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With LSU’s spring practice getting into full swing this week, the biggest questions all revolve around the quarterback situation. Both Anthony Jennings and Brandon Harris know it, too.
Both quarterbacks spoke with the media on Tuesday night, sharing their thoughts on how last season went and what this offseason means for them.
“I wasn’t good enough last year,” Jennings told NOLA.com.
That’s a sentiment that’s hard to argue against. As a sophomore, Jennings completed just 48.9 percent of his passes and threw for 1,611 yards, 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions. His issues with accuracy and decision making hampered the Tigers offense all season.
Harris, who impressed in several limited outings as a freshman, went into detail about why he couldn’t get on the field in 2014. He said that he suffered a high ankle sprain in his only start of the season against Auburn, an injury that lingered for the rest of the fall as Harris rode the bench.
He also spoke about his work ethic, another factor that kept him off the field. Harris told reporters he didn’t utilize the coaching staff anywhere near enough, failing to ask all the questions necessary to master the offense.
“I feel like I’ve grown mentally,” Harris told reporters. “Last year, I’ll be the first one to tell you I didn’t know the ins and outs of everything I needed to know. I’m so much more comfortable getting everyone on the same page.”
Harris also said his relationship with offensive coordinator Cam Cameron has grown.
“Now, I’m feeling comfortable. Just over-utilizing (Cameron). He’s one of the best offensive coordinators in the country,” Harris told the media.
Many wondered what kept Harris from taking over for Jennings, and it sounds as if his lack of comfort with the entire offense in concert with the lingering injury kept him from earning more playing time down the stretch.
Jennings was mature in taking responsibility for the offensive struggles from last season.
“I have to get better,” he told NOLA.com. “We have to get better as a unit…I’m ready to keep getting better throughout spring practice and into the summer.”
After holding off Harris for the starting job last year, Jennings knows he’s in for another battle this spring and into the fall. Les Miles insisted throughout last season that Harris was competing for playing time every week, and now in a “wide open” quarterback battle, Jennings will have to fight for his spot once again.
“It’s always going to be a competition when you come to LSU. I’m going to continue to come in every day and get better,” Jennings said to the media. “Whatever coach decides is the decision. Through the spring I don’t know if they are going to pick a guy. I just want to come in every day in practice and show the coaches I can do it.”
Jennings also touched on the two main issues that plagued him last season, his completion rate and decision making, and said that the biggest goal for the quarterbacks is to improve upon those two things.
Back in December, Cameron talked about needing to adapt his methods when it comes to teaching his quarterbacks. While Harris said Cameron hasn’t changed his approach too much, both quarterbacks indicated that there would be some changes to the offense to help better take advantage of their skill sets.
With the amount of talent on LSU’s roster, the quarterbacks know the significance of their competition.
“LSU is national. Obviously I wasn’t good enough last year,” Jennings said during his availability. “I have to get better playing the quarterback position. I’m not surprised people are talking about it. It’s going to make me better, it’s going to make Brandon better, it’s going to make (freshman) Justin (McMillan) better.”
A former freelance journalist from Philadelphia, Brett has made the trek down to SEC country to cover the greatest conference in college football.
