To see a video of Les Miles’ press conference, click here.Sophomore quarterback Jordan Jefferson will start in the Tigers’ season opener against Washington in Seattle on Saturday, coach Les Miles said Monday.Miles said he doesn’t expect sophomore quarterback Jarrett Lee to see any playing time against the Huskies.”There’s not any plans right now to play any quarterback other than Jordan Jefferson,” Miles said. “Only specific situations would call for other play.”Miles said Jefferson improved throughout the offseason, and during the team’s 40-play mock game Aug. 29, Jefferson showed he can handle leading the team at quarterback.”For a guy that’s very talented for us, we can ask him to do a lot,” Miles said. “It’s going to be something he’ll be able to handle very comfortably.”Jefferson finished the LSU preseason camp on a high note after going 11-of-14 for 150 yards and one touchdown during the Tigers’ final scrimmage Aug. 25 in Tiger Stadium. Lee was 6-of-12 for 50 yards in the same game.The Tigers began preparations for their weekend matchup against the Huskies during the middle of last week. Miles said his team needs to recover from last season’s 8-5 finish and play the type of football LSU has grown accustomed to playing in the past decade.”That’s what we need to accomplish to start the season, and that’s what we need to accomplish early, from week one on out,” Miles said.Miles said no player will miss the game because of injury, and the Tiger faithful might see some freshman faces on the field Saturday. Miles said defensive back Craig Loston, wide receiver Rueben Randle and quarterback Russell Shepard might earn some playing time.Miles said Shepard would be used in a variety of positions this season.”We’ll play him at quarterback. We’ll play him at wide receiver, possibly at running back,” Miles said.Miles is expecting to see a “much improved” Pac-10 team in Washington, who went winless in 12 games last season.The Huskies return starting junior quarterback Jake Locker. After being named a second-team Freshman All-American by Rivals.com in 2007, Locker ended his 2008 season during the team’s fourth game after he broke his thumb against Stanford. Washington coach Steve Sarkisian is starting his first season as Huskies head coach, after seven seasons of various offensive coaching jobs at USC.”Nick Holt, the defensive coordinator, and coach Sarkisian will prepare that team extremely well,” Miles said.Miles expects the game to be competitive, and he expects he’ll need his starters for all four quarters.”This game will end sometime before 1 o’clock in the morning, and I suspect that it will be some time after that that I think about substituting,” Miles said.But Miles has a feeling his team will be ready for the season opener.”Everyone is looking very ambitiously toward Saturday,” Miles said.—-
Football: Miles preparing team for opener
August 30, 2009