From what I've seen and heard I think it's obvious we saw very little of the real thing in Starkville. My question to those who have been to practices/scrimmages, what should we expect to see? What's the pass-run ratio? Is Hester really the starter?
Well, noone close to the action is replying, so I'll pontificate...what the heck. I think we played conservatively against MSU because we could and we should've. No use taking chances with a team you're supposed to trounce. This week, I think necessity will show us much more of the playbook. I also think we'll finally find out that Jacob Hester is an awesome fullback but not the best tailback/halfback/whateverback (I really need to research this so I can stop being a moron). I predict K. Williams breaks out a bit, even against VT's defensive front. I think the biggest difference will be in the tight ends. As in, I think we'll use them effectively. VT will try to blitz and pressure Flynn, and the tight ends will make their introductions. There....maybe that will get the experts to type...
I agree, but I don't think it's about taking chances. Tech doesn't know what to prepare for, that's what I like.
Well Miles has been saying all along that the offense is going to be a mix of the old, as well as some new Crowton stuff, but will not change significantly. Miles was asked this week if LSU held anything back in the MSU game that we might see vs VA Tech. His replied was that there were a few wrinkles that haven't come out yet but for the most part what we saw last week was the LSU offense. We are not going to see a Hawaii or Texas Tech style offense out there Saturday.
I sure hope the old conservative play calling isn't going to hold true this year also. I hope it wasn't CLM that was reigning in Jimbo in the past big games. I think CLM needs to open it up and let the Crowton be a little more aggressive. With our O-line, playing conservative is not going to cut it and we saw this in the AU and UF games of 2006. Pounding the ball on 1st and 2nd down isn't going to cut it with our O-line. We have to keep the defenses guessing to keep them off balance and this will aid the O-line a bit. I thought the play calling was very basic and predictable against MSU. I really hope that is not what we have left to look forward too. I hope Miles is just holding the cards close to his vest but I'm afraid we will be just as conservative as we were last season.
I thought Coach Miles ran some rather wide-open offenses when at OSU. Jimbo basically ran the same offense under Saban and Miles, so I've never thought that Miles is too conservative. I still think the driving rainstorm played a pretty big part in why we were so conservative last week--along with not having to show more of our hand than we needed to.
It's pretty much a foregone conclusion that this year's version of the LSU Tigers is going to feature a lot of rushing the football. That's where our strengths lie, and that's what we should do to utilize our strengths, IMHO. That said, rushing the football doesn't = conservative. In fact, if we can get the rushing attack going, which I believe we can with a little work, it will open up the passing game. I am one who didn't like the first half offense against MSU, but it wasn't because we were rushing the football...it was because of the WAY we were doing it, and WHO was doing the majority of it. Before you Hester fans pounce, I'm talking about Flynn, although I don't think Hester offers the best option at the HB position. I'd like to see him in the backfield as a FB, because I think he is more effective there.
I can't imagine Crowton would take a job that doesn't include running his offense. Guess we'll find out soon enough.
While I do think there will be some new plays this week, don't expect it to be much different than last week. Make no mistake about it, because of Va Tech's D, I anticipate another conservative gameplan. The last thing we want to do is give them confidence by allowing a defensive TD.
