We'll see. Teams that finish a game with a positive turnover ratio (more takeaways than giveaways) win the game 80+% of the time. I'll take those odds.
I understand. Some people only remember interceptions from last year, but Lee averages 13.2 yards per completion versus Jefferson's 10.7. Lee does have a better long ball and we may need to use it this year if Jefferson's doesn't continue to develop. Jefferson is getting his chance, no one is talking about replacing him yet. But we do have other quarterbacks on the team if Jefferson falls short. One has an arm and one has legs. Giving them a series from time to time is not displacing Jefferson. Jefferson could get hurt running the way he does. We need the other QB's to get some reps whenever we can so that we don't lose a game just because our QB goes down. There is no reason, on a deep team, to put all of our eggs in Jefferson's basket.
Interceptions are a pretty big deal to me, I dont know where you rank them on your list of reasons why teams lose, but thats pretty high on my list. 13.2 yards per completion is very good vs 10.7, but with 16 picks, its not very good. Throwing picks is apart of the game, but its a bad part of the game as well. If he gets hurt then Im fine with Lee coming it. Thats the way it played out last year as I remember it. All our eggs where in the Lee basket after Hatch went down. Or maybe my memory is bad, you tell me!
Have you read this thread and the other Jefferson threads from this weekend? Several people talked about replacing him.
I rank interceptions high on my list of things that are coachable for a freshman Qb thrown into SEC play. Perhaps Lee reads defenses a lot better now with that experience and more coaching. But an accurate downfield arm . . . you either have it or you don't. Coaching isn't like to give you a better arm. Bottom line--Jefferson may have the arm we need and just hasn't developed it well yet. Lee has the arm that we need and may have corrected his risky passes in a year. Both of them have to play for the coaches to see who has the stuff . . . hopefully both of them do. I wouldn't mind Shepard getting to air it some, when the time is right, too.
Without a doubt some changes have to happen. Not at all saying replacing JJ by any means. Just meaning that JJ has to step up. The OL has to step up and the coaching has to step up. Its a team game. JJ has a great arm, its his touch and accuracy that is the problem. Sure Lee has the better deep touch but his INTs are a back breaker. Despite his lack of touch we still have to go down the field more. JJ does well on the intermediate routes and some deep out type passes when he sets his feet. THats his biggest fault. He too often rushes his passes. When set JJ has a world of potential. Teams are eventually going to jump those constant bubble screens and have a pick six. Id like to see what Shepard does with some passing opportunities. Thats another thing when in the game everyone knows a run is coming. LSU is so damn predicatable right now by personnel in the game a blind man can know whats coming next. Overall its a team effort that has to take place. JJ has to set his feet better. The OL has to pass block much better. The coaches have to change things up and take chances. Right now we are winning on talent alone. Down the road that wont cut it when the talent levels are more equal.
The mistakes of both are coachable. But I dont see how you can say Lee has the arm we need, I think sometimes he does and sometimes he doesnt. which was displayed last year. If Lee comes in the game, I wont be committing suicide, but people are talking about replacing Jefferson 4 games into the season, when they guy hasnt been awful. Lee had a way better offensive line as well. Lee had a better running game as well. Can we at least agree on that?
no he is not. he's not horrible, but he's not money. low to tolliver, behind lafell, high to williams. its ok if it happens while connecting on a 15yd pass, but its deadly if it happens on all these quick passes in the flats. he has had better protection that he can expect against at least 5 remaining opponents. uw, vandy and ull arent so hot.
tell that to our offensive line about them being not so hot. maybe you were watching a different game.
I say JJ has completed something like 60% of his passes and has been especially effective on third downs. I think if we can consistently hit the 20+ yard crossing patterns then that should be sufficient enough to back the defense off the line. If our defense steps back into the ranks of the SEC elite then a chip-away offense should do fine. I'll reserve judgement on his ability to avoid interceptions until he plays a REAL SEC defense in Ga. or Fla...something he has not done yet. IMO the O-Line (particularly in run support) is a MUCH bigger issue.
