During Les Miles’ SEC Teleconference on Wednesday, one of the questions was if Leonard Fournette should be held back to save him for later. Miles essentially said that it would vary week to week. Miles went on to say that if you limit someone to a “pitch count”, you’re eliminating potentially great moments in college football.
This is a tricky situation with a player like Fournette. In last week’s matchup against Auburn, Fournette didn’t play a single snap in the fourth quarter after racking up 228 yards off of 19 carries. In a situation like last Saturday when you’re up by a significant amount, you can sit a player like Fournette. It’s all about what the game looks like on the scoreboard.
It’s a classic move if you’re up by a lot, just put in your second and third string guys to protect your players. In the case of LSU, the Tigers should think about sitting Fournette with the next few games before the fourth quarter. The Tigers take on Syracuse this Saturday and Eastern Michigan the following week. With freshman running back Derrius Guice sitting behind Fournette and Donte Jackson behind Guice, there’s no reason why you don’t try and sit Fournette somewhat in the next two games. Let him rest up for the big SEC games like Alabama and Ole Miss in November.
-Clint Domingue