Tigers display consistent eagerness while learning how to practice to Brian Kelly's liking

LSU hit the practice field on Thursday, which was a continuation of the preparations Brian Kelly wanted from his team. The players continue to show the eagerness Kelly desires as spring practice got underway.

There’s a learning curve with practice routine both for the coaches and players, but Kelly praised his new team for the work put in during the high-tempo practice.

“I loved the energy, the enthusiasm, there’s an incredible want-to,” Kelly said after practice on Thursday. “I’ll tell you, they want to change the narrative. They want to be a championship team and they know it takes hard work. It takes a commitment. This was one practice towards that. It’s what we’ve seen from the guys in terms of great energy, a real incredible attention to all the little things that we’ve asked in meetings, on time, and that’s a big thing for us right now. 

“We got to learn how to practice. It’s different for them. They’re learning me and how I want to practice, but it’s not because they’re not giving us everything. It’s what I would’ve hoped for.”

Little things like practice layout, management and teaching points are still coming together. The work done by strength coach Jake Flint impressed Kelly right off the bat though, showing the team locked in on that goal of improving.

“We run a drill called 88s, which is a high tempo, eight plays with the first group, eight plays with the second. On a first day, generally you get guys that are bent over, huffing and puffing. There was none of that so that’s a real indication of their conditioning level and that staff getting them ready for spring practice.”

LSU got the work in quickly, but efficiently during the practice. Kelly monitored players’ workload in a tent during practice and said that’ll be something he consistently does.

He doesn’t feel the need to grind out a long practice with his team to accomplish their goals.

“We were out there for 90 minutes and I like to get a lot of work done in a short period of time. I don’t think we need to be out there for two, three hours. I think you can get your work done and I want to do it with high energy. I love intensity through repetition. I think it’s the best way to learn and creating that environment has been really good. Everybody’s got really good players. I think it’s about preparation and this has been for me, a way for me to prepare our football team for Saturdays.

“A lot of that (tempo) is already scripted. A lot of that is already built into the way we practice. I do all the practice schedules to create that for the coaches and then they just coach their positions accordingly.”

LSU hits the practice field again on Saturday for the second practice, which was held in helmets and shells. Full pads is still days away. The Tigers were healthy, too, which was by design as spring practice started after spring break for the school.

“We only had two players today, that are on scholarship, that did not participate – Kayshon Boutte and Major Burns. That’s it,” he said. “Everybody else was in some kind of participation, could be limited in some fashion, but just to have two guys based upon where we were, back in January when I sat and Beau’s office and looked at the board going ‘I don’t know how we’re going to do this.’ To get down to only two players (is good). Major’s moving around and Kayshon obviously is going to get healthy. I think it was the prudent move to push it back.”