Take Your Pick: Who's the Answer to LSU's Quarterback Dilemma?

Tigerland is not happy again! LSU loses another big game in so many weeks—so much for defending the national championship.

To many of the fans, there goes the season. What does that mean for the disgruntled fan? Blame the rookie quarterbacks, of course.

There is fair cause for that. LSU has thrown at least two touchdowns in the last four games. Those crucial mistakes have been a difference maker, definitely something to be upset about, but do you really throw in the season and try yet another quarterback?

Sitting on the sideline is LSU’s highly touted quarterback, Jordan Jefferson. Jefferson is probably as good as advertised and will probably be a true force for the Tigers in the future, maybe as early as next year. With all of that said, with five games left (four very winnable) and a good bowl at stake, there is no reason to put yet another young quarterback carousel

LSU is going through growing pains at that position. Both of these young guys were supposed to be sitting and watching this year.  Now they’re both thrown in the spotlight in the toughest defensive conference in the country, and they are going to make mistakes.

Hatch does seem to be more comfortable with the pressure, but while he can handle the running aspect of the offense, his passing is just not there.

That leaves Jarrett Lee. Lee is the gunslinging quarterback that people love. He can put the ball all over the field and make the big plays. The problem is he is also giving up big plays to the opposing team’s defense.

The coaches feel that they have to protect Lee (as well as Hatch), so that limits the things the offense is going to be capable of doing. Because of that Lee has not been able to find his comfort level consistently in the game.  This is cause for concern with Lee, but it would also be the same concern with Jefferson.

At this point in the season, LSU has put all their eggs in the basket that is Lee. Like it or not, Lee is being groomed to handle LSU’s offense in the future. Since they did, Jefferson is behind the eight ball. He has not been getting the meaningful snaps in practice, and he has not been given the time in the hostile environment.

If you are LSU, now is not the time to try to deal with another young guy feeling his way around in the offense. Every game means more now after the loss. That means more pressure on the inexperienced quarterback, no matter who you are.

If LSU is to succeed the remainder of this year, then it has to continue to do it with Lee. It won’t be pretty, but it will be necessary. This is what happens when a team is forced to depend on a very young quarterback to carry a team. However, there is good news.

Take a peek at the Georgia team that beat LSU today. Their wily veteran quarterback took the Tigers apart, but he wasn’t always the great decision maker.  In Matthew Stafford’s first year, he threw 13 interceptions against seven touchdowns. Today he is arguably the best quarterback in the SEC, and he will be one of the first TWO quarterbacks taken in April should he choose to leave Georgia.

Lee is very much the same type of quarterback that Stafford is, and just like Stafford, it will take some lumps and time to have everything clicking.

Since Tigerland is a restless and spoiled bunch, the calls for Lee will persist, and he does deserve to be criticized. However, the season is not lost. Calling for Jefferson will just put the entire team and season in jeopardy.

There is no question that after this season the quarterback race will be wide open, and it should be. If Jefferson beats out Lee and Hatch, then he is the best man for the job, but just remember—as bad as it may look, Lee is getting on the job training. He should be a better quarterback after this, and maybe what LSU is going to need. Only time will tell.

For better or worse, Lee will be the starting quarterback until the end of the season, and in the long run that is probably for the best.  Now that defense is another story entirely...