1.) I was never convinced of our offense this year. No one was. But I might be in the minority in thinking it's just because of execution. The coaching and playcalling were fine to me, but the players just weren't doing fundamental things and just plain ol' executing. Sure on paper it looked like we had the most talent, but even last year no one really wowed us on the field that was a freshman or sophomore. Does anyone think that maybe, just maybe, the talent just isn't producing on the college level like it did for those players in HS?? It happens all the time. 2.) The SEC needs to protect the loser of the SECCG. Gaurentee a New Year's Day bowl. Playing for a conference title and then being relegated to a Dec 30th bowl just isn't right. This has been the case for all SECCG losers. Of course the fundamental flaw with the bowl system is that they are designed to make money. But something has to be done especially since there are only 2 SEC tie-ins on this side of Alabama: Independence and Cotton. And because Bowls take geography into account, this makes the issue worse...Agree? Disagree? 3.)I'm probably piss some people off here but I kept my mouth shut until the end of the regular season so I could have a full whole season to observe (plus last year)...we (my Dad and I) are still not convinced of JaMarcus Russel. I said it. Ridicule me if you want, but at the game I was wondering how we even GOT there to begin with. Eating 12 yd sacks in the 12th game of the season is not what I call good decisions. His immobility is killing us. He has enormous strength but it does no good when the accuracy is mediocre at best. I could count on one hand the few times I saw him hit a receiver in stride this season. I can't offer any answers because we have only seen Matt Flynn sparingly (the INT he threw was horrendous, but he did lead a nice drive chock full of QB sneaks and draws). I know not of Perriloux's ability except for the hype everyone has created around him. But the hype around Russel and Flynn was there as well and I'm not seeing the hype materialize. You can disagree all you want, but namecalling doesn't get us anywhere. Let's talk about this like fans who want to understand the game better...not like Arkansas fans. hehe
I agree with most of this, only I do not think Jamarcus is the problem at all. He does take a lot of sacks, but he also moves pretty well for someone his size. To say his passes are not accurate also is not really fair. I can't count all the time he hit recievers right in the chest, but the pass was dropped.
1. I agree with you about execution or in this case the lack thereof. People criticize Les and Jimbo for being to "conservative" or to "predictable". Well, some of the greatest teams in college football have been "predictable" and "conservative" but they beat you on the execution. And to me execution on offense starts up front with the offensive line and I'm sorry but I believe this O-line has been very underachieving this season. Far too many penalties, missed blocks, inability to open holes has been a problem all year long. 2. Mike Slive to me has done nothing to bolster or protect the SEC. He's allowed the SEC to be run roughshod over and become almost old-ACC-like. Like him or not, Roy Kramer wielded a tremendous amount of power in the world of intercollegiate athletics and that was extremely beneficial to the SEC. Kramer would never have allowed the SEC to be relegated to playing second or third fiddle to any other conference. The only time you ever see Slive is doing JP TV interviews with the 3 Daves. The SEC must do a better job of dictating to the bowls what's best for the conference, in particular protecting the SEC Championship Game loser. 3. JaMarcus is the best QB at LSU. Will he be in the future? My guess is as good as any other fan's guess, but he clearly is the best QB right now. Everybody loves the back up quarterback until reality sets in - he's a backup for a good reason. Russell's completion percentage is above 60% all with receivers who have consistently dropped balls. JaMarcus isn't a mobile QB but he's got a great arm and throws a good ball. Our receivers have not done a good job of catching the football - simply put, making a play. Look at Saturday, Doucet and Davis both dropped balls that "big time" receivers make, especially in championship games. Bowe made one in the Bama game, but he dropped one in the Auburn game and no reason to rehash how bad the Arkansas game went for him. I do agree that after the Miss. State game the bubble screen to Skyler was all but extinct from the offense. Needed to get him the ball in "space".
Thanks for the civil comments...hehe i expected more harsh treatment:wink: As for Russel, we all know the receivers have dropsy. Although i didn't mention them specifically the dropped balls are just part of the execution comments i made in point #1. I'm alking about the other passes that never get to receivers, thrown behind, high or low. I'll admit he's not throwing into the ground as much as he did last year. USC and Texas and even the Indianapolis Colts are perfect examples of being "predictable" and killing you with execution. The Colts run 8 plays in their offense, but they do them with GREAT efficiency and execution, and to me that is almost more important than the play design itself. Just about every play can work if executed well. :geauxtige
Starting next year the SEC will protect the SECCG loser to a certain extent. The Cap One , Cotton, & Outback bowls will each be required to take the loser of the SECCG at least once during the next 4 years. This leaves 1 year where something screwy could happen, but hopefully will not. Here's an excerpt from an article in today's Advocate. "That may come starting next year, when the SEC's big three bowls will be required to take the loser of the championship game once in a four-year period. How that will work out is anyone's guess, but at least the SEC is finally, belatedly standing up for its runner-up team. Too late for LSU, of course."
