Florida used Chris Leak and Tim Tebow at quarterback last season. It worked out well. LSU has senior Matt Flynn and sophomore Ryan Perrilloux at that position this year. Although it's a different offense with different looks, preparing to play two quarterbacks is always more difficult. That is the case this week for the Gators.
"It's something we've really wanted to do," LSU coach Les Miles said. "We just needed the opportunity to get an athletic quarterback available. Ryan and Matt both possess similar skills.
"We wanted to, even though Ryan is a very capable thrower, we wanted to maybe split those chores and have one guy more on the mobility issues, the running duties, yet still have the ability to do both with both quarterbacks but split it up and add talent to the team. (Offensive coordinator) Gary (Crowton) has done a great job incorporating it into the package."
Top-ranked LSU has made it work. Florida coach Urban Meyer said it's probably a look every team in the country wishes it had because the two-quarterback system is such a great weapon. Preparing to play against two quarterbacks, with different styles and with different skill sets is the difficult part. Ninth-ranked Florida visits No. 1 LSU for an 8:28 kickoff Saturday night. The Gators have to figure out a way to contain it.
Flynn has completed 53 of 94 passes for 673 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Perrilloux is 28 of 37 passing for 402 yards with six scores and one pick. He has also rushed for 143 yards and one touchdown on 25 rushes. Meyer said Florida's offense is designed around its personnel, rather than the other way around, so playing two quarterbacks last season was feasible. This year it hasn't turned out that way yet.
"We're not working different quarterbacks this year because our backup (freshman Cameron Newton) hasn't earned that right yet," Meyer said. "We have a young quarterback by the name of John Brantley that is more suited like Chris Leak. There is no set offense. Our offense is set around the personnel that we have.
"I do like athletic quarterbacks. Are you going to find a 235-pound guy who's one of your best running backs (Tebow) and is competitive? No, there's not that many of them out there."
More quotes from the coaches
Miles on having a balanced offense: "You have to be able to defend the run and the pass on every down and distance and make your opponents do that so you have equal advantages when you call plays. That's our attempt and what we want to happen.
"The physical nature of the run is an advantage for the offense. There's a lot of balance in this league as well. The Hawaiis and teams throwing the ball every snap, certainly they score points and they execute…It's just not our nature."
Meyer on Tebow being Florida's leading rusher: "A lot of those are not designed runs. Some of those runs are reaction to pressure or coverage pressure. The negative there is we're facing probably the best defensive line in the country. He's going to have to be a mobile quarterback this week. You have to make something happen with your feet in a dynamic offense."
Arkansas coach Houston Nutt on LSU sophomore wide receiver Trindon Holliday: "He's so fast. He's lightning fast. Two things about Trindon come to mind. Holliday is a tremendous kick returner. You better be very disciplined in your lanes. Offensively, he can get behind those big guys and you can lose him whether it's a zone sweep or a reverse with him. What a weapon."
Note on Tony Joiner: Meyer said as of Wednesday morning he has not come to a decision on senior safety Tony Joiner's status. Joiner, a team captain, was arrested early Tuesday morning and charged with felony burglary after allegedly breaking into a towing company impound yard to retrieve his girlfriend's car. Meyer said after Tuesday's practice Joiner would not be involved with practice until he had all of the information regarding the incident.
"Tony is a great player, a great friend, a great kid," Tebow said after Tuesday's practice. "He wasn't trying to do anything that was wrong. It was an unfortunate event. In his heart, he wasn't trying to do anything wrong so I think he should (play this weekend)."