There is a reason that Flynn was signaling all the plays. It has nothing to do with skin color. It has to do with who is best able to communicate the plays to the QB on the field. Flynn may also have asked to do this to get involved in the flow of the game. We can speculate all we want. I feel as though both QBs should know the playbook pretty well having sat through an entire year of practice and game observation, watching/studying film.
Before the season started, not many fans thought Mauck would be the guy ... there was much talk about playing a true freshman. Mauck proved everyone wrong. We will be in a similar situation this fall. We have an experienced QB returning who didn't impress everyone when given the chance ... but he was thrown in a difficult situation in 2002. I'm sure many fans will be saying Russell or Flynn should be the starter. There's more to playing QB than just talent ... it'll be interesting to see if Randall, Russell or Flynn can step up and be a leader on and off the field!
Headset and signaling As a former coach and having been around a lot of teams for many a year, I would suggest to you not to read anything into who is wearing the headset and signaling the plays in. More times than not though it is the lowest rated of the QB's as he would be the last one to be inserted into the game. You want the same guy doing it all of the time if possible. In the NFL it is usually the third team QB. But it also could be that Flynn is just better at giving the signals also as I know of many of players that couldn't really get the hang of it just like I've seen many a third base coach that was terrible at giving signals and would confuse the heck out of batters and baserunners. Like calling for a suicide squeeze when no one was on third, or giving a hit & run sign followed by a take sign. It can be pretty funny but isn't too good for execution.
Re: Headset and signaling I think we are in agreement, at least on some level. I didn't specify a reason why, but you also contributed a rational explanation. thanks.
Honestly, and with all due respect to Marcus Randall, in my opinion I don't believe he's in the same league as Russell and Flynn, at least I hope not, and when I say that I certainly don't mean any disrespect towards Marcus. I just don't feel that he possesses the skills or the capability necessary to run the LSU offense like it takes to be successful. For instance, in last season's La Tech game, despite playing the end of the first half and the entire second half, Randall was unable to drive the offense to a score, despite the fact he was running the offense against an inferior defense. I also remember reading about Saban expressing his disappointment after the game.
Randall played in 2002 with an entirely different LSU team with no experience and against tough competition. Most of 2002 our QB's spent the day running for their lives as compared to much much better protection in 2003, it makes a BIG difference. Also how can you say that the two freshmen are better? Neither one of them has taken a single snap in a live game much less a big time SEC game. There is a big difference between showing raw talent on the practice field and displaying REAL talent on the football field under fire. Both youngsters look GREAT on paper but don't crown either the best QB in LSU history yet. Also remember another QB buried in the depth chart for a few years that struggled his first few chances to play and ended up having a really great senior season, I think his name was Rohan Davey. I heard many many of the same statements about him that I am hearing about Randall, can't learn the system, not smart enough, all the talent but just doesn't play smart ect ect...
That is true. And Randall was only a soph in 2002. The LA Tech game this year and the Arizona game also do bother me somewhat, we should have scored much more on both of them even with a third string in the game.
Go back and read my post again, especially the part where I qualified my statement with: "at least I hope not." Meaning, of course, if he or they are in the same league, then we are going to be in a whole lot of trouble. With respect to Rohan struggling in his first few games, Randall has had more than enough opportunity to show what he can do, and my opinion is that he doesn’t run the LSU offense well enough to be effective.
Don't know if accurate, but someone just told me they were reading about a recent interview from Bill Parcells. One of the questions was who he thought the most prototypical QB in college right now was. He said his answer would probably surprise a lot of people. He said a guy who redshirted this year at LSU, JaMarcus Russell. If anyone can confirm (or even provide a link), please post here.
