LSU should start Jefferson from Day 1

By Lee Roberts  |   Monday, August 18, 2008  |  Comments( 0 )

LSU Tigers
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After having an embarrassment of riches at quarterback only two seasons ago, LSU now faces a major dilemma at the position. During the 2006 season, which ended in a Sugar Bowl dismantling of Notre Dame, LSU had JaMarcus Russell, Matt Flynn and Ryan Perrilloux on its roster. Not a bad group, eh? Last year, as they won the national championship, the Tigers rotated Flynn and Perrilloux to perfection – keeping defenses off balance and points on the scoreboard.

Now, with Flynn and Perrilloux gone, head coach Les Miles faces his most difficult personnel decision yet: Who should start for the Tigers when they open against Appalachian State? True freshman Jordan Jefferson, that’s who.

There is no real incumbent in the system. Elder statesman Andrew Hatch is the most experienced quarterback in the program, and he has one career completion for the Tigers. During a college tenure which has taken him from BYU to Harvard to LSU, there isn’t much he hasn’t seen. Well, except for an SEC defense lining up across from him. Sure, Hatch is older and presumably more mature than the other potential starters, but that doesn’t make him the best choice.

Miles’ second option is redshirt freshman Jarrett Lee, who split time with Hatch during the spring and showed a good grasp of the offense. He was one of the top recruits in his high school class and appears to be a better passer than Hatch. Most programs would love to have someone of Lee’s caliber playing quarterback, but LSU isn’t most programs. And Lee isn’t as talented as Jordan Jefferson.

Jefferson is a true freshman who possesses all the tools to be great. While he doesn’t have the familiarity with the offense that Hatch and Lee do, his ceiling is much higher. That potential should be enough to push him to the top of the depth chart. Growing pains are a small price to pay to have at least three full seasons of a quarterback with Heisman-level ability.

LSU’s opening schedule of Appalachian State, Troy and North Texas should give Jefferson ample time to get comfortable without the team risking a loss. Those three games will provide Jefferson with more experience than either Hatch or Lee has combined. If you’re going to start an inexperienced quarterback, you might as well give the reins to the most talented one.

While the first couple games might not be the most aesthetically pleasing for fans and coaches, starting Jefferson from Day 1 is in the best interest of the LSU program. He’s going to be LSU’s quarterback at some point, so with the other options failing to distinguish themselves, it makes sense to play Jefferson.

For the Tigers and Jefferson, the future is now.
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About Lee Roberts

Born in Richmond, Va, I moved south to UNC-Chapel Hill for college and received a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. I currently live in Charlotte, NC and cover Auburn, LSU and the ACC.
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