Red, you might want to go see the doctor after that post. You okay? I think LSU did well with Herb Tyler, Matt Mauck and Matt Flynn. All QBs who ran more than the typical QB and were pretty much considered running QBs. I think we got two BCS championships out of those guys and many great wins and bowl victories under Herb Tyler. How do you blame the Ole Miss loss on Jefferson? He didn't even start. How many points did we have before Jefferson got in the game??? Love those great stats by the way. You don't think they're a little skewed, huh? One thing I don't see - A PICK SIX IN THE JORDAN JEFFERSON CATEGORY!
I have read this forum for years without response until now. All I can say is wow! Red55 are you serious,"You can't win with a running quarterback in the SEC." I would say that you can't win in the SEC with a quarterback that can't run, can't audible, can't look at more than one receiver, can't keep from throwing a record number of interceptions returned for touchdowns, can't come back after mistakes, can't lead the team, can't improve over the course of the season, and should never be seen again in a Tiger uniform except to carry a notebook and signal in plays. If you know of a quarterback like the one I have just described he's the prototypical can't win SEC quarterback. Now on to your stats, again wow! With your skewing abilities and an accounting degree, Fannie Mae could be in the black, damn! I quote the great mind of Howie Long when I say "stats are for losers". Your stats bear that out in great detail and the biggest loser this season are fans that paid good money this fall to see a poor product.
I don't have the benefit of working with our QBs everyday like our coaching staff does, so they are in a much better position to decide who our QB should be than I am. Regardless, from my limited perspective, I agree that none of our 3 QBs has separated themselves this season: 2008 QB rating: 118.4 -- Hatch 116.9 -- Lee 106.6 -- JJ (Compare to Matt Mauck in 2002: 118.76) 2008 Completion Pct. 55.6% -- Hatch 53.2% -- Lee 41.7% -- JJ (Compare to Matt Mauck in 2002: 48.5%) 2008 Interception Rate JJ -- 1 per 48 attempts (1 in 48) Hatch -- 1 per 45 attempts (1 in 45) Lee -- 1 per 17 attempts (16 in 269) (Compare to Matt Mauck in 2002: 1 per 65 attempts, 2 in 130) I like Hatch because he is 23 (born 1986), while Lee is only 19 (born 1989) and JJ is only 18 (born 1990). I also like Hatch because he is extremely smart: National Merit Finalist, got into Harvard, etc. While Hatch doesn't have the arm that Lee or JJ has, he has them both beat when it comes to maturity and IQ. But does that maturity and IQ translate enough on the field to separate himself from Lee and JJ. Apparently not yet. Between Lee and JJ, Lee is a better passer at this point (although JJ will get better and better the more and more he practices with the talent we have at LSU and the more and more he learns from Crowton and company). However, Lee has that horrible interception problem which he has not been able to improve. As for JJ, he is not as good of a passer as Lee at this point, but he is a much better runner. JJ's running ability gives opposing defense something else they have to worry about, and JJ's running ability makes him feel more comfortable running the ball instead of throwing passes that he feels are too risky.
Indeed, but 27 yards passing per game isn't being able to run and pass and it damn sure ain't a Heisman Trophy. I think Jefferson has earned himself some playing time, sure, but not necessarily the start. Arkansas stopped Jefferson's runs in the second half and he didn't have the passing game to back them off. Our bowl opponent is likely to be much better and just as defensively smart.
You don't see more than 30 passing yards (a 40% average) a game either. If the guy can't pass his runs will be stopped.
Name a running quarterback who has been successful in the SEC. Not a run and pass type like Mauck or Tebow. But a run-only quarterback like Jefferson. I can name 25 more successful passing quarterbacks for every one you can come up with . . . if any.
I'm happy that Red is making this point so well. Jefferson can, indeed, run with the ball. He isn't at all a good passer at this point in his career. When a team knows we can't pass the ball, they stop the run. Friday, the run that was stopped was Jefferson's.
They both need to play and get experience. Jefferson has a lot of learning to do and it would be nice to see him get some experience. He has played in two games against the two worst pass defenses in the conference (not named LSU). Lets not make him the savior just yet. The guy may not throw pick sixes but he is hardly scaring defenses. We need to see both play after another 15 practices which includes time to clear their minds, something that will help Lee. The staff is not going to ignore Lee after a few games that he wasnt ready to play in.
and my honest answer, albeit much premature, is that neither are going to lead LSU to many wins against quality opposition. i still think lee would be our best chance as a starter given a lobotomy.
