Dubois: It's time for decision on LSU's starting QB This article echoes exactly what I fell about the quaterback decision. It's time to start building the team chemistry of the next 3 years. Let Russell take the reigns, get his growing pains in now instead of at the beginning of what could be a NC title run next year. I don't understand why more people don't feel this way.
Can't argue with a single thing in this article. As for this year, a trip to Orlando to face a Big Ten team is still an option, as is the Cotton Bowl and a Big XII opponent. LSU will still get a nice New Year's bowl game against a "name" school.
The problem with the article is that Dubois knows that Nick Saban's likely reaction to second-guessing or advise by the media on any issue, and especially on decisions about who starts and who plays, will be to pointedly ignore what they want and to resist doing what the media says he should do. He doesn't want any reporter to think that a reporter has any influence over his decisions. Saban is big on staying on message with his players. He has made it clear that the reason he does not want to start JR is because Russell hasn't been willing to learn how to do things correctly, and wants to get by on talent and improvisation. He knows Russell is more talented than MR, but he can't let Russell get away with that attitude without everyone else feeling like they can get away with it, too. He is not going to "enable" Russell's behavior by rewarding JR even though he is not willing to learn and follow Saban's plans for how to play the QB position. Until Russell is not willing to do it Saban's way, he won't be the starter. Also, unlike Mack Brown, who rewarded Major Applewhite's hard work and team spirit by throwing him under the bus as soon as Chrissy Simms arrived on campus, Saban wants to reward Randall's team-orientation and hard work by allowing him to continue to start. Saban respects character, even if it is accompanied by average talent (actually, MR is only an average talent at QB--I think he is a hell of an athlete and could have been a dynamite SS or OLB). From an immediate results standpoint, I am not sure that Saban is correct in handling the QB situation this way, but it does send a message to the team that talent alone won't let you stay on the field if you aren't going to play the game his way. I think that Saban is more concerned with his effect on the team's mindset than he is about getting the most talented guy in the game. Some of his comments this year make me think there is a culture conflict on the team between the guys who want to do it Nick's way and those who say they do, but really don't. His insistence on making JR toe the line is more understandable if that is the case. If Saban knuckles under to the attitude that talent alone should be able to get it done, he will have effectively lost control over the team.
Good Post, Scary Thought If there is a culture attitude boiling on the team (Talent vs Saban's Way), Saban's got to bend it his way, of course. But the media and fans don't see this inside stuff. I say, for the future of this team, now and years to come, it's time to break the talent attitude and mold this team and every team thereafter into whatever it is Saban wants it to be. New England in the NFL is a perfect example of this. Play Belechek's (mispelled) way or get the heck out. Maybe after Georgia some might decide that for their own "individual" futures and the team's future, listen to Coach and quit trying to act like a prima donna. Saban got to kick ass. Go tigers.
