middle of the field against Latterance Welch. Play looked like it would have been good for about six yards.
- After the 11-on-11 period they split up into large groups. The offensive line worked with each other in pass-pro drills, working on footwork and hand placement.
- They had a large group of offense and defensive players together working on one-on-one block shedding drills.
- Offensive skill players worked on a five and five drill where five quarterbacks would all receive a snap, while a combination of five running backs and receivers would run routes and take passes from one of the five quarterbacks. No defenders in the drill, strictly against air.
- Khai Prean and Gregory Clayton JR both had drops in the drill noted above. Prean's incompletion came from a throw down field, he received a quite a bit of ribbing from the coaching staff I could hear one of them shouting "You did exactly what you told me you weren't going to do."
- The offense did a quick 7-on7 drill. Linebackers with the first team in this drill were Omar Speights, Greg Penn III, Harold Perkins and Ovie Oghoufo from the edge.
- Duce Chestnut and Ashton Stamps were getting the reps at CB this time with the first team. Major Burns and Andre Sam were at safety they were moving guys in and out pretty constantly in this drill. Sage Ryan was subbed on after one to two reps.
- Jayden Daniels hit Malik Nabers on a crossing route over the middle of the field, looked like about a ten-yard gain.
- Jayden Daniels completed a short hitch route check down to what looked like number 39, which the only 39 on the roster is safety Tyson Short, so not sure about that one. But I'm pretty positive it was a 39.
- Daniels fired another 7 to 8 yard completion on another hitch route to Mason Taylor.
- Garrett Nussmeier hit Kyren Lacey on a short hitch route in the middle of the field.
- Nussmeier completed a short out route to Mac Markway would of been good for a few yards, but not much.
A Few Early Camp Takeaways
- QB's have been consistent, but not perfect. Seems like since the pads have come on, they're still working out some kinks with some of the timing on their throws down the field. The short and intermediate stuff has been more consistent.
- I've been impressed with Rickie Collins. I'm not saying he's going to surge up the depth chart, but I feel like he's locked down that No.3 spot and not to get ahead of ourselves here, but could make things tough for Brian Kelly next season. But let's cross that bridge when it gets here. He's just looked really composed and crisp and based on what I've seen in the limited time we've had the future of the quarterback room appears to be in good hands.
- Sai'vion Jones should secure his spot on the line alongside Maason Smith and Mekhi Wingo. He's looked really good in the opportunities I've seen him. I recall one of my notes from yesterday where he split two offensive linemen in a 2-on-1 drill.
- Depending on the defensive look, but early indications are we could see a group of Ovie Oghoufo, Omar Speights, Harold Perkins and Greg Penn at linebacker/edge.
- It seems like Duce Chestnut and Zy Alexander have a leg up in the CB competition.
- Safeties have seen a lot of rotation.
- The heat is definitely affecting some of the players. Today they extended their time outdoors an additional 15-20 minutes and you could tell it was affecting some of the players.
- For whatever reason it seemed to be affecting the cornerbacks and DB's the most. Maybe it was the downfield throws, I'm not sure but they were the only ones being treated for heat that I saw. Today I saw Duce Chestnut, Ashton Stamps and Andre Sam all getting treated for heat on the sidelines getting ice water sprayed on them, cold towels, etc. Duce Chestnut was complaining about allergies and saying he was having a hard time breathing out of his nose. So definitely seems like they still have a ways to go conditioning wise, but it's still early and you should see some improvement every day there as they continue to work on acclimating.
