LSU'S FIRST FALL CAMP SCRIMMAGE PROVIDED CONFIDENCE...AND FRESH INJURIES

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By LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN

Inside the Lawton Room, LSU Head Coach Lane Kiffin kept his answers close to his vest...he wasn't giving anything away to the media about last night's scrimmage, despite the obvious, and concerning absences of some Tigers at today's earlier practice.

LSU's first Fall Camp scrimmage was filled with long offensive drives, 3 defensive touchdowns (2 pick 6's and a scoop and score), more playmaking from LSU's leaders (Whit Weeks, Trey'dez Green, PJ Woodland, Ty Benefield, and Dashawn Spears), and a lot of competitive juices flying as the tackling and hitting really begins to flow.....(more details on the next edition of LSUOdyssey LIVE).

But once the hitting began, so do the injuries, and quickly LSU are down a handful of Tigers:

First, Jayce Brown and Winnie Watkins were only recently banged up but appear to be okay, but LSU is now nursing a number of injuries, to both Maliks: WR Malik Elzy and DT Malik Blocton, 1st team DE Jordan Ross, and RB Harlem Berry.

Injured during a scrimmage where he scored 2 rushing TDs and made a play for the #1 running back job via some dizzying runs and ability to make a defender miss, Harlem Berry was "electric" a contact close to the staff told us.

Specifically his agile shiftyness, rattling off 4 missed tackles forced.

Last night, there weren't hardly any missed tackles by this stifling Blake Baker defense, so what Berry pulled off was "starting SEC caliber rushing", a source close to the program (who watched the closed scrimmage) yapped to LSUOdyssey.

The offense was able to move the ball under Sam Leavitt, the dual threat QB keeping his rushing more conservative, taming his bursts, instead spending most of his energy and time aiming to sharpen his passing skills...which looked brilliant.

According to another source, Leavitt has a "stronger arm than I expected".

But against Blake Baker's defense, LSU stalled inside the red zone time after time, Leavitt throwing a pick six to PJ Woodland after a long drive, and some communication issues up front continued to haunt LSU's offense inside the red zone.

Remember though: that's just how good Baker's Year 3 Bayou Bandits are....they're absolutely incredible....knocking fools out...flying to the ball....taking no prisoners...showcasing a ton of chemistry, shit talking badassery, and elite team pursuit...

Sure, we haven't seen them in a full speed game against a dual threat quarterback, like we will in Week 3 @ Ole Miss when LSU's 2026 defense take on arguably the best player in the sport last year, Trinidad Chambliss, but right now, I would be stunned if this defense couldn't find a matchup, a specialist or a formation to stuff, handle, or at least minimize the living Dennis De Young out of every dual threat quarterback on the schedule....and LSU will be facing an onslaught of dual threat QBs throughout this fall.

Also, as impactful, creative, and chaotic as the young 4 of Rich Anderson, Deuce Geralds, Lamar Brown and Trenton Henderson are, it appears veterans Stephiylan Green and Dominick McKinley could actually be the starting DT partnership, rather than starting two true freshmen in Week 1 at defensive tackle vs Clemson....quite a wild thing to do...and yet, it still didn't seem implausible, such is the girth, greatness, and grit of Rich Anderson and Deuce Geralds through the middle.

By LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN

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