re: If Les wanted a true dual threat QB, why not Shep?

Boom...found it. And I think this is very telling. Even more interesting, this was from two years ago...and we were discussing the same issues we are now:

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Here it was, the biggest game in Tiger Stadium history, according to rankings, since the Legend of Billy Cannon game on Halloween Night, 1959. And the No. 1 dual-action, high school quarterback in the nation in 2008-09 did not see the field.

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And LSU’s offense badly needed something new and different on the field as the No. 1 Gators toyed with the No. 4 Tigers’ attack that would finish No. 112 in the nation out of 120 upper division schools in total offense for a 13-3 victory.

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Meanwhile, Shepard did nothing. And it was not like he was waiting his turn at Quarterback U., either.

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LSU sophomore starter Jordan Jefferson continued to struggle with the option and threw for just 96 yards on 11-of-17 passing against the Gators. He netted -1 yard rushing on seven carries amid five sacks - some his fault and some the fault of an overrated offensive line.

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Shepard thought of his immediate future and of his long distance future.

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Shepard stayed to himself the Sunday after the Florida game, talked to friends and family and thought about his future. On that Monday, he met with LSU coach Les Miles.

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“The Florida game really opened my eyes and made me realize that I probably need to make a switch,” he said. “I realized that Jordan is the quarterback of this team, and we’re only a year apart. So it definitely made me realize. I had time to stay to myself and think. I want to play in that (Florida-LSU) atmosphere. I don’t want to be a five-to-10 player guy. I want to play 60 snaps, and I want to contribute to this team. I talked to coach Miles probably two days later.”

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Gary Thiebaud, who was Shepard’s coach at Cypress Ridge High in Houston, understands the move, but he does not agree with it.
“Oh yeah, I still think he can play quarterback in college,” Thiebaud said. “He’s a Pat White (West Virginia) or Vince Young (Texas). To me, that’s Russell Shepard.”

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Shepard never got the chance even though LSU continued to get average quarterback play for the third straight season in 2009. It’s spring football 2010 now, and Jefferson and Lee still appear to be average at best.

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Asked if he felt this was fair, Shepard avoided the question and returned to his epiphany weekend.

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LINK

Pretty clear that Shep saw that JJ was going to play QB under Les regardless of how much he stunk. The decision was never open to review or competition. Les had it in his mind that he was going to play JJ. And he was not going to change that mindset. He rode it all the way into the ground last Monday night, 2012.

Thanks again Les. Great job buddy.