GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Florida starts the passer and brings the runner off the bench. LSU starts the runner and brings the passer off the bench.
Although the schemes and substitution patterns differ, both teams will use two quarterbacks when the 14th-ranked Gators host the 12th-ranked Tigers on Saturday night - even if it makes them a little predictable on offense.
Florida coach Urban Meyer is doing it because he wants to. LSU's Les Miles is doing it because he has to.
Regardless of the rationale, the adage "when you have two quarterbacks, you don't have one'' might apply to both programs. The Gators (4-1, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) rank ninth in the league in total offense and pass efficiency. The Tigers (5-0, 3-0) are 11th in offense and last in pass efficiency.
The spotlight has been on the quarterbacks all week for similar reasons, and it will be again Saturday in the Swamp.
Florida starter John Brantley threw two costly interceptions in a 31-6 drubbing at top-ranked Alabama and got knocked out of the game late with bruised ribs. Backup Trey Burton, who scored six touchdowns a week earlier against Kentucky, was stifled on four runs and threw an interception on a fourth-down jump pass at the goal line.
"The one thing that happens when you fail and you fail in a big game, you say, 'Whose fault was it?' and 'Let's fix the fault,' Meyer said. "I think everyone wants to know, 'Whose fault was it? What happened?' It's our job to figure it out.''
The Tigers have done plenty of self-evaluation after last week's near debacle against Tennessee.
Starter Jordan Jefferson, struggling for the fourth straight week, was benched in favor of Jarrett Lee. Lee threw an interception in the fourth quarter, but redeemed himself by directing a game-winning drive in the closing minutes.
Lee marched LSU to the 2-yard line before giving way to Jefferson, and then LSU survived a wacky finish to beat the Volunteers 16-14.
Lee hadn't played much this season, but his performance - along with Jefferson's passing woes - prompted Miles to return to the two-quarterback system.
"The good news is both guys can throw it, and certainly we'll have the run and the pass on the field at the same time,'' Miles said. "I don't know that predictability is necessarily the issue. I think there will be a series of plays that a team must get ready for when you put the other quarterback on the field. I think that will pose a competitive advantage for us in both instances.''
Jefferson has completed 51 percent of his passes for 419 yards, with two TDs and six INTs. He also has run for 189 yards and two scores, a big reason he remains in the mix. Lee, who had seven interceptions returned for touchdowns two years ago, has completed 18 of 25 passes for 206 yards.
"They're definitely going to come out and use both of them,'' Gators defensive tackle Terron Sanders said. "As long as we contain No. 9 (Jefferson) and cause No. 12 (Lee) to throw, I feel like we can control the game.''
The Tigers, who lead the SEC in total defense and rushing defense, probably feel equally confident about facing Florida. Maybe for good reason, too.
Brantley, who is averaging 180 yards passing a game, remains a work in progress. Running backs Jeff Demps (foot) and Mike Gillislee (ankle) are recovering from injuries. And Florida's banged-up offensive line is still looking for a dominant performance.
Just as glaring, the Gators have started slow in all but one game and been hindered by mistakes. They're not even sure about their offensive identity anymore. Are they a power running team with a 180-pound back? Or are they a passing team with receivers who drop balls and an inexperienced quarterback whose longest completion is 30 yards?
This much is clear: They're an option team, even with Brantley at the helm.
Brantley has looked mostly awkward running a play book designed around 2007 Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow, but the scheme is part of Meyer's DNA and it's what his assistants know best. So it's not going anywhere.
"The option serves a lot of purposes,'' Meyer said. "There is a price for a poorly executed option, which you're kind of seeing every once in a while. Do you eliminate it or do you improve upon it? History shows that we usually put a premium on improving it and getting it better because there has to be a little bit of it. To say it's going to be eliminated, that's not going to happen.''
Meyer expects Burton and tight end Jordan Reed, who also takes some snaps, to be more involved as change-of-pace quarterbacks. But doesn't that make the offense more predictable?
"A little bit,'' Meyer said.
How do you counter that?
"Throw it,'' he said. "Just very simple throws.''
That might be best for all four quarterbacks and both offenses.
Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/football/ncaa/wires/10/08/2060.ap.fbc.t25.lsu.florida.1st.ld.writethru.1031/#ixzz11pzJUgYY
Although the schemes and substitution patterns differ, both teams will use two quarterbacks when the 14th-ranked Gators host the 12th-ranked Tigers on Saturday night - even if it makes them a little predictable on offense.
Florida coach Urban Meyer is doing it because he wants to. LSU's Les Miles is doing it because he has to.
Regardless of the rationale, the adage "when you have two quarterbacks, you don't have one'' might apply to both programs. The Gators (4-1, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) rank ninth in the league in total offense and pass efficiency. The Tigers (5-0, 3-0) are 11th in offense and last in pass efficiency.
The spotlight has been on the quarterbacks all week for similar reasons, and it will be again Saturday in the Swamp.
Florida starter John Brantley threw two costly interceptions in a 31-6 drubbing at top-ranked Alabama and got knocked out of the game late with bruised ribs. Backup Trey Burton, who scored six touchdowns a week earlier against Kentucky, was stifled on four runs and threw an interception on a fourth-down jump pass at the goal line.
"The one thing that happens when you fail and you fail in a big game, you say, 'Whose fault was it?' and 'Let's fix the fault,' Meyer said. "I think everyone wants to know, 'Whose fault was it? What happened?' It's our job to figure it out.''
The Tigers have done plenty of self-evaluation after last week's near debacle against Tennessee.
Starter Jordan Jefferson, struggling for the fourth straight week, was benched in favor of Jarrett Lee. Lee threw an interception in the fourth quarter, but redeemed himself by directing a game-winning drive in the closing minutes.
Lee marched LSU to the 2-yard line before giving way to Jefferson, and then LSU survived a wacky finish to beat the Volunteers 16-14.
Lee hadn't played much this season, but his performance - along with Jefferson's passing woes - prompted Miles to return to the two-quarterback system.
"The good news is both guys can throw it, and certainly we'll have the run and the pass on the field at the same time,'' Miles said. "I don't know that predictability is necessarily the issue. I think there will be a series of plays that a team must get ready for when you put the other quarterback on the field. I think that will pose a competitive advantage for us in both instances.''
Jefferson has completed 51 percent of his passes for 419 yards, with two TDs and six INTs. He also has run for 189 yards and two scores, a big reason he remains in the mix. Lee, who had seven interceptions returned for touchdowns two years ago, has completed 18 of 25 passes for 206 yards.
"They're definitely going to come out and use both of them,'' Gators defensive tackle Terron Sanders said. "As long as we contain No. 9 (Jefferson) and cause No. 12 (Lee) to throw, I feel like we can control the game.''
The Tigers, who lead the SEC in total defense and rushing defense, probably feel equally confident about facing Florida. Maybe for good reason, too.
Brantley, who is averaging 180 yards passing a game, remains a work in progress. Running backs Jeff Demps (foot) and Mike Gillislee (ankle) are recovering from injuries. And Florida's banged-up offensive line is still looking for a dominant performance.
Just as glaring, the Gators have started slow in all but one game and been hindered by mistakes. They're not even sure about their offensive identity anymore. Are they a power running team with a 180-pound back? Or are they a passing team with receivers who drop balls and an inexperienced quarterback whose longest completion is 30 yards?
This much is clear: They're an option team, even with Brantley at the helm.
Brantley has looked mostly awkward running a play book designed around 2007 Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow, but the scheme is part of Meyer's DNA and it's what his assistants know best. So it's not going anywhere.
"The option serves a lot of purposes,'' Meyer said. "There is a price for a poorly executed option, which you're kind of seeing every once in a while. Do you eliminate it or do you improve upon it? History shows that we usually put a premium on improving it and getting it better because there has to be a little bit of it. To say it's going to be eliminated, that's not going to happen.''
Meyer expects Burton and tight end Jordan Reed, who also takes some snaps, to be more involved as change-of-pace quarterbacks. But doesn't that make the offense more predictable?
"A little bit,'' Meyer said.
How do you counter that?
"Throw it,'' he said. "Just very simple throws.''
That might be best for all four quarterbacks and both offenses.
Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/football/ncaa/wires/10/08/2060.ap.fbc.t25.lsu.florida.1st.ld.writethru.1031/#ixzz11pzJUgYY
