LSU’s enthusiasm, high energy themes of opening day of spring

BATON ROUGE – LSU opened spring practice here Sunday morning as second-year head coach Ed Orgeron put the Tigers through a fast-paced, high-energy workout in shorts and helmets indoors at the Charles McClendon Practice Facility.

The Sights and Sounds from Day 1.#LSU pic.twitter.com/tBuXSpr40g

— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) March 11, 2018

Sunday’s workout served as the first of what will be 15 practices or scrimmages for the Tigers over the next two months. LSU wraps up spring drills on Saturday, April 21 at 5 p.m. with the annual National L Club Spring Game in Tiger Stadium.

LSU practices three more times this week – Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

LSU’s first day of spring practice saw the Tigers welcome several new coaches to the field for the first time – Jerry Sullivan (senior offensive assistant/passing game coordinator), Bill Busch (safeties), James Cregg (offensive line) and Greg McMahon (special teams coordinator).

LSU’s 2018 coaching staff features coaches with more than 70 years of NFL experience.

Many new faces were in action for the first time as LSU Tigers as eight mid-year enrollees practiced for the first time in purple and gold. The list of early enrollees including three junior college standouts with offensive guard Damien Lewis drawing early praise from Orgeron.

“What a tremendous day for the guys,” Orgeron told the media following the workout. “The preparation that our coaches put in going in to this first practice was phenomenal. That execution today was ahead of where it is usually on the first day.

“One of the guys that really showed up today was Damien Lewis. (We) couldn’t beat him on pass rush. He looked tremendous on one-on-one blocking. I think he’s going to be a tremendous football player.”

Overall, Orgeron said he liked what he saw on both sides of the football.

“I was proud of offense,” Orgeron said. “Our run game looks solid, the receivers made some plays downfield and our quarterbacks were moving around making plays with their feet. It was an exciting day.”

Orgeron noted that all three quarterbacks – junior Justin McMillan, sophomore Myles Brennan and redshirt freshman Lowell Narcisse – all looked good.

“Myles (Brennan) took first team snaps and looked really good,” Orgeron said. “Justin McMillan made some big plays down the field and extended plays. Lowell Narcisse looked the best he’s been. He ran the ball well, threw the ball well. It’s going to be an exciting battle to see all three of those guys compete.”

Defensively, Orgeron complimented the play of the defensive line, which will be led by junior Rashard Lawrence and Texas Tech transfer Breiden Fehoko, who is eligible this year after sitting out the 2017 season.

“I thought the defensive line of Breiden Fehoko, Glen Logan, and Rashard Lawrence had a good day,” Orgeron said. “The speed off of the edge was tremendous with Ray Thornton, K’Lavon Chaisson, and Travez Moore showed some quick twitch.

I thought with the addition of Bill Bush that you can see our guys are getting better. We practice on punt team today. It was good to see Coach McMahon running the specials team like he can. It was well organized. I thought overall we were ahead for the first day. I liked what I saw out there.”