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Brandon Harris has done an admirable job at quarterback for LSU this season. The sophomore has thrown for more than 1,000 yards, completed 59 percent of his passes (75-for-128), but more importantly has thrown for nine touchdowns without suffering an interception.
He’s managed the Tigers to victories in all seven games this season. Some might say he’s done more than simply manage the offense, but it’s a fair statement to make that there isn’t much more the agile 6-3, 206-pounder could do for his team.
Still no quarterback is completely shielded from controversy, regardless of his performance, and there are those relentless enough to pose the lingering question: where would LSU be had Anthony Jennings remained the starting quarterback. The junior has yet to take a snap this season after leading the Tigers to an 8-5 season a year ago culminating in a Music City Bowl appearance.
Jennings flashed signs of brilliance in throwing for 1,611 yards and 11 touchdowns, but he struggled to complete just 49 percent of his passes (111-for-227) and tossed seven picks.
So how would things be different if Jennings had remained the starter instead of Harris? Well, that’s hard to tell. I mean, how many different ways can you hand the ball off to Leonard Fournette?
And that could very well be the biggest difference. Jennings is much more the alpha dog than Harris. Jennings is the one who wants to make the big play. He’s the one wanting the ball near the goal line. He’s the one wanting to throw the touchdown pass. And that’s fine; it’s a characteristic you want to see in your team leader.
But you have to be enough of a team player to know when it’s necessary to delegate. Harris is far more the team player in that regard.
The passing game has opened up as well under Harris’ guidance. Sure he has the luxury of working with the best running back in college football, but unlike Jennings he doesn’t lock in on Travin Dural and panic when the Tigers’ junior wide receiver doesn’t break open. Defenses learned quickly last season in which direction Jennings wanted to throw the ball.
Harris has been somewhat of a calming influence in the passing game, complimenting Fournette’s rushing abilities with a balance of throws. The leading receiver is still Dural – 24 catches for 426 yards and two scores.
However, when they’re not assisting motorists stuck in flood waters, Harris and Malachi Dupre are busy piling up yardage and making big plays on the football field as well. Dupre is having a breakout sophomore season. The Tigers wide receiver has 21 catches for 397 yards and leads the team’s receiving corps in average yards per catch (18.9) and touchdowns (5).
Where would the Tigers offense be with Jennings still under center? Facing a loaded box, I suspect, daring Jennings to beat them with his arm.
Harris has successfully proven that defenses can’t get away with that same gameplan when he is taking snaps. All that has done so far this season is open up the lanes for an outstanding offensive line to blow through defenses and allow Fournette to have what is shaping up to be a Heisman year on the bayou.
Glenn Sattell is an award-winning freelance writer for Saturday Down South.
