AuburnUndercover.com's ongoing series on Auburn's opponents in the 2008 season continues today with a look at LSU, which visits Jordan-Hare Stadium on Sept. 20.
LSU will go into this season without a quarterback who has ever played a significant snap of college football. And it might not matter.
Either junior Andrew Hatch, a transfer from Harvard and a former walk-on, or redshirt freshman Jarrett Lee is expected to be the starter. True freshman Jordan Jefferson also will get a look. As the Bayou Bengals celebrated the national championship last January, they never expected such a situation. But coach Les Miles finally had his fill of heir apparent Ryan Perrilloux and booted him off the team.
So, when LSU plays Appalachian State in its season-opener on Aug. 30, there will be serious questions under the center. But there won’t be many questions elsewhere. And that’s why it might not matter who lines up at quarterback.
Fourteen LSU players were selected first-, second- or third-team preseason All-SEC. Every SEC team has more experience at quarterback than does LSU. But no team has so many players who have gotten all-star recognition.
Miles says he’s not alarmed about the quarterback situation.
“I think Jarrett Lee, Andrew Hatch, both guys had good springs,” Miles said. “Both guys are learning the offense. They had an entire summer of study where the receiving corps gathered them, ran the passing that we run, really helped identify to our quarterbacks where they're going to be. I think they've made good progress through the summer. “
Besides, all that may be required of whoever plays is to avoid getting his team beat.
The defensive line, with four returning starters led by senior end Tyson Jackson, could be the best in the college game. The offensive line, led by senior Herman Johnson, probably won’t be far behind. Throw in players like wide receiver Demetrius Byrd, running back Keiland Williams and linebacker Darryl Beckwith, and there’s plenty of firepower on both sides of the ball.
LSU won the national championship despite two losses and numerous harrowing escapes last season. One of those escapes came against Auburn, when quarterback Matt Flynn hit Byrd with the game-winning 22-yard touchdown pass with a single second left.
The road schedule is more daunting this season. The home team has won the Auburn-LSU game every since 2000. There is a trip to Auburn, and that has proved problematic in recent seasons. LSU has not won at Auburn since 1998.
“I feel like the road games - Auburn, Florida, South Carolina, Arkansas - will be very challenging,” Miles said. “But I look forward to this team. I want this team to embrace going on the road and playing well. If I had to look back on the last three years, maybe the game that we played, you know, not well was the Florida game. I just want to go back to Florida and say, ‘OK, let's play well.’
“I think this team has veteran leadership enough to play well on the road. Of course, the home schedule with Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, will be tough again. When you play in this conference, you are prepared to play against the very best. Certainly this will be a tremendously competitive year. “
LSU SNAPSHOT
Head coach: Les Miles, 4th season
Last season’s record: 12-2, 6-2 SEC
Offensive starters returning: 5
Defensive starters returning: 5
