2015 QB Decision Will Dictate Les Miles' Future at LSU

The 2015 offseason for LSU is the depressing sequel to an already maddening movie. 

For the second straight season, Anthony Jennings and Brandon Harris will battle it out in Baton Rouge for the No. 1 spot on the depth chart at quarterback. Unlike last year, though, this year's edition of the quarterback battle is met with more cynicism than optimism.

Last year's performance from Tigers quarterbacks is the biggest reason why.

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Jennings completed just 48.9 percent of his passes (111-of-227) for 1,611 yards, 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He completed more than 50 percent of his passes against just two of the eight SEC opponents LSU faced (Arkansas and Texas A&M). 

Despite Jennings' struggles, Harris was unable to find his way onto the field as a starter save for one ill-fated start on the road at Auburn, which was undefeated at the time. Harris may have the most upside, but that's not the place a true freshman needs to be thrown into the fire.

"At this point, I feel comfortable in saying that with Jennings, what you see is what you get," said T-Bob Hebert, former LSU offensive lineman and current host of Double Coverage on 3WL 1350 in New Orleans. "I'm not willing to write off Harris yet as the sample size with him is way too small to make any sort of permanent judgments."

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The decision on who to start in 2015 will define head coach Les Miles' future in Baton Rouge.

The 8-5 record and general offensive ineptitude shown in the passing game isn't sitting well this offseason. As ESPN's Brett McMurphy told syndicated radio host Bo Mattingly after the loss to Notre Dame in the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl, Miles isn't exactly on stable ground.

Hebert agrees.

"LSU is in a bit of an awkward spot right now in that as much as things have changed, many Tiger fans feel as if the 'song remains the same,'" he told B/R.

Perhaps more importantly than last season's struggles, the quarterbacks LSU have on the roster—including early enrollee Justin McMillan—are all dual threats.

What have Miles or offensive coordinator Cam Cameron proved during their coaching careers to indicate that they can figure out how to make mobile quarterbacks work?

Nothing.

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Jordan Jefferson was average at best at LSU, Ryan Perrilloux only played a minor role in 2007 behind Matt Flynn, and Cameron is as much of a pro-style coordinator as there is in college football.

Besides, it's not like LSU needs to reinvent the wheel.

It has a running back in Leonard Fournette and a defense that, while undergoing a change to new defensive coordinator Kevin Steele, is wildly talented.

"Bottom line, LSU needs to figure out who will be leading this team under center sooner rather than later. He doesn't have to be great," Hebert said. "He just needs to be somewhere north of competent."

Somewhere north of competent, though, seems like the distance from Rio de Janeiro to the North Pole. Hopefully for Miles, Santa Claus brought him a late Christmas gift in the form of a revitalized offense. 

If he didn't, another 8-5 season could heat up that seat in a hurry.

Barrett Sallee is the lead SEC college football writer and video analyst for Bleacher Report as well as a host on Bleacher Report Radio on Sirius 93, XM 208.

Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. All stats are courtesy of cfbstats.com unless otherwise noted, and all recruiting information is courtesy of 247Sports' composite rankings. Follow Barrett on Twitter @BarrettSallee.