Rosetta: Miles mum on starting QB

• By RANDY ROSETTA
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Aug 26, 2008 - Page: 1C - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

• Print
• Email
• Save
• Share

• Del.icio.us
• Digg
• Facebook
• Reddit
• 

Either the LSU players have been expertly trained in poker-face techniques or Les Miles is even better at keeping secrets than anybody realized.

Because a handful of players were asked Monday if they knew who the starters at some key positions might be — including quarterback — and all seemed as out of the loop as anyone else.

Honest reactions or are we talking Manchurian Candidate stuff here?

Game week for the 2008 season opener got off the ground Monday with Miles meeting the media, and the LSU quarterback position remained a hot-button topic as it has been since last spring.

Although the question of who the Tigers’ new signal caller will be has been asked in the context of every ostensible angle, Miles still wouldn’t budge — even lobbing a pre-emptive strike in his opening salvo.

“Our offense certainly is prepared and looking forward to starting fast,” Miles said. “Our quarterbacks, I have great confidence in all three of them to be honest with you. I can’t tell you (Monday) who will take the field first. I can tell you I’ll be comfortable with whoever that is.

“I would not be surprised if all three played at certain times.”

No, that won’t be a surprise to anyone. But will whoever actually gets the starting nod Saturday against Appalachian State be stunned?

Apparently it’s possible.

“He’s really being pretty secretive,” said LSU running back Charles Scott, who is in a three-way battle for playing time at that spot. “He just hasn’t opened up and said who the starting tailback or quarterback will be — not even to the team.”

It’s not like there isn’t a well-defined and specific method to Miles’ secrecy.

By keeping everyone guessing, Miles has ramped up the competition at QB, running back and everywhere else a clear-cut starter hasn’t emerged.

“Him not telling us, that keeps us on our toes and makes every practice very competitive,” Scott said. “We go out there and fight like hell at every position.”