Miles likes Jefferson at QB

BATON ROUGE, La. — Jordan Jefferson’s pinpoint downfield throws during a pair of touchdown drives and 80 percent completion rate gave LSU coach Les Miles high hopes that the Tigers will enjoy better quarterback play next fall.

Jefferson was 8-of-10 passing for 97 yards in LSU’s spring game Saturday, leading the white team to a 27-0 thumping of the purple squad, which was made up primarily of second-team players.

“It’s nice. It’s what should happen,” Miles said. “We certainly need to have greater quarterback play than we had last fall. I believe that’s happened. I believe our QBs are going to play with more confidence.”

Jefferson emerged as the starter in the final game of the regular season after Jarrett Lee, who had struggled with interceptions throughout the season, went out with an ankle injury.

Jefferson still has yet to start a real game in Tiger Stadium, but 30,532 fans showed up on an overcast day to see him play in the annual full-contact scrimmage that concludes spring practice.

Lee also took snaps with the mix of first- and third-team players on the white squad, completing 3-of-6 passes for 23 yards, with his best throw going for 19 yards to Terrance Toliver. Lee directed a 41-yard touchdown drive during which veteran tailback Charles Scott ran five times for 26 yards, including a 1-yard TD plunge.

Scott finished with 70 yards and two TDs on 11 carries, picking up where he left off last season, when he was LSU’s leading rusher. Richard Murphy, who took turns playing for both the white and purple teams, carried a total of six times for 46 yards, including an 8-yard TD.

Keiland Williams, playing for both squads as well, carried six times for 23 yards and had a 13-yard reception.

LSU’s defense appeared far more organized and effective, albeit against a pair of freshman quarterbacks on the purple squad. Cornerback Patrick Peterson capped the white squad’s shutout by intercepting Russell Shepard and sprinting 69 yards for the game’s final touchdown.

Linebacker Perry Riley also had an interception of Chris Garrett and returned it 37 yards.

“Today, we came out and showed everybody what they’re going to get in this season coming up,” Peterson said of the Tigers’ defense, now under the direction of former longtime Tennessee defensive coordinator John Chavis. “The communication wasn’t there last year; guys were running around like a chicken with its head cut off. But this year, we got it more together. We’re more focused.”

The white team’s defensive line accounted for three sacks, two by Lazarius Levingston and one by Drake Nevis. Levingston jarred the ball loose from Shepard on his second sack and Rahim Alem recovered for the turnover.

Meanwhile, Miles raved about new punter Derek Helton, who punted for both squads and averaged 39.2 yards per kick.

“He punted the ball with great hang time and the direction where we needed to have it,” Miles said. “He’s a newcomer to our campus and it was a key piece to the day.”

Jefferson’s scoring drives went for 71 and 70 yards. The first lasted six plays, with Jefferson hitting Terrance Toliver for 10 yards on third-and-7, then Brandon LaFell over the middle on the next play for 28 yards to the 3-yard line. Scott powered in from there for his first TD of the game.

On his second scoring drive, early in the first half, Jefferson completed five passes for 60 yards. He found LaFell for gains of 11 and 18 yards and tight end Mitch Joseph for 14 yards. Murphy capped the drive with an 8-yard TD.

The purple squad’s most threatening possession came late in the first half, when Garrett completed passes of 11 yards to Chris Tolliver and 17 yards to Tim Molton, then scrambled 9 yards to the white 21. Two plays later, however, the drive stalled on Riley’s interception.

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