Originally posted by TigerEducated
That's what I was going to say, scott....He's only one game below .500, and to be honest, the Arkansas game was in the bag...Almost 4-3...and that's against stiff competition...
The other thing is that in 2002, his stats were BETTER than Mauck's against admittedly stiffer competition. He's also been, since Mauck's injury anyway, the fastest quarterback we've had.
He always had a better arm...His problem, I think, was all mental...He never had the experience reading defenses like Mauck got early on in the season...
When you make mistakes when you're going through your progessions and reading defenses in the early part of the season, you're usually up against equally wet behind the ears defenses, as well, for one. For two, the teams you do make mistakes against aren't as good as yours. Which means they aren't executing, they aren't coached up, and they don't have the talent to capitalize on your mistakes...
This allows you to see where you made your mistakes, and then to come back from that, without having to suffer the embarassment of having a top flight defense eat your lunch because of it...
ULM didn't pick Mauck off, but Ole Miss took him in for 7 on the first offensive play from scrimmage...For one example...
Randall went in against defenses that were hitting their strides, yadda, yadda, yadda...He also went in with no experience, with a team that was already adjusted to one field general.
His stats were still better than Mauck's from a yardage and completion percentage standpoint. Not to mention, teams actually had to scheme for a vertical passing attack when Randall was in, because he challenged the field and the secondary like Mauck never will be able to, merely by stepping onto the field.
But, I digress....
Other than that, we need to fill the gap on defense, and at linebacker, I don't expect a JUCO kid to come in and do it. Someone will have to-and will-step up to fill that gap that's already on the team...
This defense is too complex for the average kid to come in and comprehend everything. Now...mind you, a LaRon Landry is different. He relied on ball instincts and natural ability, but also didn't have to play the position that Jack Hunt did. That's a perfect progression there for him to go into Hunt's old position. Looking for someone to step up there is not as much a question as just plugging Landry in.
On the corners, depth is the only real concern, but with Ronnie Prude out there, it's not a problem at all...Lots of people don't really remember, but Randall Gay was not in the game for Jawja. Lots of great plays were made by Ronnie Prude...
On offense, Livings slides over to the tackle position vacated by the graduated Rodney Reed. Niswanger plugs in at guard, and then Hodges, Dyakowski, or someone else plugs in at the other guard spot where Peterman was.
Running back is a crapshoot, but we come up snakeyes on every roll...
Quarterback, I've already talked about...and I'll say it one more time...NO TEAM HAS EVER WON A NATIONAL TITLE WITH A FRESHMAN STARTING QUARTERBACK.
If you expect a national title, or for LSU to be in the hunt, you're expecting either Matt Flynn or JaMarcus Russell to do what no other redshirt or true freshman has ever done other than ONE guy....
That guy is former RS frosh Michael Vick...in '99, they lost 46-29, or was it 49-26? to FSU and Booby Bowden...
You going to put those kinds of expectations on this team, and on those kids under center?
Not me...
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