I would have liked to see him his sr. year. Matt did great, it turned out we didn't need JR. But it certainly hurt the numbers. Suppose Matt had suffered a season ending injury. We'd have had RP, Hatch with less than a year in the system, and Lee, a true frosh, in 2007. For a top program, that's not enough talent on scholly at the QB position. We were too thin then, and we are too thin now. Not having a jr. or sr. qb on scholly is a mistake. We need to do a better job planning that transition. I think we went 2 years without bringing in a QB, and that looks like a mistake. I like that now we have brought in Lee, Jefferson, Sheppard, and Chris Garrett. Looks like we're doing a better job with the numbers.
Russell Sheppard will not see the field next year and maybe not 2010 or 2011. The QB system needs to be back to having a 2 year starter and groom the incoming guys slowly. People who think Sheppard is the next QB messiah as a Frosh are sadly mistaken. Miles will never play a Fr. over a So. or Jr. with SEC experience. Does Mr. "4 Heisman RP" ring a bell? RS will be a great QB, but not for a few years. Lee has all the mechanics to be a great QB as we saw AT TIMES this year. I think he'll settle down by next year. If not JJ will be our QB.
I'd expect Shep to come in his Sophmore year and, if things like this year happen, perhaps his freshman year.
In Dandy Don's column today, he has a note from a former LSU player (unnamed) who watched Shepard play last weekend. He says lots of GREAT stuff about Shep, but what surprised me was this line: I thought it was a foregone conclusion that Shepard would play QB. Thoughts? Link: http://www.dandydon.com/ Scroll down to the reader "note" - it's a long piece.
I don't believe that. RP showed in the SECC game that he wasn't ahead of Flynn. RP didn't start because he didn't give us a better chance to win. If Lee continues his inconsistent play and JJ or Sheppard proves in practice and in a game that they can consistently move the team they will get a chance to lead the team. Saban was reluctant to change starters also but once Rohan was healthy and proved he was the best on the field, Saban made the change.
LSU said they'd give RS a shot at QB, but RS has said himself he just wants to be on the field. He'd perfer QB, but however he can help the team win. RS's only issue as to why he might not be a QB is his accuracy. He's been working on it a lot though. I was looking at one of the big sports recruiting sites and they had RS listed as an ATH. I don't know if he's going to be a starting QB for LSU, but I think he'd do well in a Wild Tiger type formation and I have a feeling that next year we're going to see a play where we have 2 QB's on the field. If we get RR then that would be great. Remember those plays this year where RM lines up at QB and Lee goes wide out. Now imagine those same plays next year where RR / RS starts off at QB then goes wide out, and RS / RR step up under center. I'd also like to take a moment and imagine a offensive formation of Lafell, RS, OL, TT, RR ..............Lee ..............Scott Would be fun to watch, that's for sure. Put RS in the slot WR spot and allow him to go into motion and you have a ton of play options.
Miles is going to play the best QB, not the oldest. If it's a toss up, then loyalties will play. But Miles is not going to sacrifice "victory" to play an upperclassman. Ryan Miller is a case in point - Lyle Hitt is the starting guard. Miller is a highly-thought-of senior. If Shep comes in and burns up the Spring, he's got a shot at it. Do I think that'll happen? No. I don't. But if it does, he plays. My guess is that JJ becomes Lee's understudy and Shep takes on the change of pace role. And Hatch looks to transfer. Shep is too talented to sit - he's going to play and I think he's most dangerous as a QB in a Crowton offense, particularly if he can throw the rock reliably.
