Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE
Not only does talented junior quarterback Zach Mettenberger give LSU a strong-armed, pocket passer, he provides the Tigers with the kind of stability at the position they haven’t known since Matt Flynn guided them to the 2007 BCS national championship.
There are those who feel Mettenberger can do the same after seeing limited action in five games last year. Mettenberger played behind the departed Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee, who spent their careers battling one another for the No.1 spot.
The job now clearly belongs to Mettenberger, who transferred to LSU before last season from Butler (Kan.) Community college. Mettenberger had transferred there after being dismissed from Georgia without having played for the Bulldogs.
“I think we’re going to win a championship with him,” said All-America junior cornerback Tyrann Mathieu, who’s been tested by Mettenberger’s deft touch in practice.
“Given the rapport Mettenberger and the receivers have shown, I think those guys are definitely going to do something special this year.”
Sophomore wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. certainly hopes so, given how he’s clicked with Mettenberger after a productive first season in which he worked his way into the starting lineup. Beckham finished with 41 catches for 475 yards and two touchdowns.
“He’s doing a phenomenal job right now,” Beckham said after a spring game in which Mettenberger completed 14 of 25 passes for 270 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions. Beckham can just imagine that LSU’s offense will feature “an air raid” with Mettenberger at the controls.
Coach Les Miles isn’t really going to let that happen, though, considering how he wants balance that includes a bruising ground game. But Mettenberger’s ability to throw accurately downfield at least gives the LSU offense a dimension it hasn’t had in years.
Mettenberger attempted only 11 passes last year, completing eight for 92 yards and a touchdown. He now gets most of the reps in practice and is far ahead of redshirt freshman backup Stephen Rivers, the brother of San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers.
“I thought I had a lot of good passes (in the spring game),” Mettenberger said. “I missed a couple. That’s something that I’m going to look into.”
Continued sustained improvement is what Miles wants to see.
“Now we can … move in a short game with the running game or hit the long ball with our throwing game,” Miles said. “It really puts a lot of pressure on our opponents.”
