And who's fault is that? As you love to point out we've averaged 10 wins for over 10 years yet we have been unable to recruit and develop a HS QB in this entire time.
The war chickens beat us because we committed to the run and couldn't do it.....true, but only a. on the list. There was also, b. our QB play that night was putrid, and c. so was our defense. Over the last 3 weeks we have significantly improved in all 3 of those areas. And yes, I realize we need much better play at QB than we're getting now. I'm just saying, Jennings has not been as bad as Harris was against Aubie. Frankly - and this is especially because of the defense - I'd love another shot at the chickens and the cowbells.
You simply cannot let this go, can you? Sure, he could've started the game. I would have hoped he wouldn't have run the wrong way on pass plays, though.
You're awfully excited over that 82 TCU points against a pathetic TT team, I guess. Currently, LSU is sending WRs to the NFL at an impressive clip. I'm sure some prospects are looking at that, along with seeing us winning high profile games, even in a rebuilding year, and thinking that will also be fun. Trey Quinn looked like he was having the time of his life being crowd surfed in the make-shift Tiger Stadium mosh pit last night.
He does throw well on the move, but his two best throws last night - the streak pattern to Fournette in the first quarter and the crossing route to Quinn early in the third - were from the pocket. No "happy feet" on either play. Check them out on lsusports.net's highlight reel at :32 and 1:48. He is capable of playing big-boy football QB. Just wish his learning curve would accelerate, but even that may rise as the oline improves and gives him more time to get comfortable in the pocket.
Those were two beautiful passes. He had perfect accuracy and touch on both. The pass to Fournette was just perfection. I think he has the ability, he just needs to slow things down and go through the progressions better. He usually does well on the deep ball, although he did miss Dural last night.
I don't see Jennings as having the arm strength required to be a top flight QB. The second interception was an example. Not only was he late in throwing it, he couldn't put enough on it to get to the receiver in time. He reminds me of Matt Flynn in many ways. It was only as a senior did he have the field sense to adapt for the lack of arm. That is his issue as a starter in the NFL. He has a limited ceiling unless there is a way he can gain the arm he needs. However he has improved very much over the season in his presence on the field and confidence. You can see it in the additional plays he is given to run. At this time it seems he is the best chance we have to continuing to win and improve as a team. I hope Harris takes the challenge and learns the playbook and how to control his cannon arm. He shows promise but is so rough that he would be a liability at this time. It takes practice and repetition to gain the muscle memory that allows you to react to the play as it develops. It seems to me Harris is having to work on doing what the play calls for rather than what is actually happening on the field. This season as it is now isn't the time to make it a learning experience for Harris. I believe we have a chance to win out....no matter how much talent he has doesn't have what is needed to lead us to those wins. The bowl practice and game will be perfect opportunities to give him that chance.
So we go with the seasoned RS junior Jennings. Again, I don't care that Jennings is the starter and gets most of the snaps but these arguments against playing Harris at all are plain weak. Jennings is in as much of a learning curve as Harris. My quarrel isn't with Jennings, it's with CLM's history of utilizing QBs. I"ll tell you why the whole QB situation has me so agitated. It's not that AJ is playing while BH sits and learns. It's that BH is cemented in his spot as bench-warmer and no matter how much he progresses next spring and fall (face it, he ain't playing again this year unless we are in a blowout), no matter his ceiling, regardless of his talent and ability or Jennings' struggles, he'll sit until AJ is gone and while I believe AJ can be a decent QB I believe BH has the chance to be a star. Of course, by the time he is allowed to play, his senior year if he is still here, he'll have so little playing experience and his senior year will be his learning curve. AJ is CLM's guy come hell or high water and BH is on the outside looking in no matter what. It bothers me that our best long-term option, our best QB will be on the bench for a long, long time.
I agree to an extent that Harris needs to play when and where possible. I wish he had been put in in the 2nd qtr of Kentucky and earlier in the 2nd half. That game was not in issue. As to Florida and last night I didn't see a place to put him in where the risk was worth it. We had flow going and those things are a delicate balance. What if Harris screws the pooch and the whole tenor of the game is changed? What if Harris is adequate but when Jennings goes back in he is off? It is a risk/reward proposition. There is time for making the switch and a time to hold as you are. I don't see practice or what the coaches do nor does anyone on the board. We hope Harris has the chance to be a star but don't know. Also neither you or I have a clue as to what is in Les' or Cams' minds. I will say this we have true freshmen starting over seniors. We have Beckwith replacing Welter when he shows he's ready, Fournette starting over Magee & Hilliard, freshmen starting and playing all over the D. You saw Harris replace Jennings earlier and many more examples where talent and more importantly PRODUCTION in the game and at practice (I assume) has lead the younger player to replace the older. I think Les et al see this is a time in CFB when you can't play someone just because they have been in the program longer. I hope and EXPECT that this will happen at the QB position as well when it is called for.
