By CARL DUBOIS
Advocate sportswriter

LSU coaches said the fifth practice day of preseason camp was critical. It wasn’t simply because it marked the first full-squad practice.

It wasn’t because it marked the first day in full pads.

The Tigers continued a week-long exhibition of leadership traits their coaches could talk about only in theory and generalities before the start of camp, their coaches said.

Before Les Miles could send the players to their post-practice position meetings on the field Friday, senior linebacker Darry Beckwith spoke up.

“Coach, I’ve got ’em,” Beckwith said, calling the entire defense to gather around him.

Defensive co-coordinator Bradley Dale Peveto, who coaches the linebackers, said he was proud of what he heard while eavesdropping on Beckwith’s speech to the defense.

“You like to see them grow on the football field and in the classroom,” Peveto said, “but when they step up and they assume a leadership role, it’d put a tear to a glass eye.” Read the rest of this entry »