Film Study: LSU will undoubtedly have improved QB play this season

The growing sentiment around the Southeastern Conference landscape, which started with the lazy media and was distributed by virtually each fan base, is that the Louisiana State University isn’t much of a threat for this forthcoming season as they “don’t have a quarterback.”

This sounds plain silly for a couple of reasons: Outside of the University of Alabama and the University of Georgia, there’s not a team in college football more talented from top to bottom than LSU. (And even with those aforementioned teams it’s a virtual push in the talent department.)

And schematically speaking, the Tigers play a brand of football that is conducive to sustained success; they will always looks to establish both lines of scrimmage and build from there.

Meaning that you should always throw out LSU’s previous record because it’s a whole new ball game as they simply reload on an annual basis (you hear that, Arkansas fans?).

In what was a relatively inexperienced group, the receiving corps is ladened with potential superstar talent in the form of Travin Dural, Malachi Dupre, Trey Quinn, John Diarse, Jazz Ferguson, Tyron Johnson and DeSean Smith (tight end) — who all have the talent to make a significant impact on a weekly basis

The backfield is just as loaded with potential superstar Leonard Fournette being the lynchpin in a group that includes talented players such as: Darrel Williams, David Ducre, Derrius Guice and Nick Brossette.

And we already know head coach Les Miles keeps top-flight talent along the offensive line, which is his specialty, so players like Vadal Alexander, Jerald Hawkins, Karl Malone Jr., and Ethan Pocic will perform as expected.

This means that whichever QB is selected will have one of the best supporting casts in the country. And from the improvements I’ve seen throughout the spring, counting LSU out will be a major mistake.

Quick-Game/Mechanical Improvement From Jennings

Anyone who has followed my career will tell you it’s one based off impartiality and balance. After all, what native Atlantan starts his sports writing career off covering the New Orleans Saints — for multiple platforms — for a living?

I pride myself on providing an unbiased look inside the infrastructure of the sport, however, I must admit, I’m a big fan of LSU QB Anthony Jennings. (Now that I’ve said that I can exhale …Woosah.)

I saw the kid play in high school and thought he was the perfect leader with his infectious Magic Johnson-like personality. How many QBs you know relish the chance to get right in the middle of the Big Cat Drill?

That’s why it was so painful to watch him take a beating at the hands of the media and the fans, but in all honesty, it was much deserved.

Jennings has a very live arm and can make all the throws, his problems centered around making the anticipatory throw, distinguishing defensive concepts, not knowing when to bolt the pocket and inconsistent mechanics.

But, other than that he was virtually flawless (I kid…sort of).

With that being said, there were two aspects to his performance that were rarely broached: his lack of experience and the lack of experience around him.

While Jennings received playing time in former QB Zach Mettenberger’s stead, his 29 total attempts rendered him virtually a freshman. And while some freshmen come in and light it up, it used to be a rite of passage to chalk up mistakes to inexperience back in the day.

I expect a sizeable leap from one Mr. Jennings this season.

Last season, at times, Jennings fell victim to the lock-in-on-your-first-read syndrome that has plagued so many QBs of this generation. While some concepts require a signal-caller to lock in on a certain area of the progression, like the “Levels” concepts, most of the time it’s in a QB’s best interest to at least look off the defense.

Here we see a marked improvement from Jennings: He completed the back-to-the-basket fake, scanned his primary, went to his secondary, went back to his primary and delivered a picture-perfect pass on a fade pattern.

Jennings throws a very catchable ball as he’s a master of the touch pass; he has an over-the-top delivery he can get off quick as it’s very compact.

The fact that he’s adhering to proper QB protocol just shows how much experience reigns supreme in our beloved sport of football. But for him to go to the next level, he has to stop forcing plays; taking the outlet — or even throwing the ball away — will go a long way into propelling him at least to a mid-level prospect in the conference.

And that’s all LSU needs from a signal-caller as it’s loaded with talent.

Here we see Jennings initially going through his progressions after some slick ball-handling which saw him get full extension in showing the ball before whipping his head around for his scan phase.

He went through his Hi-Lo read — eventually coming back to the tight end who was running the old fall-down-on-the-block-and-uncover routine. Normally Jennings may have forced the throw, instead he strung it out long enough to throw it away thus living to see another down.

LSU is going to really have to get in tune with its high-percentage throws and featuring Dupre is the way to go. There was a particular sequence that stood out during the spring game where Jennings worked the quick game to Dupre three times in a row — all designed at generating yards after the catch.

On the above play, Jennings did a fantastic job at eying the clear-out route in hopes of lessening the coverage on Dupre running a “Stab.” The results were exactly what offensive coordinator Cam Cameron is hoping to happen a ton this season: Dupre using his blinding speed in the open field.

Dupre will see a ton of time in the slot this year in hopes of his phenomenal route-running ability acting as the perfect counter to LSU’s vertical concepts. We already know Jennings is very good with the vertical elements, now we’re seeing an improvement in his decision-making, mechanics and accuracy.

LSU has way too much talent to not be among the teams vying for a spot in the final four and, much to the chagrin of the Tiger faithful, it will be the nuances of the QB position that may define this season. I’m betting on Jennings showing he’s a ton more talented than given credit for; the Tigers will undoubtedly have improved QB play.

Check back for the next installment where I break down what I saw from the fan favorite Harris.