Agree with most of what's being said. Only thought to the contrary is: Wildcat formations don't work well if the guy never throws. He needs to be a credible threat to throw the ball IMO.
IMHO I think it could be pretty awesome to have a tailback that throws almost as well as your starting QB and runs like a banshee. Beyond the wildcat, line up in a shotgun with one of the regular running backs and Shepard split wide in the backfield and three wide. Gives option a whole new meaning. From the I (really any formation), the halfback option pass becomes a real down field threat that must be respected by defenses. All of this fails to mention Shepard being able to play a slotback type position as well. It seems to me that as long as they can work together without interference of egos (which it seems the entire team is excellent at achieving.), the sky is the limit for the possibilities.
I'm afraid you may be right. We'll know for sure after Bama. If he doesn't throw against Bama, he's probably not going to.
I think that's jumping the gun a little and I wouldn't say that at all. Unless he's had some kind of DRASTIC change of heart, he came to LSU to eventually play QB. He has said he has no problems doing anything and everything else to help this team while maturing, waiting and learning the system. And he has acknowledged that there is a QB doing fine for LSU right now so he's happy with getting touches any way he can. I think he'd be awesome in a Percy Harvin role, but I also think with the right system he'd be even scarier at QB. He's very young and he's a leader...there are many possibilities. I don't know about that, Les can be scary about his freshmen. But no doubt, his job right now is to run to daylight.
This is exactly what I was going to say...didn't Shep state that he was interested in a place that would allow him to be QB at some point? I would hate to see that as a negative in some recruits eyes as CLM negating on his word.
I would still be optimistic that RS would get to make a throw attempt in a trick play against BAMA. BTW, I didn't know Joe Addai can throw; bet a lot of you saw the replay of the nice touchdown pass today by Addai in the game against SF.
If his goal is to play in the NFL, he'll give up the QB dream now and be thrilled to take snaps whenever Crowton decides to break out the LSU version od the Wildcat or an option play.
He was promised a shot at QB. He got his shot. Not saying he won't get another, but he got his shot. I don't think Shep has ANY complaints.
He's got plenty of time to worry about the NFL and they can always convert him to do whatever (he's obviously athletic enough). Besides, he'll be playing RB/WR, etc., to start his career in college. So the NFL will get a good enough idea of what he can do. He doesn't strike me as the type that is even worrying about the NFL right now. If he has a dream to play QB in college, I seriously doubt he'd let it die that quick. You mean in practice, right? I don't think he has any complaints at all either. I don't think many people really thought he'd play QB much at all this year with JJ ending last year like he did. I don't think Shepard expected too really play there either. I think Shepard just wants the chance to possibly play there in the future. I think he feels that if he's in the system for a while and doesn't do well/impress in practice at QB, then he'll be happy where the coaches feel he excels the most. But he wants the chance to develop and be considered for the future.
