LSU Tigers regroups after loss

BATON ROUGE, La. - For eight games this fall, the LSU football team lived a rather charmed life and steered clear of damaging injuries to major players.

The one exception was versatile running back Richard Murphy, whose season ended with a compound knee injury Sept. 12.

Other than that, though, the Tigers had navigated the season with an uncanny level of good health.

Then they went to Alabama.

Now, No. 9-ranked LSU heads into the final three games of its season with plenty of shifting and rotating to be done at several key positions.

The Tigers (7-2) began preparations for Louisiana Tech (3-6) with a respected senior running back out for the season, the starting quarterback gimpy with a sprained ankle, and the status of a steady senior tight end still murky.

Besides Charles Scott's regular-season-ending broken collarbone and Jordan Jefferson's sprained ankle, several other players got banged up in a 24-15 loss to the Crimson Tide.

None of those players are expected to miss any time.

LSU coach Les Miles said Jefferson should return to practice this week and thinks Dickson could also return to work this week.

"It appears that Jordan Jefferson will be fine," Miles said. "We expect him to be with us this week."

Replacing Scott is a tricky chore not only because of what he contributed on the field, but also because of his leadership.

Scott started 22 straight games in the backfield and is the Tigers' top rusher this season with 542 yards. He was also a key in pass protection and blitz pickup.

"I think he had so much experience, and there were so many different ways we used him," Miles said. "I think it's likely that it'll take two backs to step in and take the responsibilities that Charles Scott had in the offense."

The two top candidates are sophomore Stevan Ridley and senior Keiland Williams.

A career backup, Williams began the season matching Scott carry for carry and yard for yard, but his playing time has tapered off drastically.

Ridley came off the bench to plow into the end zone for an 8-yard touchdown run two plays after Scott's night at Alabama ended with the injury.