LSU's title hopes rest on Flynn
BATON ROUGE -- Oh, was the media ready for Monday's weekly luncheon by LSU coach Les Miles.
Beat writers for University of Alabama football were in attendance. The New York Times flew in its major college writer.
Microphones and tape recorders were everywhere as the question-and-answer period dragged on a few minutes longer than normal.
But what played out was understandable. Since last January, when Nick Saban was introduced as the coach of the Crimson Tide, this week has been circled on the calendar for Tiger Nation.
On Monday afternoon, though, a major point was basically overlooked as the focus revolved around Round I in Saban vs. Miles:
LSU, if the next few days play out as expected, is one injury away from needing Andrew Hatch to be the starting quarterback of its national championship hopes.
Uggh!
But that's the reality after sophomore Ryan Perrilloux again has become the center of an off-the-field issue. Miles opened Monday's remarks by saying Perrilloux, and reserve linebacker Derrick Odom, would not practice Monday and the team "will prepare to play without those guys" on Saturday in Tuscaloosa against Alabama.
Miles said he needed more information before announcing final discipline, but it seems a formality before Perrilloux and Odom -- who are not new to their names being linked to a police report -- are exiled from LSU football following involvement in a brawl at The Varsity nightclub early last Friday morning.
And what that means for the Tigers at quarterback is Matt Flynn's the guy. In fact, he's the only one.
Behind him stands Hatch as the heir apparent to Perrilloux -- if there is such terminology for a backup -- with true freshman Jarrett Lee now in the three-hole on the depth chart.
A sophomore, Hatch earned a scholarship during preseason camp after a late walk-on at LSU following a transfer from Harvard. He appeared in the 44-0 blowout over Middle Tennessee State, completing 1 of 2 passes for 9 yards.
And that, friends, is the total compilation of career passing statistics for all LSU quarterbacks not named Matt Flynn or Perrilloux.
Now what's more important? The first meeting between the coach after the coach that won a national championship, or the continued health of Matt Flynn's right ankle?
"Ryan's a great player, and if something does happen it will be a big loss to our team," LSU running back Jacob Hester said. "But Matt's 100 percent now and he is the fastest quarterback, so if we need him to run, he can do it. Sorry to hear about Ryan because he was doing so good, but at least we do have Matt."
The timing, however, couldn't be worse for LSU. And it couldn't be better for Saban, who no one would list defensive game-planning among his faults.
Gone now for LSU are the speed-option packages that Tiger offensive coordinator Gary Crowton had utilized -- some might suggest under-utilized -- involving Perrilloux in the running game.
And with the former East St. John star -- who has just two less touchdown passes (8-6) than Matt Flynn on 149 fewer attempts (190-41) -- out of the picture, there may be a diminishing role for electric running back Trindon Holliday, who was a regular personnel substitution along with Perrilloux on the option package.
" Matt Flynn is our starting quarterback - it's about his skills and not about another's," Miles said. "The opportunity to prepare another quarterback in certain situations, that certainly may fall by the wayside."
So here's to you, Matt Flynn. This possible national championship hinges on an ankle that's made it through just two of eight games this season (Mississippi State and Auburn) at 100 percent health.
"Before I got hurt (late in Week 2 against Virginia Tech), I ran the option and did it a couple of times (against Auburn), so there isn't going to be much of a difference," Matt Flynn said. "I don't know what's going to be happening with everything that's been reported (about Perrilloux) since Friday -- I don't. But my legs feel good and I don't see any personnel changes that are going to really affect us.
"We're in this together as a team -- always have been. This won't change anything."
But it could. And this might be a case where one bad apple really does spoil the whole crate.
See more at www.thetowntalk.com
