Miles compliments DBs

• By CARL DUBOIS
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Aug 17, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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Les Miles complimented the defensive backfield after LSU’s scrimmage Saturday.

Patrick Peterson and Chad Jones were the leading tacklers in the secondary, Miles said. He credited Brandon Taylor with a “nice pick” and said Phelon Jones made good plays.

“I think the secondary’s playing pretty well,” Miles said.

He said Danny McCray and Chad Jones would both play in the nickel defense this year, with Jones capable of being one of the two deep safeties.

Miles didn’t bite when someone suggested Peterson had earned a starting cornerback job.

“I didn’t say that,” Miles said. “It was a nice thought.”

He said to expect a lot of rotation in and out of the defensive backfield.

“I think our secondary will have to substitute, not only to stay fresh but to get the best players on the field in key situations,” Miles said. 

“I think the same thing will happen in the defensive line. I think you’ll see us playing and be ready to play more guys up front.”

Game management

The Tigers used the scrimmage as a chance to test game operations, including the logistics of having defensive co-coordinators. One of them, Bradley Dale Peveto, will be on the sideline, with the other, Doug Mallory, in the press box.

“We needed to see how that would all function,” Miles said.

He said he told officials to police the sideline aggressively during the scrimmage because of a new rule that calls for sideline penalties with no warnings for first offenses.