LSU Football: Why Is Les Miles Refusing To Play Jarrett Lee?

Starting in the  2010 Spring Training Camp, Coach Les Miles told the media that Jordan Jefferson was much improved over the disappointing 2009 football year when LSU lost it's first Bowl Game under Coach Les Miles.     

However, during the Spring Game, Jefferson looked to be nothing like the reports we had been hearing from Coach Miles.    He had a horrible game of passing and running and he even looked to be doing the same old things he was doing in 2009, and most even felt he was regressing.

While at the same time Jarrett Lee, the embattled quarterback of 2008 known for throwing seven pick six interceptions performed very well and most observers felt Lee played well.   In general,  Tiger Fans were surprised to see that Jarrett Lee had not transferred, and  that he was still sticking around after his abysmal freshman year.

Jarrett Lee was  Booed for his play during the 2008 campaign and he even was forced to endure a few rude and disgusting fans that cheered when got injured.   

But, Jarrett Lee refused to take the easy way out and transfer to another school, and he became more determined to work hard and regain his starting job.  To assure he would meet these goals, Lee  lost over 20 lbs this summer which made him quicker and more nimble as a play caller.

Next came Fall Camp and we were hearing the same things again about how much improved Jordan Jefferson was and how he would be able to execute the offense finally. But, at the same time Coach Miles was saying the Jarrett Lee was also much improved and he was challenging Jefferson for the starting job.

Well once we started the season it became obvious that Coach Miles and Coach Crowton had made their choice and they would be sticking with Jefferson and help him grow.  Now after four games into the 2010 football season, Jordan Jefferson is continuing to struggle week after week and seems to  regress each week and as a result,  the LSU offense is in dead last in the SEC passing statistics.  

In the face of Jefferson's continued failures, Coach Les Miles has steadfastly refused to replace Jordan Jefferson with Jarrett Lee.   

Each week Miles compliments and praises Jarrett Lee about  how hard he has worked and how he deserves a chance to play, but then each week Lee continues to sit on the bench while Jordan Jefferson takes the offense to new offensive lows.

During the West Virginia game, the LSU fans finally began to Boo either the calls or Jordan Jefferson himself.  In my opinion the fans were more  booing Coach Miles and staff for continuing to play Jordan Jefferson than they were actually booing Jordan Jefferson himself.  Let's just say the fans were frustrated.

As Jefferson continued to struggle through out the game, he threw an interception that almost went for a touchdown, but the returner tripped on his own feet.  But the Mountaineers scored in the next two plays anyway.

Jarrett Lee was then seen putting on his helmet and throwing warm up passes as he was expecting to go in the game.  However, he was then told to take his helmet back off as Jefferson would return again.  I noticed that Lee was walking very fast through the players and appeared to be upset.

However, on the next set of downs they sent him in and I thought he did OK, but a procedure penalty nullified a first down and they finally had to punt.  On the next series, Jefferson returns to run the clock out and Lee is forced to watch.

It is this manner of treatment that must hurt Jarrett Lee's feeling and threaten his confidence when  there is this almost type opportunity from Coach Miles.   Jarrett Lee has proved to all Tiger Fans that he is a man and took his demotion like a man without whimpering or complaining. 

 I dare to say from what I have been reading, that Jordan Jefferson would have trouble enduring  the tough times that Jarrett Lee has gone through. 

In light of the struggling and dis-functional passing game of LSU, I stand amazed at how Coach Miles can continue to justify and condone this poor performance by Jordan Jefferson.  Jefferson justifies his poor play but saying,  we are 4-0 aren't we so what is the problem. Amazing.!!!

He has treated Jefferson like a child when he needs to treat the quarterback position like any other non performing position. If a lineman is not blocking, you replace him or is a defensive back is not covering you replace him. 

All any LSU Tiger Fan is asking of Coach Miles is for him to recognize the lost cause with Jefferson, and do what is in the best interest of the team. 

 It is time to give Jarrett Lee the chance he has worked so hard for these past two years and give this LSU team the chance to reach it's full potential and be able to compete for an SEC and/or BCS Championship.