With expectations running high, sophomore quarterback Jordan Jefferson has firmly taken the reins at LSU
Thursday, August 20, 2009
By James Varney Staff writer
has seen steadily better play at quarterback in recent days, Coach Les Miles insists, and sophomore signal-caller Jordan Jefferson declined to disagree.
Miles has repeatedly singled out improved quarterback play from Jefferson and backup Jarrett Lee, a sophomore, when summing up last Saturday's scrimmage or recent practices. With the exception of an interception Jefferson threw in the scrimmage -- an error Miles attributed to a misread of the secondary -- the Tigers are presenting a united front that suggests the turnover nightmares that haunted them last season won't return this fall.
"Jordan is pretty much standing out right now as that leader of the offense," senior wide receiver Brandon LaFell said. "He's taking most of the reps with the ones. He's been a vocal leader, and he's stepping it up and putting it in the right place."
That latter point has become less alarming as the understanding Jefferson and Lee have of the offense deepens, LaFell said.
"He's not turning it over," he said, noting defensive backs got some knock-downs but no interceptions during a controlled scrimmage Tuesday. "And when Jarrett gets in there, it's the same thing. We don't miss a beat."
That's led to a brightening picture overall, Miles said.
"I think we're getting better quarterback play; I think both our quarterbacks are improving," he said more than once in the last several days.
After Tuesday's drills, Jefferson was his usual taciturn self.
"Yeah, it went pretty good. We got some good looks and got some tackling in, so things went pretty good," he said. "Offensively, we're looking pretty good. We got some good looks from the defense, and we're moving the ball."
But he did offer a more positive assessment of his performance and status than usual.
"My confidence? I'm really comfortable right now," he said. "I'm feeling real good and looking good in practice."
Jefferson has started two games in his career, yet the immense expectations of the Tigers faithful are resting squarely on his shoulder pads. LaFell acknowledged the stratospheric nature of those hopes but said they aren't different from those coming from the team.
"You can say that, but at the same time you can't let him know it's unfair because you want him to be hard on himself like the media's going to be hard on him, so he can bring his game up to that level where everyone thinks he should be," he said.
"He's doing everything he's supposed to be doing," offensive tackle Ciron Black said. "Last year it was more about him just learning than it was him taking control of the huddle and do what a quarterback does. That's what he's doing. He's not as tentative; he's not as nervous.
"He's a shy guy, but not around us. Last year it was terrible. He just wouldn't say anything. But he's comfortable now, and he's not one of the guys. He's out there being the guy."
. . . . . . .
James Varney can be reached at
[email protected] or at 504.717.1156.
Click to expand...
