Practice report: LSU practices without three starting offensive linemen

By JAMES MORAN | Tiger Rag Associate Editor

LSU played part of its 17-16 victory over Florida with four freshmen — three of which true freshmen — along the offensive line.

That trend may continue this Saturday.

Center Will Clapp and starting tackles K.J. Malone and Toby Weathersby were absent from the media viewing portion of practice Monday. LSU coach Ed Orgeron classified Malone and Weathersby as “questionable” to play against Auburn earlier in the day.

“We don’t know yet,” Orgeron said during his press luncheon. “We have a couple of tackles that are questionable. Toby is questionable and K.J. is questionable. But if we have to start them, we have to start them.”

Saahdiq Charles and Austin Deculus played left and right tackle, respectively, after Malone and Weathersby left the game. Lloyd Cushenberry briefly filled in for Clapp against the Gators before the veteran returned and finished the game.

Here’s more observations from Monday’s practice:

– Defensive linemen Rashard Lawrence, Ed Alexander and Frank Herron all participated. Orgeron said earlier that Lawrence could be “limited” in practice this week.

– Running back Derrius Guice participated in practice Monday. Orgeron addressed his status earlier in the day: “It is a nagging injury. In order to play full speed, especially against an SEC team like Florida, you have to practice full speed. And he’s been in practice, but he’s been limited. I do believe that one of the last runs — and I’m going to show him this — one of the last runs, in the last drive, where he ran up right in the middle, and he showed grit and he showed toughness and he showed LSU football, broke a couple of tackles, was a sign that he can do it. And I think it gave him confidence and it gave our whole team confidence. So hopefully we can see more of that. Is he hurting? Yes. Is he limited right now? Yes. But he is getting better.”

– Starting safety John Battle did not participate in the media viewing portion of practice. The LSU Sports Radio Network reported Saturday that he was dealing with a “stinger.” Redshirt freshman Eric Monroe practiced in his place Monday. Xavier Lewis was also absent among the defensive backs.