While in Austin this past weekend at a wedding I engaged in some football talk with quite a few of the attendants and most were Longhorn and Baylor fans. Being the LSU fan among them even though I live in Houston they were discussing the Tigers and this season. Seems quite a few of them have freinds, relatives, etc in Louisiana and they have followed LSU games. Big question was why LSU couldn't win the big one's this season. As all seemed to think LSU was loaded and should have easily contended for the NC. Now before bashing they were not being stuck up cause the UT fans confessed they under estimated and got spanked by OSU and have had some close calls this season. But they have the opinion they are rebuilding and that LSU was loaded all around. Most all had seen the Auburn game and thought LSU really went into a shell so to speak offensivly against Auburn compared to game plans in other games. I mentioned that we had some bad calls that didn't help matters but most felt that regardless of the calls LSU should have destroyed Auburn. Don't think anyone put a specific finger on why but most thought it was Poor play by the LSU offense. I think one person questioned why LSU didn't change things around considering how things were going. Air it out so to speak. As for the Florida game, well everyone pretty much thought LSU just stunk up the place and choked. I didn't see the Florida game so I couldn't comment. Then came the question of could we win against Tennesse with so much on the line. I stated that I thought we would handle Tennesse and win the game but seems quite a few of them had reservations. Then just a while ago I read on ESPN that the writer thinks LSU is the best team in the SEC but can't win the big one's. I sure hope they take care of Tennesse and silence some folks cause if not we could easily one of the most talented teams in the nation to be labeled not being able to handle the pressure or win the big one's. And you know who the blame for that is gonna fall on. B
Agreed. That's why Miles has to open up the offense and let it fly. But if we play not to lose like in the AU and UF games, then it will be the same result. No way we should lose to UT.
Whose to blame? I hope the answer is the offensive line. Tho this will cause a discussion I am sure... It's tough to open up the offense when you know the O-Line isn't going to keep people from getting to JR. That of course brings up JR's lack of mobility. etc...etc I can't wait till next year... bleck
When did LSU ever win big road games? Was this something we did regularly in the past? Did I sleep through those years? We had one super year in '03, with all the big games at home. Now we expect the new coach to accomplish things that previous coaches couldn't do ... win big SEC road games regularly. Auburn, Florida and Tenn all ranked in the top ten. Arkansas might be when we play them. Has any LSU coach ever face such a tough SEC road schedule? Some of you guys act like it's our right to win the big SEC road games. Success has spoiled many of you.
Tune in Saturday...the pain is coming to Rocky Top. I have that funny feeling. These guys read the papers. They are pissed about the slight. Throw the added fuel of last year and you get a very quiet Neyland Stadium by the second quarter. No matter what happens the naysayers will say it was luck...or Tenn wasn't all there...or the moon was out of alingnment with the earth.
I beg to differ. JR has had plenty of time. The O-line does very well in pass protection, it is the run blocking that they suck at. In the big games, even when JR has time, he gets timid in his throwing and will throw off his back foot when there is not pressure and he tries to guide the ball too much. Sort of like the Detroit pitchers trying to guide their throws to first....they throw off the back foot and float the ball in there and loose all their accuracy. JR does the same thing in the big games especially in the AU game. His accuracy was down, he floated balls that should've been drilled to the WR or thrown deeper, and he threw off his back foot when he wasn't hurried. I said this prior to the UF game, that if LSU didn't win the UF game with the loads of talent and the ability to fight for a NC, LSU will begin to hear the rumblings that they can't win the big games. Part of this is due to the play calling, JR's poor passing in these games, and the O-line. Miles or Jimbo is scared to open the offense up during a big game. I don't care if you are on the road or not, the players have the abilities to make these plays because they have done in every other game but you tie their hands in the big ones and you never test the opposing defense. Put the pressure on the defense, don't be predictable, and believe that the players can do what they have done in past games. What do you think that does to the players confidence and psychie if the coach gets all conservative and doesn't let the offense attack but tries to run and run the ball when you have an awesome QB that is probably the most accurate in college football. That attitude flows down to the players and it shows. JR is scared to throw the ball like he does in the cup cake games and doesn't have his confidence like normally does.
Yes, we can win the big games. We won several of them last season. My two cents on the losses this year: Auburn was a pretty bad offensive performance and an unforgivable job by the refs. That game could have gone either way. I think Florida is better than us. When you turn the ball over five times, you cannot claim to be the better team because good teams don't turn the ball over five times. We can beat Tennessee and Ark.
yep. casual "fans" call a team loaded if their skilled players are experienced/ talented. they know squat about the lines, especially the OL. also, as we all konw, lsu isnt "loaded" at rb, and too much value is given to having a big qb with a cannon. im glad for jr that he can throw it through a wall, but that means nothing to lsu. ask the ut fans when the last time ut beat a top 10 team on the road (maybe Ohio St last year)--Neb and TT this year are far from top 10 teams. of course, lsu has beaten no one this year. because of scheduling, this lsu team could end up being the best team ever that beats no one (maybe bama should count)
