Spring Practice: Tiger Offense Balances Out Scrimmage

LSU’s spring is coming to a close.

The Tigers have one more week of practice before next Saturday’s spring game, and then they are off until the summer.

The biggest storylines have been the quarterback battle and the installation of a new offense, things that have been in question almost every year since the end of 2006.

LSU coach Ed Orgeron spread some light on both topics again Saturday after the team’s fourth scrimmage of the spring.

“Overall our best scrimmage since I’ve been here for sure as a coach,” Orgeron said. “Offense and defense executed very well. Give credit to our team, challenged them on leadership [Saturday]. Guys stood out on both sides of the football.”

One of the players that stood out was sophomore running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who’s reps came primarily against the second-team defense. He ran for 109 yards and five touchdowns, mostly on the goal line, on 18 carries. Edwards-Helaire is competing for the starting running back spot and has drawn consistent praise from Orgeron throughout the spring.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Lowell Narcisse also had a good performance. He finished the scrimmage with 143 yards on 7-of-10 passing.

“He played several snaps with the first team and did very well,” Orgeron said.

“[Narcisse] stood out [Saturday]. Made a lot of good throws, a lot of good plays. He had some scrambles, some big passes, he’s improved every day.”

Orgeron said the team is running the same plays with sophomore quarterback Myles Brennan and Narcisse, but that there more designed runs for Narcisse and drop-back passes for Brennan.

Saturday’s scrimmage was the first to see the first-team offense score a touchdown on the first-team defense, which happened twice on the day. And while the offense had moments in the spring, Orgeron said it had been a struggle against the first-team defense in live-scrimmage periods.

He did say he has tremendous confidence in the passing attack and that he is pleased with the quarterbacks’ progress as a group, but asked LSU fans for patience.

“The real judgement is going to come against Miami, that’s when we’ve got to be ready” said Orgeron, who added that only 35 percent of the offense is in. “Obviously, we want to look good next Saturday. I want the quarterbacks to look good, I want to throw the ball.”

“We want all that to happen, and I do believe some of that’s going to happen, but we’re not there yet.”