LSU's Matt Flynn flaunts his senior ability
By Glenn Guilbeau
BATON ROUGE — Matt Flynn is ahead in the race for the No. 1 quarterback job.
That was clear in the LSU spring football game won by Flynn’s Purple team, 20-14 over the White team Saturday afternoon in front of 14,375 at Tiger Stadium.
The game marked the first time all spring that the media could watch the quarterbacks do more than warm up as LSU practices are closed except for in the very beginning.
“No contest,” former New Orleans Saints quarterback and WWL radio talk show host Bobby Hebert said after the game. “It’s Matt Flynn right now. Matt knows where he’s going with the ball before Ryan (Perrilloux) does at this point. Matt has more experience.”
Flynn, who will be a senior next season, completed 11-of-22 passes for 135 yards with an 8-yard touchdown to receiver Early Doucet and no interceptions.
“I felt real good out there,” Flynn said. “I’m feeling very comfortable with the offense. I can’t wait for next season. It’s going to be fun. It’s what I’ve been waiting for. I want summer to come and be a fast summer. I’m ready to go. I’m ready to play Mississippi State.”
LSU opens the season on Thursday, Aug. 30, at Mississippi State on ESPN, and LSU coach Les Miles said both quarterbacks could play in that game.
“We’re going to need both of them, I can tell you that,” he said. “We’re not going to just pass through the season without the ability to use both quarterbacks. So we’ll see.”
Perrilloux, who will be a sophomore during the 2007 season, completed just 8-of-23 passes with a 23-yard touchdown to receiver Brandon LaFell and an interception. But he threw for more yards with 155, including 37- and 23-yard completions to receiver Trindon Holliday and a 19 yarder to LaFell.
“I think I showed what I could do a little bit,” Perrilloux said. “I’m definitely getting better. But I just thought I could’ve done better. I could’ve thrown the ball a little better.”
Perrilloux tended to scramble and ad lib more than Flynn. Flynn stayed in the pocket and threw quicker, but at times he waited too long and was sacked five times. Perrilloux got sacked three times. The quarterbacks were touched, not tackled.
“I liked the quarterbacks,” Miles said. “Both have things to learn and get accomplished with the offense. Both showed skill and ability.”
Asked specifically about Perrilloux, Miles said he has improved.
“I think he’s made some real strides. I think he’s more comfortable back there,” Miles said. “I like what he’s doing academically. I think that may be as strong an indication as anything. Again, keep doing the right things, keep heading in the right direction, study, have a great off-season, come into the fall ready to compete and continue to compete and he’ll get a lot of playing time.”
Flynn wasted little time in showing who his favorite target is. Doucet caught five passes in the first quarter for 62 yards with the touchdown. He finished with a game-high nine catches for 115 yards.
“It’s pretty obvious that when Early touches the ball, something big is about to happen,” Miles said.
“It’s a relief when I’m sitting under center and I see Early to the right,” Flynn said. “I think it’s obvious I’m pretty confident with him.”
Speedy tailback Richard Murphy of Rayville led all rushers and the Purple with 85 yards on 11 carries.
“It appears from the spring as well as this day that Murphy has the ability to make people miss and to get up in there,” Miles said. “He’s going to be an exciting back.”
New offensive coordinator Gary Crowton kept things balanced. There were 51 rushes and 51 passes.
“It’s not all in certainly,” Miles said of the offense. “And some of what’s in, we didn’t show today.”
On his second possession, Flynn found Doucet for a 20- and 5-yard completions to set up a 42-yard field goal by Colt David for a 3-0 Purple lead five minutes into the first period.
Perrilloux answered that six-play, 50-yard drive with a 70-yard drive in 10 plays in which he passed and ran as he did during his legendary prep All-American days at East St. John. Perrilloux found receiver Ricky Dixon for a 14-yard gain, then rushed for 13 yards to the Purple 17.
Tailback Alley Broussard gained 11 yards three plays later, then scored on a 4-yard run to put the White up 7-3 with 6:05 to go in the first period.
Murphy put the Purple up 10-7 on an 18-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter and had other runs of 28 and 11 yards on the drive around a 23-yard catch by Doucet.
Defensive back Troy Giddens intercepted Perrilloux and returned it 25 yards to the White 17-yard line to set up the Purple’s next touchdown — Flynn’s 8-yard pass to Doucet for a 17-7 lead with 10:49 to play before halftime.
On one drive midway through the third quarter, Flynn completed four passes to Doucet for 53 yards to set up a 37-yard field goal by David for a 20-7 Purple lead. Perrilloux showed some quick-strike capability late in the game in the two-minute offense. He found Holliday for 37 yards to the Purple 23.
Then on fourth down from there, he hit LaFell for the 23-yard touchdown and 20-14 final.
Perrilloux didn’t want the game to end.
“I had a lot of fun just going out there and throwing it 23 times,” he said. “I can’t wait for August to get here.”