Some good points made here: First let me say that i think Jamarcus Russell is a good QB and i think he has done a good job leading this team . I hope he can continue to develop his skills . Positives Jamarcus doesnt get too rattled and doesnt point the finger at others. He has a strong arm and can make the tough throws. Receivers have not performed in every game and with all the talent they have they have cost drives to continue by dropping alot of balls. Not JR fault. He is tough and can handle hits and keep getting up. Alot more upside potential if he keeps learning. Negatives Locks on to receiver he is throwing too. Passes often not accurate and doesnt have QB touch. Not very mobile and doesnt move well in pocket. Many times moved into sack instead of getting rid of ball and avoiding big loss. Isnt reading defensive schemes to get us in right play alot of time. Game management needs improvement. Is late getting rid of the ball alot of the time and this causes too much improvisation because of poor timing. Execution depends on timing and he holds the ball too long before releasing. These are all things that come with more experience and learning. We must remember that JR is a work in progress. I would like to see his accuracy improve and see him develop his timing for next year. He is waiting for guys to make their cut and that is messing with the timing of plays. A QB must have a feel for when to throw. JR holds it too long. We need better gameplans using the skills our people have. I dont think Jimbo playcalling and game plans have been a strength this year. You must match the offense to the QB. Skyler Green was not as involved in the gameplans as he should have been. Their is a basic inherent problem in alot of our pass plays in that they dont have the recievers running forward when they catch the ball. Everything is designed to an area and for the receiver to be going sideways or stopped. Not near enough crossing routes with the receivers running forward and full speed when they catch the ball. Our offense has been good enough to win 10 games so far and has been conservative for a reason. JR is still learning the position. But the problem with playing conservative is that you let teams stay in games and play close when you should be putting up more points. I would say our defense is more the reason for 10 wins than our offense. We turned the ball over too much and had penalty stopping drives. Dropped ball stopping drives and poor execution in alot of the games. There is not a game this season where i felt our offense had a good rythem and was execting in all phases. Alley Broussard getting hurt had a very negative effect. We did not have a power back and that hurt our running game alot. We had good RB but none of them were a power back like alley is. I do think things look bright for our offense next year because we will have alot of weapons and i think our offensive line is actually going to be better. We need to finish this season with a win and ieven though i have pointed out alot of things negative here they are things that i believe we be corrected and i see bright things ahead. We have good coaches and i am excited about where this team is headed. I think we will have a good recruiting year filling some holes and i am very happy with the way our program is going. Geaux Tigers
you have to at least accept the possibility that he could be like Rohan was. A backup that probably should have been starting.(not saying he IS, just tossing out possibilities). My biggest complaint about JR, is that for a man his size, he plays small. Rohan would stay standing, and still complete a pass with 2 sometimes 3 D-lineman hanging on him. JR sometimes appears to be looking for a soft spot to land. I'm still notr sold on his game management skills either. hopefully, with experience, his decision making will get better.
JR is a sophmore. He's developed at a good rate for the amount of time he's had in the system, especially considering that he came from a HS where the playbook consisted of "find someone to throw to". He certainly has flaws. Watching him get sacked 12 yards back during the SECCG was painful. Seeing him throw low & behind receivers all season is frustrating. I don't see the game management problem being near as big of a problem as some have made it seem. However, despite all of this he has been a pretty good & consistent QB for us this season and has seemed to grow through the season, not to mention enormous strides from last season. That gives me hope about his future. Also Dork, if you can come on here and post like a reasonable person without making ridiculous & unnecessary comments about our coaches then you'll find that we are very reasonable and enjoy really talking about the game.
Everyone needs to realize that we averaged about 6 dropped passes per game this season. Let's do the math. Here are JR's official stats. 311-188 completions 9 int's 60.5% 2443 yards 15 TD's 12 games x 6 = 72 drops 188 + 72 = 260 311-260 = 83% completions God knows how many more yards or TD's, and three of his INT's (that I remember for sure, could be more) were tipped by his own receivers hands. He takes sacks because he is trying to make plays. All of the gritty fight to the finish QB's do this, ala Brett Favre. I agree he stared down receivers some in the beginning, but I just don't see it anymore. He will be the first QB taken in the 2007 draft unless something crazy happens, so rather than blame him, maybe we should appreciate him while he is here.
