Les Miles on LSU: 'A lot of improvement has taken place'
It was rare considering the past decade-plus of success, but the LSU Tigers were not a factor in the Southeastern Conference last season.
Head coach Les Miles expects this fall on the gridiron to be different, and believes the proof was on display at Tiger Stadium in Saturday's spring game.
"The expectations are pretty high," Miles said Monday outside the Horseshoe's Riverdome in Bossier City, site of the first stop of the 2015 Tiger Tour. "There is reason to believe a lot of improvement has taken place. I looked at the tape Sunday night and Monday. There is broad-based improvement — we have some good players."
Monday, Miles joined Tigers basketball coaches Johnny Jones and Nikki Caldwell, gymnastics coach D-D Breaux and athletic director Joe Alleva for the first of 10 stops in the next month. The Tour rolls into Jackson, Mississippi, on Wednesday.
Saturday's White vs. Purple affair in Baton Rouge was the culmination of 15 spring practices. Given LSU's dismal production in the passing game last season, naturally all eyes (and a majority of the questions in the spring) focused on the quarterback battle between incumbent Anthony Jennings, a junior, and sophomore Brandon Harris, a former Parkway star.
Although Miles cited a belief both signal callers have made strides, he admits those waiting for a starter to be anointed shouldn't hold their breath.
"Waiting for that guy to emerge is an issue," Miles said.
Jennings and Harris combined to post 420 passing yards and four touchdowns Saturday.
Jennings was 13-for-20 passing for 242 yards and two touchdowns. Harris completed 11 of 17 passes for 178 yards and two scores.
Miles said splitting time with first teamers hasn't hampered the development of either candidate.
"There were a lot of snaps to judge by and a lot of snaps to improve by (this spring)," Miles said. "Basically there was a small slice of that we all could see on Saturday. Their preparation was very strong throughout the spring."
Miles was thrilled with the play of the tight ends Saturday. Although used mainly in run- and pass-blocking roles last season, the big men were featured in the passing game.
"And there were numbers," Miles said of the Tigers depth, including DeSean Smith, Colin Jeter and senior Dillon Gordon. "I liked exactly how the tight end position played."
Smith, a junior from Lake Charles, hauled in a 50-yard touchdown pass from freshman quarterback Justin McMillan.
Sans the running attack led by sophomore sensation Leonard Fournette, the offense — from the game plan to personnel to the performance — is anybody's guess. However, Miles, in his 11th year at LSU, was blown away by several defensive performances Saturday.
"If you looked at the linebacking crew — oh my goodness," Miles said. "Speed to the ball, knocked it down, there wasn't yards after contact — it stopped."
Ronnie Feast and Deion Jones collected seven tackles each. Kendell Beckwith and Lamar Louis were often present, too.
Miles, 61, is also pleased with the depth the Tigers' defensive line will carry into the fall.
"There are a lot of young guys on the two deep you could put in there (with the first team)," he said.
In the secondary, freshman Kevin Toliver II caught Miles' eye. He had the lone interception Saturday and will be a good fit with players like junior Tre'Davious White, a former Green Oaks standout.
"Tre'Davious White takes care of his business in the classroom, takes care of his business socially and when he gets on the football field, his assignment, he takes it serious — it's all about team," Miles said. "He is preparing to have a great year.
"There are going to be some strong defensive backs for the Tigers."
Naturally, Miles didn't escape to the crowd of rabid Tigers fans Monday without one final quarterback query.
"We'll play it by ear," he said when specifically asked when a starter would be named. "It's not something we're going to rush to do. If it was something that was needed to be done, we'll do it."
The Tigers open the 2015 campaign with McNeese State on Sept. 5.
Twitter: @RoyLangIII