Summerall will forever be the Voice of the NFL
April 23, 2013
Nicholls looking for turnaround in spring drills
April 23, 2013
More than 28,000 LSU fans piled into Tiger Stadium on Saturday afternoon hoping to see new offensive coordinator Cam Cameron call plays for the first time in purple and gold.
They left happy – but still waiting for Cameron to officially make his LSU debut.
In a laid back scrimmage setting, the first-year coordinator let LSU’s quarterbacks call their own plays in an attempt to get a feel for their instincts in live situations.
When it was all said and done, senior quarterback Zach Mettenberger had 236 yards and two touchdowns and his White Team had scored a 37-0 win over the Purple Team.
LSU coach Les Miles said he was pleased with the way the experiment played out.
“It is an exercise that allows you to see what the quarterback thinks,” Miles said. “How he sees the game plan, what he would call and how he would operate things. It was a tremendous exercise. It’s one that improved the quarterbacks.”
“It was the first time I’ve ever done that,” Mettenberger added. “It was kind of a slow start to get going, but we turned it around and had a pretty good day.”
The LSU quarterback’s performance was one of the bright spots of a big offensive day for the Tigers.
Mettenberger played in only the first half of Saturday’s game. He completed 12-of-19 passes on the afternoon – continually marching his offense into scoring position.
After orchestrating a drive capped in a 29-yard field goal in the first quarter, Mettenberger struck for two touchdown passes in the second quarter to give his team a 16-0 lead.
The first was a 15-yard strike to tight end Dillon Gordon. The next was a 79-yard bomb to receiver Odell Beckham.
The receiver said that he and Mettenberger have great chemistry and they both can’t wait for the new season to begin.
“We were all backups at one point,” Beckham said. “We built a chemistry and bond. Everything is clicking right now.”
In the second half, the White Team rode backup Stephen Rivers to another strong showing.
Rivers completed 7-of-10 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns – one to Beckham and another to Travin Dural.
Jeremy Hill led all of LSU’s rushers with 13 carries and 102 yards.
Beckham had six catches for 202 yards with two scores.
“Offensively, I think we handled the ball well,” Miles said. “We rushed it well. … Guys that needed to catch the ball did, and guys that needed to throw it did improve.
“The key statistics today is that we are not coming away with injury. It didn’t appear to me that anyone got hurt.”
While all of the fans’ eyes were on the Tigers’ newly constructed offense, it was the defense that drew a lot of Miles’ praise.
The White Team’s defense (mostly members of the Tigers’ starting unit) clobbered the Purple Team’s offensive attack, limiting the group to just 208 total yards.
Miles named a few names that stood out as guys who had “starter-like” days.
“The defense played well,” Miles said. “We played one front and one coverage and tackled well and played how they’re supposed to. Danielle Hunter had a nice day. Anthony Johnson, Lamin Barrow and Craig Loston – they looked like the first team defense.”
Loston agreed with his coach. He added that because of LSU’s defensive line depth, the Tigers’ defensive backs are in a position to shine in 2013.
Loston had an interception in the spring game.
“With the guys we’ve got in the front, no matter what quarterback we are playing, you have about three seconds to get the ball out,” Loston said. “That’s what we try to accomplish. We make sure to take care of our jobs. If each does our job individually, then we will get the play we want.”
With spring practice officially complete in Baton Rouge, the Tigers will now set their sights on summer drills and the 2013 season.
The Tigers will open that slate against TCU in Cowboys Stadium.
Miles said he knows the Horned Frogs command respect. But LSU will be ready to play.
“We will look forward to playing TCU,” Miles said with a smile.
LSU quarterback Stephen Rivers fights off tacklers during Saturday’s spring game. Rivers tossed for two touchdowns.
