re: The misconception that Jefferson does not open up the running game....

LSU needs & has to run two separate offenses depending on whose going to take the majority of the snaps at quarterback.

When Jarrett Lee plays extensively, then you're going to see more power formations, which allows for different counters off of those looks (ala play action with vertical shots to the wide receivers, curl routes, etc) in the pass game.

This offense actually plays into Miles' preference, as he likes to pound opposing DL's with a ball control north-south game that physically punishes the opponent and wears them down late.

If you'll notice, Miles plays Ware in these situations more prevalently, & that's because Ware does a much better job with North-South, & finishes plays more often than not by delivering blows & issuing punishment.

When JJ is in the game, you'll see the Pistol a bit, but much, much more shotgun with one back. We run a lot of designed sprint option, predetermined zone-reads & outside zone running plays. This is because JJ's credible run threat makes a team defend these plays laterally. This is also why you see Ford in the game more often when JJ is the starter, because Ford is the edge back, which is where JJ's pitching if he can get his read to commit on option plays where he's reading a key or defender.

We run two different offenses with them in the game. With Lee, we may take up to 20-25 pass attempts if he's doing well and we're getting the right looks out of the D.

If JJ is feeling, we'll still only throw it about 15 times.

The pass-game is simply an afterthought. A potential gotcha that can only be used situationally from time to time, with typically mixed results.

This isn't conjecture. Its both statistical & historical fact. It's what we do, and frankly, its what JJ's limited to by his own abilities-or lack thereof, depending upon how you wish to describe him and them, respectively-within the pass game.

In all honesty, no one can say that Jordan leading our offense in 2011 brings more consistency & success. No one. Its obvious that though we started out slowly, this team on offense moves the ball better & we are more well-suited to put points on the board and possess the ball with Lee at quarterback.

In a more simplified sense, I think JJ may give you an offense that can yield a big play here or there. Lee may give you an offense that can consistently drive the ball while also yielding that same big play.

Not because one's better than the other, but its because one's skillset gives more balance to our offense than the other.

We can already run the ball. The ability to run it out of power formations gives us the versatility to throw it off counters & using PA passes with Lee.

We JJ, we HAVE to run the ball to succeed, because we aren't going to beat anyone throwing it. The run is all we have, though we run it differently. Not necessarily better or worse than with Lee. Just differently.

North South w/added passing, or East-West with occasional big plays is the way you can contrast the Lee/JJ difference.

This isn't an advocation for one over the other. I think its pretty much self-evident for an objective person to figure out what this offense looks best at doing.