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BATON ROUGE, La. — It’s a week into August camp, and so far, Leonard Fournette is healthy and nobody on LSU’s team has gotten into trouble off the field.
That’s a good camp by anybody’s barometer.
But those aren’t the only developments. Here are five more things:
Wisconsin is on the mind
During one of the 15-minute windows in which members of the media were allowed to view LSU’s practice last Friday, head coach Les Miles called for the sports information staff to keep cameras from pointing towards a certain drill.
“This is Wisconsin stuff we’re working on,” he said, a reference to the Tigers’ season opener against the Badgers on Sept. 3 at Lambeau Field.
By the next morning, the media had been shut out of viewing any more Tigers practices, at least for the time being.
The message being sent was LSU wasn’t wasting its breath trying to convince people that Wisconsin was not going to be a big part of the Tigers’ focus. LSU was working on Wisconsin stuff on the first day of practice and on the second day.
After that? Well, we can’t really tell you because we couldn’t see it either.
Brandon Harris growing as a leader
Not only does quarterback Brandon Harris look a little bigger and thicker, he seems to have warmed up to the role of being an offensive leader.
His voice booms during practice, and his demeanor seems more no-nonsense than a year ago. Wide receiver Malachi Dupre noted that a year ago, he might have needed a veteran to give him a pick-me-up. Now, it’s Harris lifting up his teammates.
“He’s become a much better leader,” he said.
The middle of the 3-4 is developing
One of the pleasant early developments of August for LSU was when Edwin Alexander, the Tigers’ monstrous 330-pound freshman nicknamed the “loogaroo,” (a Cajun word for “werewolf”), gained his eligibility to join the Tigers at the start of August camp.
There had been questions about whether the four-star recruit would meet initial eligibility requirements.
By Alexander being available, it means LSU has not one, but now two natural nose guards in its freshman class, along with five-star stud Rashard Lawrence. That should help defensive coordinator Dave Aranda’s plan of transitioning the Tigers from a 4-3 base defense to a 3-4 go more smoothly.
That’s a huge development because the Tigers were facing the possibility of having to improvise at the position using undersized players who, in a 3-4, were more natural defensive ends. With Lawrence and Alexander, the Tigers have a couple of natural fits at the position.
LSU got good news on Monday as it was reported that junior college transfer Travonte Valentine will join the team and is eligible to play immediately after finishing some junior college course work. That gives LSU three natural nose guards, a huge relief considering the Tigers went through spring without one.
Tre’Davious White’s presence will be felt
Tre’Davious White is working as a nickel back in Aranda’s defense, which at first glance might seem like a demotion for the star corner back.
But the reality is that playing nickel will be an increase of responsibility for the senior. He will start at cornerback but slide over to nickel when an offensive formation or the down and distance calls for the Tigers to bring in an extra defensive back.
It’s a role not dissimilar to the one Tyrann Mathieu played for the Tigers when he was at LSU. Mathieu would start at cornerback, but much of his “Honey Badger” ball-hawking magic came when he’d slide inside to play nickel. From there, he could rush the passer or cover a slot receiver and was able to get around the ball more.
While White may not have Mathieu’s ball-hawking instincts, his all-around game is well-suited for the role. And LSU gets its best cover guy involved with what’s often the toughest man to cover — the slot receiver whose route possibilities aren’t restricted by the sideline on one side.
“It’s a tougher cover,” White said, “because he can go either way.”
So it makes sense for the best cover guy to be on that receiver.
Banged up on the O-line
It didn’t take long for LSU’s offensive line to get a little beat up.
Left tackle Maea Teuhema had not practiced as of Saturday because of an ankle injury suffered in the offseason. Then, left guard Will Clapp missed Friday’s practice with an undisclosed injury.
Miles said Monday that Teuhema is “doing great,” and could be back at practice later this week. Meanwhile, Clapp, who is coming off a hip injury that caused him to miss the spring, was back at practice Monday and Miles said they were “limiting his exposure.”
LSU lost two offensive line starters — both tackles — and had to do some shuffling around (namely, moving Teuhema to left tackle from guard) to find the right combination of players.
That means the group needs to work on chemistry. That’s harder to do when guys are having to miss practice because they are, to use a Miles term, “nicked.”
“The good news is we can develop some depth,” he said, noting that K.J. Malone (left tackle) and Garrett Brumfield (guard) were getting first-team reps. “We can have a guy ready so when we have to put him in a game, he can say, ‘I can handle that.’ “
