LSU Quarterback Dilemma: Who Should Les Miles Start Under Center?

Would you trade short-term success for potential long-term riches? LSU head coach Les Miles must answer this question when choosing his starting quarterback for each game this season.

Miles' current starter, Anthony Jennings, is average. His numbers against Florida were a mediocre 10-of-21 for 110 yards and a touchdown. His numbers on the season are not that much better.

	Att-Comp	Yards	TD's	INTs
Anthony Jennings	57-114	928	6	3
Brandon Harris	25-44	452	6	1

The other option under center is true freshman Brandon Harris, who has better tools than Jennings in every aspect of quarterbacking. Harris got his opportunity to be the guy in LSU's previous game against Auburn but struggled mightily.

Miles said he wanted to get Harris on the field against the Gators, but the opportunity did not present itself.

"We wanted to play Brandon Harris, I did, certainly coach (offensive coordinator Cam) Cameron did, just what happens you get in those tight games, the win and the necessary momentum doesn't present itself and so what you say is, let's go with Anthony," said Miles, per LSU Sports Information.

Miles probably sees a lot of himself in Jennings. They both are not flashy, but when the game is on the line, they will more than likely come through with victory.

No coach in the SEC has been better at coming from behind than Miles. ESPN Stats & Info has the stat to prove it:

Jennings' best attribute is also Miles', which is finding a way to win the fourth quarter. He has thrown clutch touchdowns against Arkansas, Wisconsin and Florida.

However, Jennings' timely play has not been enough to solidify himself as the starter.

Who Has More Potential? 

Miles must look at the big picture when looking at the quarterback position.

Jennings has a similar, but slightly better, career trajectory than Arkansas quarterback Brandon Allen. They are serviceable starters who struggle to complete half of their passes and have limited skill sets.

Butch Dill/Associated Press

On the other hand, Harris could be a better version of Auburn's Nick Marshall. Harris has an elite arm and amazing escapability with his legs. Cameron would certainly have more playbook flexibility with the true freshman.

Harris can, and probably will, be a better quarterback than Jennings if given equal opportunity.

How Should Miles Distribute the Snaps?

Miles must weigh his short- and long-term goals. He and his staff can hopefully see this year's team will not win championships, so he must make a tough choice.

Jennings' triumph in The Swamp has made the situation more complicated. He led the team to its only SEC victory, so giving Harris meaningful snaps could send the wrong message.

Miles also knows he has reached a national championship with average, yet steady, quarterbacking in the past, but he must understand that is unlikely to happen again.

Miles can shorten the game with Jennings by pounding the rock with Leonard Fournette and keeping the score close. When Miles needs a clutch pass to win the game, he can trust Jennings to come through—basically the same blueprint against Florida.

"

#Imagine how special! #Loose @_fournette pic.twitter.com/Q3xQ4Iqb2z

— bharris (@bharrisqb1) October 11, 2014"

Or Miles can give Harris another chance against SEC opposition. He is the likelier quarterback to lead a team to a championship. The true freshman has a fourth-quarter comeback of his own against Mississippi State, though it did not result in victory.

A two-quarterback system is not out of the question either.

Miles has used Jordan Jefferson and Ryan Perrilloux in the past with certain packages to get them on the field. That could easily happen with Harris in the next couple of games.

Conclusion

There is no clear way Miles should handle this complex situation.

The development of quarterbacks has never been Miles' coaching expertise. And the Valley Shook!'s Paul Crewe agrees, stating that the average season of a QB who was recruited and developed by Miles has been abysmal.

How Miles brings along Jennings and Harris will determine if LSU can challenge for SEC Championships again.

Miles could play Jennings for the rest of the season and allow Harris—with a season of Cameron's offense under his belt—a chance to win the job in the offseason. But if Harris succeeds in doing so, then valuable game experience that could have gone to the true freshman would be wasted.

Miles could also follow what Mississippi State's Dan Mullen did with Dak Prescott.

Prescott played sparingly in his freshman year, shared snaps and starts with a less talented Tyler Russell as a sophomore and then became the unquestioned leader of a No. 1 team destined for a spot in the College Football Playoff as a junior.

Gerald Herbert/Associated Press

Harris' eventual development into a Prescott-level player is not as far-fetched as one might think, especially considering that some of his fellow freshmen will have likely matured into NFL-level playmakers by the time they are juniors. 

Miles will be under immense pressure to make a College Football Playoff appearance with his 2014 class, which features Harris and Fournette, at some point.

Miles' 100 wins in Baton Rouge, the loaded SEC West and the Tigers' 18 early entries into the NFL draft over the past two seasons have bought him a "down year." As long as he reaches a bowl game in 2014, which only requires one more victory, this season will not be a disaster.

Legendary coaches are not remembered for eight and- nine-win seasons but for championships.

If Miles feels playing Harris—even if it means benching the better quarterback to win now in Jennings—is better for the success of the program in the long term, he should do it.

Barring a miracle transfer or recruit, LSU's starting quarterback in 2015 and 2016 will either be Harris or Jennings. How Miles manages their snaps this season could determine how things play out in the future.

Stats, rankings and additional information provided by cfbstats.com and LSU Sports Information. Recruiting information provided by 247Sports.

Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow me on Twitter @CarterthePower.