Spring Practice Report: Day 2

Tuesday was the second day of spring practice available to the media so I went and made sure I got some photos for you guys. Here is the problem though... The camera I have been using is primarily used for video, so there were only a few photos that actually came out with high quality.

I thought the problem was the focusing of the camera due to the lighting in the indoor facility, but after taking more pictures after practice I have realized it is the camera itself. So I PROMISE you will have more/better pictures after Thursday's practice because I am getting a new camera.

Now to the report you actually care about.

Practice was pretty similar to Saturday's in the sense that most of the work being done was getting the players running drills properly and going over technique. I specifically focused on the new coaches (Ball, Orgeron, Steele) and the work they were doing to get a feel on how they approach drills and teaching technique.

This should be no surprise, but Orgeron is a fiery coach that loves to be active 100% of the time. He tells you what the drill is, performs the drill for you and then expects you to repeat it. Boom, drill is done on to the next one. The guy is incredibly passionate though and you can see how all the players love him.

Ball is awfully similar to Orgeron because they both hammer drills hard and fast. He will have the receivers huddle around him as he runs a drill, then has someone run it as an example and then they all perform the drill. Only difference between Ball and Orgeron is that he is not as forgiving as Coach O. Ball can seem a bit "in your face" when it comes to critiquing, but the players understand where it's coming from.

Steele however is different than all of them. He is very laid back and smooth, if you will. He teaches a drill and let's them attack the drill while critiquing each individual as they perform. Then he will show the linebackers why they need to do a certain thing a certain way by having whoever performed that drill the best as an example. Steele moves at slower pace than the other coaches, but seems to really focus on making sure every backer knows the proper technique and fundamentals.

Obviously each coaches approach to drills may change or vary as practice continues to move faster and becomes more team based. But I really like what I have seen out of the new coaches thus far and have high hopes for this new LSU front seven and receiving corps.

As I moved along from the coaches I decided to get a good look at the early enrollees and see how they looked compared to some of the veterans at their respective positions.

Kevin Toliver II looks like a guy that can step in right away if I am being honest. He clearly hit the weights hard during the off-season and look like he has been here for a year at least. He has a tall, long frame and looks like a Rashard Robinson replica. I say that I think he has the body to step in right away, but I have not seen any of him in game situations to really make that call yet. Ed Paris has been doing drills with the 1's so far at the other corner spot opposite Tre'Davious White.

Hanner Shipley is big. Like, he is way big. He was a lot bigger in person than I really expected him to be and looks a lot like Dillon Gordon. Shipley has that big, extra blocker frame that just so happens to catch balls if they need him to. I watched him go through the gauntlet and he does not have the most natural hands as he let the ball get to his body pretty much every time he caught the ball. But I think we all know that is not what he will be primarily used for. I would really like to see him go through some type of blocking drills just to see how comfortable he looks during them.

Justin McMillan is the one that looks the most like an early enrollee when it comes to body size. He is just about 6'1" and no more than 185 pounds. However, the kid can sling it. He looks awfully fluid during drills and gets a lot of compliments from Coach Cam. McMillan has a bit of a longer delivery and needs to clean up his footwork, but I like what I have seen from him.

David Ducre is heavenly. He is the guy everyone talks about at practice. Reporters whisper to one another, "hey 41 is gonna be a ball player." Well yeah just look at him. This "kid" is a freak. He weighs over 235 pounds and looks like a boulder. I need to see him with the rock in his hands because I think he has the potential to become the 2nd back behind Fournette if he has some wiggle to him.

That is pretty much all i got to see at practice this time around so let me know what you guys think. Also, let me know what you would like for me to take a look at next practice. I am most likely going to be looking at the big boys on the offensive and defensive lines and the quarterbacks.

Here are some of the photos I was able to get from practice. Again, THEY WILL BE BETTER NEXT TIME.

BONUS: How About Some Post Practice Video?

(Courtesy Tiger Rag)

Anthony Jennings

Brandon Harris

Tashawn Bower

Malachi Dupre