The "Stat" that mattered in this last game against McNeese ...... Lee took 7 of the 12 possessions, 4 for TDs, 1 for a missed 32 yrd FG, and 2 punts. Jefferson took 5 of the 12, with a FG, and 4 punts/turnover. That bout says all that needs be said.
I really don't think we understand each other. What I was trying to say (and maybe it did not come across correctly) is that you have been screaming for JL to start for the last few games, but instead of just throwing Lee in there and benching JJ, Miles played him a little more and more and built his confidence. He did NOT throw him to the wolves in the Tenn or UF games. He had JJ in there at times and showed his confidence in JL by letting him throw those fades to TT in the end of the UF game after getting picked on the fade in the previous game. And at this point, he won't be "throwing him to the wolves" if he starts. With the confidence he has now (after easing him in...), hopefully now HE is the wolf and AU, Bama, and Arky are the sheep. That is what I meant. Les did NOT follow your advice for the last three weeks, he eased him in and now I think that JL has a MUCH better chance of being prepared mentally for the rest of the season. Uh, he did NOT throw him in as the starter (which most of you begged for). He put him and JJ on the field and let them split time. He played the hot hand and let whoever was hot go out to run the team in the final drives. Every time, it was clearly JL. JJ was stinking it up. Miles did NOT stick with JJ out of loyalty in the last drives of the games, he handed the ball to JL after easing him in and not putting the weight on the world on his shoulders all week as the "starter". He was only a sub and he was given a "shot" at the end because he had earned it during the game. Apparently that works better for JL. That is the part of the personalities that we don't have access to. If is had only to do with stats, then he would have been starting. He hasn't been starting. Therefore... IT IS NOT ALL ABOUT STATS!!!! Pretty simple logic. It is about the fluff in my post you ignored. Read what I wrote again. I said that JL is the man at THIS POINT. Not three weeks ago when all of the posters in threads like these started whining for JJ to be completely benched and JL thrown in there without a safety net. Instead of following your advice, Miles decided to do things his own way and bring him along slowly. So no, I do NOT agree with everything you have been saying and I don't think (and Miles doesn't think) that things had a great chance of it working out all rosy if they had started JL in the Tenn game. I think JL is ready after doing pretty well against Tenn, UF, and McNeese. But what I think is not that important. I think that Miles will turn over the team to JL this next game. But if he doesn't, I am not going to run screaming to the web whining about how Miles is loyal to the point of spiking the team. If Miles says that he isn't ready, then he isn't ready. And the reason to believe that is in all of the "fluff" you ignored...
have you ever seen a quarterback get worse with the more playing time he gets? I didn't think it was possible until now. i really haven't seen a worse quarterback in a long time. Jaime Howard was better than Jefferson.
I don't have the energy to continue arguing over WHEN you started admitting I was I right. Les put a QB, who hasn't seen significiant playing time in 2 years, in at the end of the Tenn game, while also asking him to throw the ball 23 times in his first game this year (over HALF the number of total passes he had all year last year), and asked him to throw down field and win the game. You can't get much more thrown in the fire than that. I also don't know where you're getting that I said I wanted JJ totally benched before the Tenn game. I was calling for JL to get playing time, and AFTER the Tenn game to be the starter but still split snaps. Now after the UF game I thought JL should have gotten the start and the majority of the snaps against McNeese - but even then I said he should get 80% of the snaps and throw the ball 20 - 25 times in the game. At least get your facts straight if you're going to say my opinion is wrong. At this point I think JJ is a liability to the offense and I think he should only see limited play. I don't even know if I trust him in the red zone though, after he fumbled against McNeese.
JJ has had every opportunity under the sun to prove why he should be the starting QB. His accomplishments speak for themselves. He has proven why he should be on the bench, with the exception of plays designed for him. Which should be very few and far between.
I am sure that they are bringing Lee along slowly, but we are in the 2nd half of the season and facing the toughest opponents. I fear that he has been brought along too slowly. I wish he had a lot more snaps under his belt before the murderers row games.
I can respect that opinion and it may be true. We will never know. If he does great from here on out, then Miles did a fine job of bringing him along OR Miles held him back for no reason and Lee is finally showing what he could always do and he his success is another reason Miles is an idiot. If he blows up and looks like crap then he was a head case all along and Miles did his best to protect him but in the long run he is what he is OR Miles didn't give him enough playing time to work out the kinks and now he is making mistakes that he should have been making against easier competition. I choose to believe the former in both cases, some believe the latter.
I've gotta eat some crow for defending Jefferson, he is in terrible form and it was brutal watching him Saturday night. We will win against Auburn on Lee's arm and Ridley's legs. Having said that, I still don't mind if JJ starts the game Saturday. I won't criticize the coaches' decisions until we drop a game, because the only stat that matters is 7-0.
