BATON ROUGE, La. -- LSU coach Les Miles appears to have a
desirable dilemma at quarterback.
The first-year coach has two former high school All-Americans
with experience and a freshman touted as the best prep QB in the
nation.
But whether JaMarcus Russell, Matt Flynn or Ryan Perrilloux can
bring stability and consistency to the Tigers' offense is the big
question for team with legitimate national title aspirations.
"I think all three of them are very talented guys. I think
JaMarcus has a very talented arm and he's getting more comfortable
with the system," Miles said. "Matt Flynn, again, can throw the
football well and maybe is a little bit better at scrambling in the
pocket.
"The young quarterback (Perrilloux) we have has all the talent.
He can throw the football and is getting comfortable with the
system."
So who's going to start? Probably Russell, but Miles isn't ready
to completely commit.
"All three are coming along," Miles said. "They'll continue
to compete for that position."
Star quarterbacks have been a rarity at LSU. Before the recent
run on topflight passers, LSU hadn't landed a top high school
signal caller since 1994 when Josh Booty signed, only to leave for
professional baseball.
They have had solid but rarely spectacular players at the
position -- Matt Mauck being the best example from LSU's national
championship team of two years ago.
Potentially, LSU could have a star at quarterback this season.
Russell was among the nation's top recruits in 2003, and Flynn
was right there with him. Perrilloux, a Louisiana native, was a
highly sought star who spurned Texas to sign with LSU.
Russell shared playing and starting with Marcus Randall last
season -- he started four games -- showing flashes of talent, but not
nearly enough consistency.
Russell threw for 1,053 and nine touchdowns, but completed just
50 percent of his throws as the Tigers went 9-3 last season.
"I think I'm 100 percent better this fall," said Russell, who
entered the fall practices as No. 1. "I'm more comfortable. I feel
like I see things better and I'm a better leader."
Perrilloux alienated Russell and Flynn when he signed before
national media at East St. John High and proclaimed that he would
throw for "maybe 2,000" yards, rush for "maybe 1,000" and "I
could definitely be a Heisman winner next year, or at least a
contender."
That brashness has been toned down considerable since Perrilloux
arrived at LSU. He acknowledges he may have come off as cocky and
maintains he's really a team player.
"I've never had competition for playing time before,"
Perrilloux said. "I feel like I'm at the bottom, and I'm just
working my way up. It's better to just wait your turn than go out
there and get thrown in the fire and get burnt. So I'd rather watch
and listen, try to watch and imitate JaMarcus, and one day I might
be the same kind of player he is."
Flynn was the No. 3 quarterback last season, playing in three
games.
"I think I'm part of the competition," Flynn said. "Nothing's
decided yet."
One thing Miles does not want is to be forced to use two
quarterbacks as Nick Saban did last year. He would not rule out
putting a backup in at times. He hopes that will be an option,
however, not a necessity.
Miles doesn't need his quarterback to carry the offense.
Even with tailback Alley Broussard lost for the season with a
knee injury, the Tigers are deep at running back, excellent along
the offensive line and have good speed at receiver.
In the end, it won't be arm strength as much as game control
that settles the quarterback question for Miles.
"They need to make sure they can read what the defense is
giving them," Miles said. "They need to know which play is the
right play and look at the play and make the right decision with
the ball. If they do those things and have the ability to compete,
they would take the job."