By CODY WORSHAM
Tiger Rag Editor
The door is open for Danny Etling.
Les Miles didn’t rule out the possibility that LSU’s backup quarterback could play as soon as Saturday’s matchup with Jacksonville State. Quite the opposite, in fact, following Brandon Harris’ disappointing 2016 debut against Wisconsin last week.
“Every time that you practice, every time that you put your coaching gear on, you think about how you improve your team,” said Miles. “I think we’ve considered it and will consider it for — hopefully it’ll not have to be done for the necessity of victory. Hopefully it’ll be done because Brandon has really improved and done well, and let’s give Danny some snaps.
“But that consideration is — that evaluation is ongoing.”
Etling has yet to attempt a pass in purple and gold, after sitting last season due to NCAA transfer rules. At Purdue, he threw for 2,490 yards and 16 scores to 12 interceptions in two seasons. The junior impressed in the spring, but didn’t pass up Harris on the depth chart.
Harris was just 12-for-21 for 131 yards in the 16-14 loss in Green Bay, throwing one touchdown pass and two interceptions. Miles believes his junior can still get the job done.
“He’s talented and capable,” Miles said. “Decision making and really relaxing and letting the game come to him, at times he struggles there. But again, we’re a talented team. If he can just get the ball to the guys that we’re really insisting that he throw to in some ways, we’re going to be a very — we’re going to be able to run it and we’re going to be able to throw it.”
Harris has been up and down in his career, flashing brilliance as a freshman on backup duties in 2014. In 2015, he was the SEC’s second most-efficient passer through seven games, but struggled down the stretch as LSU lost three straight games in November. His teammates and coaches talked up his improvement in the offseason, improvement that was not on display Saturday but that Miles still stands by.
“I have to be honest with you,” Miles said. “I’ve seen some of the scrimmages that we’ve had in Tiger Stadium, and he’s been just tremendous, and so I know the capability, as do our team, we just need for that capability to continue to come.”
“I recognize that he’s got to still come. We all do. And he doesn’t have a lifetime to do it, and there are other quarterbacks to go to.”
what about Linsey Scott?
“If only THAT were TRUE Les!” Besides Etling, there are two othere scholarship qbs deserving of a “shot”. Harris has not brought his ‘driving range’ game to the course yet. We can’t wait another series without seeing if any other player worthy of his scholarship can play the position.
BEYOND FRUSTRATED!
“If only THAT were TRUE Les!” Besides Etling, there are two other scholarship qbs deserving of a “shot”. Harris has not brought his ‘driving range’ game to the course yet. We can’t wait another series without seeing if any other player worthy of his scholarship can play the position.
BEYOND FRUSTRATED!
Unfortunately Brandon is really good in scrimages when he has a yellow jersey on and he can’t be hit. But it is altogether different in real games and he is pressured due to an offensive line that is unable to protect him. He tends to panick and put the ball up for grabs.
Time for a change! Did you see on TV the brief clip after the last interception? Cam sitting next to Harris who was emotionally in trouble. Deer in the head lights distraught!! I don”t think he has the mental toughness to stand the stress at quarterback. You could also see in the faces of Fournette et al the concern for the future 2016 games. Look at Fla State and a few other teams with Freshman and Soph. Quarterbacks. Why can”t LSU find at least one In La. They wanted to make Dak Prescott a tight end and look where he has ended up. Sad but true!
Jud Tillinghast
Even when we have a quarterback who is winning every game we replace him with someone who can’t throw up, much less throw a completion. Jordan Jefferson. We have run the same offense for way too long. A middle schooler could game plan against lsu and be successful.