AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2008 > March > 31
Monday, March 31, 2008
LSU’s Perrilloux a great player, but not a leader
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Nobody asked me but….
1. Ryan Perrilloux is a great player, but he is not a good leader. I was shocked—simply shocked—to learn that after his third suspension the LSU quarterback had been allowed to return to the team and just might get to play in Saturday’s spring game. Is there anyone out there who REALLY thought Perrilloux would not make it back into the program?
I’m really not criticizing coach Les Miles. He’s going the extra mile trying to salvage the career of a talented kid. But at what cost? Unless Perrilloux changes his ways, this is going to happen again and the headlines won’t be about LSU trying to defend its national championship. Coverage of Ryan Perrilloux’s “problems” will define this entire team.
Unless he changes, Perrilloux will never lead LSU to any kind of championship and the Tigers are certainly capable of winning the SEC West again. At this level, there is a lot more to playing quarterback than running and throwing. It’s called leadership. And right now, Perrilloux doesn’t have it.
2. Moody might not be the answer for Florida: We recently read in the Gainesville Sun that running back Emmanuel Moody, the transfer from Southern Cal, is having problems picking up Dan Mullen’s offense. That’s curious because Moody has been with the team an entire year while sitting out due to NCAA transfer rules. Here is what head coach Urban Meyer told the Gainesville Sun: “He’s a little bit behind. I didn’t think he’d be that far behind because he was here all fall, but it seems like everything is new and it shouldn’t be that way. But he’s a talented guy.” Meyer also said: It’s too early to say exactly what his role will be.” I’m not sure what all that means for Moody and Florida, but it can’t be good.
3. South Carolina made a good move with Eric Norwood: Norwood, from Acworth, was one of the SEC’s best defensive ends last season. But new defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson believes Norwood can do a lot more than rush the quarterback. So he’s moving Norwood to outside linebacker, which will give him a chance to make even more plays. As we’ve said before, spring practice is about identifying the best players at each position and getting your 11 best on the field at the same time.
4. The Joe Paterno situation is fixing to get ugly: I’ve written it many times. I’ve said it on TV and radio and in other public forums: After 56 years at Penn State—42 as head coach—Joe Paterno has earned the right to stay for as long as he wants. He is entering the final year of his contract and said the other day he’s doesn’t care if he gets a new deal or not. As much as I admire coach Paterno, he’s kidding himself if he thinks this situation will have no impact on recruiting. Unless this gets resolved by this summer, president Graham Spanier and athletics director Tim Curley are going to be pushed into a corner and forced to make a decision they don’t want to make.
5. We can do without the “family values” drama at Michigan: Michigan offensive lineman Justin Boren has decided to leave the school and transfer because, in his words, new coach Rich Rodriguez has eroded “the family values” of the program in just a few short months as head coach. Boren also told reporters that he was having a tough time adjusting to a new offensive system that required the linemen to run to the line of scrimmage on almost every play. Michigan hired Rodriguez because the powers that be liked his offensive system, which everyone knew would be an adjustment for the players. Players either like it or they don’t. If they don’t, they are free to transfer as quarterback Ryan Mallett did. It’s okay not to like the system. It’s okay not to like the coach. That makes sense. But please spare us the “family values” drama. What does that even mean?
