LSU will turn to experienced backup quarterback Jarrett Lee to lead the Tigers against Oregon on Saturday after No. 1 QB Jordan Jefferson was suspended indefinitely.
Depending on which LSU fan you've polled lately, last week's arrest and indefinite suspension of starting quarterback Jordan Jefferson either makes or breaks the No. 4 Tigers as a national championship contender entering Saturday's season opener against No. 3 Oregon in Dallas.
Those distraught over the 6-5, 225-pound Jefferson's suspension feel the Tigers will miss his 27 games of starting experience and his running ability that brings an option element to LSU's offense.
The fans that won't miss Jefferson point to his 7 TDs to 10 interceptions ratio last season as a continued lack of progress.
Those same fans also believe that the most physically blessed QBs don't necessarily win national championships, and that has been evident at LSU.
Rohan Davey (1998-2001) and JaMarcus Russell (2004-06) were two 6-5-plus, 230-pound-plus QBs who rank No. 7 and No. 3 in LSU career passing yardage.
But the QBs of LSU's two national championship teams in 2003 and 2007 were Matt Mauck and Matt Flynn, not the biggest or fastest QBs, but excellent game managers.
LSU coach Les Miles is hoping fifth-year senior Jarrett Lee, who was a disaster as a starter in 2008 as a redshirt freshman (he threw 16 interceptions, seven returned for TDs), can transition his clutch relief performances from last season into being a superb starter.
"In the three games that he played significant football a year ago he showed poise," Miles said. "He threw the (game-winning) touchdown pass at the end of the game against Florida. He was responsible for the drive that came down at the end of the game to beat Tennessee. And he made a third and long play late in the Alabama game that depicts a guy that plays in pressure situations.
"It's a different style of quarterback (than Jefferson), but still the same issue -- get the ball in the hands of the guy that has the opportunity to make plays for us."
LSU wide receiver Rueben Randle has faith in Lee.
"We feel he (Lee) can step in and be the quarterback we all know he can be," Randle said. "Our offense is still going to be our offense."
It's not game day yet, so Ole Miss true freshman wide receiver Donte Moncrief doesn't seem nervous about being named starter for Saturday's opener against Brigham Young.
Moncrief, rated the No. 2 player in the state of Mississippi last year when he had 22 catches for 441 yards and nine TDs for Raleigh High, said he's ready to roll.
"Those two-a-days were the longest I've ever practiced in my life," Moncrief said. "But it helped me get used to the speed. I never played with or against anybody as fast as I am. And I got smarter with my routes."
With No. 2 Alabama an overwhelming favorite in Saturday's opener against Kent State, Tide coach Nick Saban's alma mater, he's already planning to play two quarterbacks.
Neither third-year sophomore AJ McCarron nor redshirt freshman Phillip Sims have started a college game. McCarron, who played in eight games last year as a QB, will get the start on Saturday, but Sims will also play.
"I really think one of them has to come out there first, but I don't think that necessarily means that guy is the starter," Saban said. "We have a plan for both guys to play in the game.
"I don't think one guy has clearly separated himself from the other. Both guys will know exactly how they are going to play in the game and the consequences of their play will not be a factor as to whether they continue to play in whatever is programmed for them to play. In other words, I don't want any player out there looking over his shoulder thinking, 'If I make one bad play, you are going to pull me out of the game.'"
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