April 18, 2008

Baton Rouge, LA (UWIRE) -- When then-sophomore quarterback Ryan Perrilloux led his team to the Southeastern Conference Championship on Dec. 1, he was the unquestionable replacement to former Tiger Matt Flynn.

After several off-the-field incidents, LSU coach Les Miles said in a Thursday teleconference that Perrilloux will be in a three-man competition for top signal caller this upcoming season.

"Perrilloux is handling his business and doing right," Miles said. "If that continues - and we expect it would - there will be a three-man competition for starter."

Miles was asked how far Perrilloux had pushed his limits this off season.

"I don't know what pushing the limit is to you, but when a guy misses class and is 15 minutes late to a meeting, that's pushing me pretty hard," Miles said. "I don't know your limits, but as long as he continues to pursue the classroom and continues to take care of his business off the field, he will be allowed to compete on the field."

Junior quarterback Andrew Hatch and freshman Jarrett Lee received most of the snaps in spring practice.

Miles said Perrilloux's punishment is to not be labeled as the starter entering fall practice.

"Instead of returning as the starter or [being] a guy that should be the starter, he is competing like heck for his job," Miles said. "There is loss [with his actions], and he needs to put himself in a position to come back and compete."

Miles put most of his emphasis on missing class and being late for a team meeting because he said there were uncertainties involving alleged off-campus incidents.

"There's the issue of what really was done, and what can be taken from experience," Miles said. "Several of the off-field issues turned out to be nothing, issues where he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Miles called Perrilloux's actions "indefinably defendable."

"[These actions] cost him playing time while I ascertained where he was at and what he was doing," Miles said. "You would think anybody that has had the experience that Perrilloux had would understand that his time was coming ... he needs to take care of his business from this time forward."

If Perrilloux is not LSU's starter next season, the Tigers would lean on Hatch, who completed one pass for nine yards, or Lee, who did not attempt a pass this past season.

Miles said both quarterbacks are becoming comfortable with playing the position and making the necessary reads.

"Both guys have ability to play in SEC in my opinion," Miles said. "They don't have any SEC experience, but both guys are ready to compete."

While filling Flynn's shoes might be the most important concern for Miles with road games against Auburn, Florida, South Carolina and Arkansas, he said players will have to develop across the board to be able to win another national championship.

Miles said while the goals and ambitions of the 2008 team will remain the same, he does not consider this team national championship defenders.

"We are not going to carry the burden of defending on our shoulders," Miles said. "This is the 2008 team, not the national champions. They have to come together and prove in a number of areas."

He said winning the BCS title this past season provides a "healthy motivation," and the returning players know the required effort to achieve the same goal.

Miles specifically mentioned the secondary, which loses cornerbacks Jonathan Zenon and Chevis Jackson as well as safety Craig Steltz.

"We have some corners to replace," Miles said. "We are at a point in program where the guys coming in are not the starters that left. But with some development ... we will be fine at corner."

One unit Miles said will not miss a beat is defensive line.

Despite losing an almost-certain top five pick in defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, Miles said the defensive line is "pretty veteran."

Seniors Tyson Jackson and Kirston Pittman return at defensive end.

Miles has moved junior Ricky Jean-Francois to defensive tackle, and the Tigers have depth with seniors Charles Alexander and Marlon Favorite, junior Al Woods and sophomore Drake Nevis receiving significant playing time this past season.

Alexander is recovering from an injured knee he suffered two games into this past season.

Jean-Francois missed most of this past season because of academic ineligibility. He returned to the team for the SEC and BCS title games.

"[Jean-Francois] played well in two games in the back-end of the season," Miles said. "One of guys in country to have spectacular fall. If he plays like his previous two games, he is capable of being one of the most dominant [defensive linemen] in the SEC and the country."

(C) 2008 The Daily Reveille via UWIRE