Uh, no. Conventional wisdom says you go with the guy who looks the best in practice and scrimmages if the coaches feel he gives the team the best chance to win.
Look, I'm just saying that the LSU defense was playing touch football with the LSU QBs during the spring game. I meant to mention this in the thread bhelm started showing Hatch's highlights... but like I said, there was this very impressive run Hatch had in the Spring Game against an LSU defense that was playing touch football with him, that in my personal opinion, would have realistically set himself up to be crippled for life had he been running against an LSU defense that was trying to crush him as best as they could using legal NCAA methods. I just don't expect to see Hatch running with such reckless abandon like that against real SEC defenses. Yes, it was cool to see Hatch make a crazy run like that in the LSU Spring Game, and it would be great having a crazy QB who ran with reckless abandon like that against real defensive threats that could quite easily put him in a wheelchair for the rest of his life, but like you and I both agree, that is not realistic for an SEC QB other than Superman Tebow.
Look :grin: I just don't see a QB NOT running with with extreme purpose to escape being POUNDED by a defense that is going to finish the play and try to take his nugget off. Flynn made a few very nice runs last year against "real SEC defenses". RP did as well. I understand your point, John. I just think you're wrong. Since this entire discussion is based on subjective observation, we'll never know. And that means....I will always be righter than you. :hihi:
Who "starts" doesn't matter one bit. They both play this season. Likely, even Jefferson sees significant action if and when one goes down. SEC Teams, especially AU, will tee off on our QBs early and often in games with intentional late hits and dirty play as the position is our Achilles Heel. SEC teams will both fear and hate LSU, because we have THE PROGRAM. Florida was stomped to death physically the year after they won the NC. How did we do in 2004 after we won it in 2003? Everyone takes their shot at you and plays above their heads. Injuries will result, it's a given. Go back and look at the injury stats after a NC year. LSU will need both and even Jefferson just to finish this season. I like Hatch's ability to run when he has to do it, and we'll definitely see his ability to hang on to the ball against Apple State, when he'll take some serious hits. I see a Hatch-led team lighting up the scoreboard in the first game, finishing with almost 50 points. This QB has a "gift" for scoring. He doesn't look flashy, and he's not a Vick, but he's a gamer and if he can take the hits and stay healthy, we're going to Atlanta in December. The coaches will have to get the two ready for serious contact in the Fall. I just hope our Tigers don't eat their own. It's a helluva choice to make, but I'd let them see some contact in the final scrimmages, with clear instructions to my defense to be sure they are clean hits. You've gotta baptize them sometime, best not to do it in Game 4. We'll see what the coaches decide on in August. In any event, I see overachievement from Hatch-errrr-ahem and Crowton. Never underestimate a mormom, and especially the power of prayer. Besides, I hear tell that God himself is an LSU Tiger fan. :wink:
Being a highly touted high schooler is not really a qualification. They both have scholarships. The coaches need to go with the guy that's more effective, even if he happens to be a transfer. Some guys develop fast (Hodson), others slow (Russell). If they are even, then we play them both, just like any other position
I think the most compelling question in all of this for me is: Will Jefferson redshirt or not? Is TC McCarthy enough of a third stringer to keep the RS on JJ? I've read in a couple of places that JJ has turned the heat up a bit on Hatch and Lee. If true, why RS him with Shep and Garrett in the wings and then maybe Connor Wood or some other hotshot behind them? Something tells me JJ will take his RS off this season.
Something tells you???? It's abundantly clear if not obvious that there are no plans to redshirt Mr. Jefferson in 2008-09
