LSU looks to rely on their own development of top quarterbacks starting with Brennan

It wouldn’t seem to be so, but LSU may have the perfect setup at quarterback as the post-Joe Burrow years and spring practice kickoff later this week.

Myles Brennan, who begins spring as the lead man to be LSU’s starting quarterback, has had the perfect gestation period. Three years to learn what playing quarterback in the SEC looks like. This is his second spring in the spread offense, and he had two years to watch how Burrow went from a total unknown to the first pick in the NFL draft.

That is quite a free tutorial, one that Brennan can use to perhaps someday follow Burrow’s path, if not to greatness, at least to sustained excellence.

Here’s what we do know about Myles Brennan. He’s a pocket passer with a cannon for an arm.

So much of the spread is as Ed Orgeron says, “putting our athletes in space,” and if Brennan is the quarterback, every inch of the field will have to be defended. He can make any throw from the deep ball to the deep out.

But, can he win?

The first thing Brennan will have to do is win over the locker room, and that comes with victories in clutch situations.

In his junior season, Burrow did it quickly. He played efficiently in a win over a then-top 10 ranked Miami team. He led LSU to a fourth quarter comeback at Auburn against a very good defense.

In October, Burrow led LSU to an upset rout of Georgia.

After that, there’s was no doubt that LSU was Joe Burrow’s team.

Brennan does have one edge over Burrow. Before he makes his first college start, he will have thrown 70 passes. At Ohio State in two seasons of cameo appearances, Burrow threw 39.

LSU also provides Brennan with plenty of tools with which to work.

The offensive line is experienced. Running backs Chris Curry, John Emery and and Tyrion Davis-Price are back, as well as two of the nation’s best wide outs, Ja’Marr Chase and Terrace Marshall.

Here’s another plus: As good as Thaddeus Moss was at tight end, five star freshman Arik Gilbert from Georgia may be better.

Starting at quarterback in the SEC without experience can be a mixed bag, of oourse.

In 2017, true freshman Jake Fromm took over for Jacob Eason, who was lost in game one with a knee injury. Fromm completed 62.2 percent of his passes, 24 for touchdowns with only seven interceptions.

Georgia overcame a September loss to Ole Miss to reach the CFP championship game against Alabama that season.

Fromm was aided by a solid offensive line and two NFL talents, Nick Chubb and Sony Michel at tailback.

Then there’s Bo Nix, who started the 2019 season as a true freshman at Auburn. He completed only 57.6 percent of his passes. His start was rough. Nix threw three interceptions in a 24-13 loss at Florida and then went 15-of-35 with a pick in a loss at LSU.

After that, Nix settled down and didn’t throw an interception the rest of the season.

Brennan’s first full year under center, if he remains healthy, could statistically be a lot better than Fromm’s. Remember, the Tigers’ likely starter is taking over for a quarterback who threw 60 TD passes last season. If Brennan threw two thirds of that total, he would still have 40. That would be 12 better than the previous LSU record.

If Brennan is the answer at quarterback, then Orgeron and offensive quarterback Steve Ensminger can repeat the process once again. That is, play the guy who waited his turn and get the next guy ready.

Orgeron understands what great quarterback play can do.

It took LSU from a decent bowl team, to a national champion, and Orgeron from a guy on the hotseat to a beloved coach earning $6 million a season.

The Tigers can’t count on finding a great one in the transfer portal again.

Myles Brennan is the first of what hopefully is many. That is, an LSU quarterback of exemplary play who came up through the system.