LSU Football: Would LSU Be Undefeated Without Jarrett Lee?

Beginning with last weeks game against Tennessee, Coach Les MIles made the decision to go with the two quarterback system. 

And now this new system has produced two big victories for the Tigers, so we must agree it is working much better than the old system where LSU had basically no passing attack under Jordan Jefferson only. 

In my previous article, I wrote that LSU has recruited so much talent at wide receiver with guys like Rueben Randle and Terrance Tolliver, but that they had not recruited a quarterback that could throw the ball to them. 

Well, it is the beleaguered quarterback,  Jarrett Lee that has come on to give LSU that missing passing game for the offense and when called upon,  Lee and his receivers have responded magnificently. 

Both Rueben Randle and Terrance Toliver have blossomed under Lee's passing game and they have both expressed publically that they like it when Lee is in the game.  

The Lee to Toliver combination has in particular has become a very special combination that is responsible in large part for LSU's last two victories. 

In the Tennessee game, Lee connected with Toliver on a 4th and 14 yard  fourth quarter pass completion that was caught between three defenders that kept the Tigers winning drive alive.   Just before the pass to Toliver, Lee connected on a beautiful 47 yards completion to Rueben Randle to help put the Tigers within striking distance. 

After Lee put the Tigers on the 3 yard line, Jordan Jefferson came in to quarterback the controversial winning touchdown.  But, Had Jarrett Lee not come on to engineer the Tiger's final drive, the LSU would not have been in the position to win that game.

An then on Saturday night in Gainesville, Florida, Lee threw his second touchdown pass of the year to Terrance Toliver on a short pass, and Toliver did the rest as he drug a Florida tackler into the end zone. 

Finally,  Jarrett Lee threw his third touchdown of the year to Terrance Toliver on a heart stopping catch with six seconds to go secure the victory for LSU over Florida  in the Swamp.

While I, along with all other Tiger fans are elated that the LSU Tigers went down to the Swamp and pulled out a victory, there are still some lingering concerns and questions as to why Coach Miles still chooses to start and play Jordan Jefferson most of the time. 

To me it has been obvious that the LSU passing game under Lee can be very explosive and in a big game like Florida, I think you need to stay on the field or score points  as much as possible.  Frankly, it did turn out ok, but I was very concerned that LSU might lose that game the way Miles was insisting on the running game so much.

But, I guess we must all understand that it is the run which always has been Lee Miles' preferred offense and if given a choice he would rather run the ball.  Apparently,  this is part of the old Big 10 mentality Miles was brought up on.  

But, Just because Jefferson is the better runner, that should not mean that Lee cannot run the ball also to keep the defense honest when he is in the game.

I know I should just be glad for the victory, and of course I am, but I just feel LSU will have to have a balanced attack if they are to compete with Alabama, Auburn, and Arkansas down the stretch.

If the Tigers are to win another SEC title, they will have to defeat all three of those teams and I  don't see how they will without using Jarrett Lee's passing  and the running of Steven Ridley. 

But, I think the evidence of Jarrett Lee's production in these pasted two games makes it abundantly clear that without Jarrett Lee, LSU would not be undefeated today. 

Of course I realize he may throw an interception sometimes, but that is to be expected by all quarterbacks and I think Lee has worked hard enough to overcome his freshman errors.    

So, If it sounds like I am a Jarrett Lee supporter. it is because I am.  I think we as Tiger fans should be very thankful tor the courage and determination that this young man has shown by sticking with this LSU program and continuing to work hard these past two years. 

Most others would have simply said good bye and transferred saying I don't need this abuse and I think most of us would not have blamed him.

But, thank God Jarrett Lee did stick it out and now I hope he can reap the dividends of his labor and hard work. . 

So, I ask the final question:  WOULD LSU BE UNDEFEATED TODAY WITHOUT JARRETT LEE ? 

My answer is a resounding NO.