Two game-winning drives in the past two weeks won’t win over LSU football coach Les Miles for the starting gig.
 
Miles said Wednesday that junior quarterback Jordan Jefferson will start Saturday against McNeese State, while junior quarterback Jarrett Lee will be relegated to the same duties he has seen in the previous two weeks.
 
Lee led LSU to victory on the final drives against both Tennessee and Florida in his first significant action of the season. In those games, he threw for a combined 25-for-34 for 309 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.
 
The two-quarterback system Miles implemented has been effective so far, as the team is 2-0, although Lee had better numbers in those games.
 
But the ability for Jefferson and Lee to get a feel for the game from the sideline has taken pressure off each of them, allowing for better execution when their numbers are called.
 
“There’s a point in time where there is a nice time to take a pause and get some information, and they’re using that,” Miles said. “I think both would prefer to be on the field, but I think with the necessity that one would watch, they are both making the best of it.”
 
Miles also said sophomore wide receiver Rueben Randle, who has a broken finger on his left hand, is expected to start Saturday.
 
Randle injured his finger in practice after the Tennessee game.
 
“It’s not serious in any way,” Miles said. “It’s just limiting his reps, and when it comes to the game he’ll be ready to play.”
 
Junior tight end Mitch Joseph is also expected to return to action this weekend after missing the last two games with a knee problem.    
 
Joseph’s addition gives LSU another blocking tool during run situations, as well as another viable passing option behind starting tight end Deangelo Peterson.
 
Joseph started the first three games while Peterson was out with an ankle injury and had five catches for 51 yards.
 
Sophomore Chase Clement will likely come up on the short end of the stick with Joseph returning. Clement, a former defensive lineman, caught the first pass of his career against Florida last week.
 
Freshman running back Alfred Blue will be a game-time decision after suffering an injury in last week’s game against Florida.
 
“We’re not certain he will play in this one,” Miles said.
 
Blue has played in all six games and has 70 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown and also has been a key member of the special teams unit, recording three tackles so far.
 
 
 
 
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Contact Sean Isabella at [email protected]