Arkansas vs. LSU: Les Miles Must Go with Jordan Jefferson the Rest of the Way

By the time we actually get down to the final few weeks of the regular season, you can usually tell which players you can trust in big spots and which ones you can expect to come up short when their time is called.

Trust and faith are two very valuable things, which shouldn’t be given out freely at this time in the season.

Not even the top-ranked teams are immune to trust issues as you can see with No. 1 LSU.

Head coach Les Miles has managed to balance his two-quarterback system almost flawlessly this season. He has shown that he has the magic touch when it comes to picking which quarterback to ride with.

For the past two games, Miles has handed control of the offense to formerly suspended senior Jordan Jefferson.

Leaning on Jefferson could possibly be an indication that Miles has lost some faith in Jarrett Lee after he tossed two crucial interceptions in the “Game of the Century” against Alabama.

Jefferson will likely get the start against Arkansas on Friday, but what will be really interesting to see is how many snaps Lee ultimately sees during the game.

If Jefferson struggles, and maybe even throws a pick early on in the game, Miles will have to make the tough decision of doing the same thing to him that he did to Jarrett Lee in Tuscaloosa.

Lee’s confidence was obviously rattled when Miles pulled him against Alabama, and the same thing could happen to Jefferson if he gets pulled early.

Miles has shown that he’s got a hot hand when it comes to shuffling quarterbacks. However, at this point in the season, it may be time to simply put your trust and faith in one quarterback and stick with that guy.

If that’s Jordan Jefferson, then he’s the guy you’ve got to go with.

The worst thing Miles could do on Friday is pull Jefferson, watch Lee struggle and then have to put Jefferson back in, hoping that his confidence hasn’t wavered.

If you look back at a lot of the national championship teams from recent years, besides the 2006 Florida team, you won’t see many two-quarterback systems that have won national titles.

If LSU wants to win a national championship, it’s time to buckle down, find a quarterback and either live or die with him at the helm.

If you trust Jefferson enough to give him that power, you’ve got to give him the proper opportunity to prove he’s worthy of it.