With the sun out and the practice fields dry. LSU went outside for its fifth day of spring drills Tuesday afternoon. The players were in full equipment. Members of the media were permitted to watch about 25 minutes of practice.
Tuesday's practice gave Derrius Guice the opportunity to be the showcase tailback as Leonard Fournette was not at practice. There was no reason given for Fournette's absence. Guice certainly looks the part of a No. 1 tailback as he ran very physically. Backup tailback Darrel Williams was in a gold jersey (no contact). The only other available scholarship tailback was Lanard Fournette. With John David Moore out for the spring, Bry'Kiethon Mouton remains the No. 1 fullback. Mouton appears to be more aggressive and more physical than David Ducre. That may be the reason Ducre is No. 3 on the depth chart at fullback.
Here is a breakdown of the other position areas.
WR
LSU utilized a lot of three wide-receiver sets in the passing drills. The two outside receivers were D.J. Chark and Malachi Dupre. The slot receiver was Jazz Ferguson. Tyron Johnson may have some work to do to get higher in the rotation at receiver. Both Dee Anthony and Stephen Sullivan have a lot of talent, but both must fine tune the technical parts of playing the position.
ABSENT: Travin Dural
TE
There was no change here with Colin Jeter as the No. 1 tight end. His backup was Foster Moreau. There is still no decision from the NCAA on Dillon Gordon's appeal.
ABSENT: DeSean Smith
OL
Josh Boutte is getting his chance to show whether or not he can crack the starting lineup as a senior. With Garrett Brumfield out with an injury, Boutte is working with the No. 1 unit at right guard. Boutte always has the needed power to be a dominant run blocker. He has failed to be consistent. The other starters on the offensive line were Maea Teuhema at left tackle, Will Clapp at left guard, Andy Dodd at center and Toby Weathersby at right tackle. The interesting competition is between K.J. Malone and Chidi Okeke for the third tackle spot. Malone is working on the left side, while Okeke is on the right side. Okeke has a greater upside. He just needs experience.
ABSENT: Garrett Brumfield, Ethan Pocic
QB
It appears that Danny Etling is getting as many snaps as Brandon Harris. Etling is looking better each practice throwing the football in the drills. Harris is still No. 1, but Etling may be someone who will constantly push him.
DL
Lewis Neal is getting a lot of time in drills as a down lineman. That may be an indication that Neal may see some time as a defensive end in a three-man front. In some drills, Neal was lined up with his hand in the ground flanked by Tashawn Bower. Coach Ed Orgeron has done an excellent job developing depth on the defensive line. The next step is for someone to step forward as a force in the middle of the line. In the drills, Davon Godchaux and Christian LaCouture certainly are quicker and more forceful than the other defensive linemen.
LB
There was a lot of teaching going on here with both groups. The starting inside linebackers were Donnie Alexander and Devin Voorhies. Duke Riley, Corey Thompson and Michael Divinity were getting equal reps on the outside.
DB
Donte Jackson, who missed a couple of practices due to a hamstring injury, was back in full equipment. Jackson and Tre'Davious White were the No. 1 cornerbacks. Jackson seems to be more physical than he was last season. There is definitely a difference between Jackson and the second-unit cornerbacks -- Savion Smith and Ed Paris. There is little depth at safety as Xavier Lewis is the lone scholarship player behind starters Jamal Adams and Rickey Jefferson. Don;t be surprised if Smith doesn't more to safety at some point.
ABSENT: John Battle, Dwayne Thomas, Kevin Toliver.
SPECIALISTS
All of the kickers and punters were working on one of the fields. Cameron Gamble was attempting field goals and not just practicing kickoffs.
LSU will practice again Thursday afternoon.
Tuesday's practice gave Derrius Guice the opportunity to be the showcase tailback as Leonard Fournette was not at practice. There was no reason given for Fournette's absence. Guice certainly looks the part of a No. 1 tailback as he ran very physically. Backup tailback Darrel Williams was in a gold jersey (no contact). The only other available scholarship tailback was Lanard Fournette. With John David Moore out for the spring, Bry'Kiethon Mouton remains the No. 1 fullback. Mouton appears to be more aggressive and more physical than David Ducre. That may be the reason Ducre is No. 3 on the depth chart at fullback.
Here is a breakdown of the other position areas.
WR
LSU utilized a lot of three wide-receiver sets in the passing drills. The two outside receivers were D.J. Chark and Malachi Dupre. The slot receiver was Jazz Ferguson. Tyron Johnson may have some work to do to get higher in the rotation at receiver. Both Dee Anthony and Stephen Sullivan have a lot of talent, but both must fine tune the technical parts of playing the position.
ABSENT: Travin Dural
TE
There was no change here with Colin Jeter as the No. 1 tight end. His backup was Foster Moreau. There is still no decision from the NCAA on Dillon Gordon's appeal.
ABSENT: DeSean Smith
OL
Josh Boutte is getting his chance to show whether or not he can crack the starting lineup as a senior. With Garrett Brumfield out with an injury, Boutte is working with the No. 1 unit at right guard. Boutte always has the needed power to be a dominant run blocker. He has failed to be consistent. The other starters on the offensive line were Maea Teuhema at left tackle, Will Clapp at left guard, Andy Dodd at center and Toby Weathersby at right tackle. The interesting competition is between K.J. Malone and Chidi Okeke for the third tackle spot. Malone is working on the left side, while Okeke is on the right side. Okeke has a greater upside. He just needs experience.
ABSENT: Garrett Brumfield, Ethan Pocic
QB
It appears that Danny Etling is getting as many snaps as Brandon Harris. Etling is looking better each practice throwing the football in the drills. Harris is still No. 1, but Etling may be someone who will constantly push him.
DL
Lewis Neal is getting a lot of time in drills as a down lineman. That may be an indication that Neal may see some time as a defensive end in a three-man front. In some drills, Neal was lined up with his hand in the ground flanked by Tashawn Bower. Coach Ed Orgeron has done an excellent job developing depth on the defensive line. The next step is for someone to step forward as a force in the middle of the line. In the drills, Davon Godchaux and Christian LaCouture certainly are quicker and more forceful than the other defensive linemen.
LB
There was a lot of teaching going on here with both groups. The starting inside linebackers were Donnie Alexander and Devin Voorhies. Duke Riley, Corey Thompson and Michael Divinity were getting equal reps on the outside.
DB
Donte Jackson, who missed a couple of practices due to a hamstring injury, was back in full equipment. Jackson and Tre'Davious White were the No. 1 cornerbacks. Jackson seems to be more physical than he was last season. There is definitely a difference between Jackson and the second-unit cornerbacks -- Savion Smith and Ed Paris. There is little depth at safety as Xavier Lewis is the lone scholarship player behind starters Jamal Adams and Rickey Jefferson. Don;t be surprised if Smith doesn't more to safety at some point.
ABSENT: John Battle, Dwayne Thomas, Kevin Toliver.
SPECIALISTS
All of the kickers and punters were working on one of the fields. Cameron Gamble was attempting field goals and not just practicing kickoffs.
LSU will practice again Thursday afternoon.
