JJ has struggled to even throw a screen. The ball always seems to be in a position that it is difficult for the runner to quickly get down the field.
I'm OK with that. That is your opinion and a valid one. The coaches don't agree, but that is OK. That is what we are here to discuss. I run into a problem with others on here basically thinking that it is the end of the world if Lee doesn't start. That over reacting attitude is what I take issue with, not a valid opinion.
So, what LSU should do first play of the game since Jordan Jefferson is going to start, is lineup in a shotgun formation with Russell Shepard in the backfield. They should fake the zone read, Jefferson pulls up like he is going to run forward, then pulls back and launches one deep to Randle. This way you let the other team know that Jefferson isn't just in the game to run the ball, plus if it hits, Jefferson may get some swagger back. Then I would run the option with Jarrett Lee. Deception is something this team hasn't had in a long time.
Because you don't trust the other QB to be "the man" yet? Because it takes more than a couple of good throws to erase the tons of mistakes that he has made in his career (including some last game)? Plus, we don't know what is happening in practice? Those seem logical to me. I agree with LaSalleAve's post #100 from above. I see it more as a way to take pressure off of JL and JJ. It shows confidence in the player playing on those downs and telling them: "Yes, you have some strengths the other guy doesn't have and we will work with those strengths and not just put you on the bench to rot.". It also tells the guy not in the game: "We recognize your weaknesses and we will try to avoid your weaknesses until you can work through them and prove you can do it. Until then we will try to put you into a place where you have a better chance of success". It tells the team that they have not given up on either of the QBs. It tells the team that you can end up on the bench because of you totally sucking but if you work really hard and the guy in front of you messes up really bad, you can redeem yourself. Or if you are a starter that has shown some abilities, just because you start sucking, we aren't going to give up on you.
Sounds reasonable . . . but look what it bought us last week. Pulling Lee on a successful drive was sending him the message that "we still don't trust you" and putting Jefferson in cold just in time for the blunder sent the message that the "pressure is still on you". The worst of both worlds. And why I'd like to see both quarterbacks play, but alternating them that frequently wasn't wise either. Let the starter play a whole quarter before replacing him, unless he is stinking the place up.
I think that you need to go back and watch last years games over again. JJ had some good games. He has shown that he can lead this team to have a decently productive offense. Saying that he has always sucked like he has this year is just not true. His completion percentages were much higher, the yardage was much greater, the INTs much lower. UNC 15-21-1 151 yards 2TD Vandy 8-20-1 96 yards 0TD MissSt 10-16-0 97 yards 0TD WVU 10-22-2 75 yards 0TD Tenn 3-10-2 30 yards 0TD Last year: Wash 11-19-0 172 yards 3TD Vandy 20-29-0 138 yards 0TD MissSt 15-28-0 233 yards 2TD UGA 18-27-1 212 yards 0TD UF 11-17-1 96 yards 0TD AU 21-31-0 242 yards 2TD Bummer 10-17-0 114 yards 1TD (injured) OM 19-37-1 250 yards 2TD Arky 17-25-1 179 yards 2TD If JJ could have just MATCHED his performance from last year, there would be no question about who the starting QB should be. He is in a slump compared to last year. You are over reacting. He isn't Joe Montana, but if he returned to his form from last year, we would feel MUCH better about 5-0. Yes, Lee played better than JJ last week. But one week is not enough to just throw the reins over to him and put JJ on the bench to rot. That is madness. You want to see Lee REALLY self destruct? Throw him out there against the 2nd best defense we will face this year by himself. He needs to come off the bench and not have the weight of the world on his shoulders. Lee has always struggled. Every outing is an adventure. Please point out a game that he has had that he did not show that he has problems with panicing in the pocket and throwing it up for grabs off of his back foot. It happened against Tenn AGAIN last week. It happens every game. Sure, he looks fantastic on some throws. But damn... As far as who gives us the better chance to win. Neither by himself. Neither is ready to take over. JJ is clearly sucking it up big time right now. JL is just JL, and we will lose games because of paniced mistakes. To me, in order for us to have the best season, either Lee needs to prove that he won't panic against a good defense in a pressure situation OR JJ needs to get back to the way he was playing past year. And you can't see if one of those will happen with one of them on the bench. Believe me when I tell you this... I am REALLY pulling for Lee to gain some composure. JJ may never get back to last year's numbers and if Lee could just play within himself, he would be fantastic. He knows it, the coaches know it, the players know it. It is really really hard to do though... We need multi-quote again...
