Les Miles deserves blame for the way we showed up against Troy. But he is still dealing with Lee and a freshman, which is just tough. We got the win, but we shouldn't have had our greatest comeback ever against Troy. Miles deserves criticism, but it should be tempered with the reality of who we have to play QB. On the other hand, our defense is unable to get pressure on a QB, which is very troubling. Isn't our DLine highly touted? What's the deal? Is it co-DC that is the problem? I see a lot of youth on this team on both sides of the ball and without Perilloux this is most definitely a rebuilding year. It's a little bothersome that we weren't able to reload, but all roads lead back to Perilloux. And probably the co-DCs.
I think so too. the REAL telling point will be how next season turns out. If it is better then maybe we are back in the saddle. We havent fallen out of the saddle yet, but we're riding pretty low. If we win 10 games next year and no blow outs.... we're improving. Even if we lose 3 games next year, if we COMPETE and its just a luck thing, I can live with that.
On the positive side, look how USCs defense fared against a similar style offense and quick players when they played Oregon St. They have certainly bounced back, and LSU will, too.
When I say the future of LSU football is in trouble, here is what I'm referencing: (1) Next year's offense is in the hands of Jarrett Lee. That makes the job of opposing defenses much easier. Crowd the line. Smother the run. Sneak up your CB's. Pressure #12 every play. Wait for him to make mistakes. (2) The Tigers lose Herman Johnson and Brett Helms next year. Opposing D's thus have it even easier. (3) This year LSU has what some called "the best D-Line in the nation." The QB of a Sun Belt Conference team passed 72 times last night and was sacked once. (4) LSU hasn't had a consistently decent punt return or kickoff return team in years. These are my worries. If they're not legit, give me a reasonable explanation as to why. I'm not saying LSU's going to regress to the Curley Hallman days. But I don't see any more championships in the near future. :lsup:
1. Jarrett Lee will presumably have more experience under his belt. And if he doesn't JJ or Russell Shepard will be in for him, either way, the play from that position will improve. 2. Very legit concern. I'd say just hold out hope that the studs we've been stockpiling will be as good as advertised. O-line will be a bit rocky to start the year. 3. It is impossible to get to the QB when he's already thrown the ball. The DBs are leaving people open too often. Either way, they completed less than 50% of their passes and there were several pressured/rushed throws in the second half due to a good pass rush. I'd like to see more sacks as well but with a shaky secondary there's only so much you can do. 4. LSU still won the NC last year despite this problem, and while special teams are an important factor in the game, you are grasping for straws when you try to bring that into the equation. If you're referring to last night's return game, they were kicking the ball away from us all game. It made for good field position just not good return yards. Can't blame Holliday for being so fast teams are scared to kick it directly to him. Our ST as a whole have been solid under Miles (kickoff coverage was great in last night's 2nd half) I apologize if I was a bit harsh in my criticisms of your original post, it just seems like people judge each performance in a vacuum and completely forget that Les Miles just took us to a National Championship, and that we have more talent coming through this school now then we ever have before. I find it hard to fathom there is much to complain about for an LSU fan right now. As I said, this season has been frustrating for us all...I'm screaming bloody murder after every Lee pick-6 just like you, but I'm not at all concerned for the direction of this program.
1) Lee will surprise you...he will be better... as will Jefferson...and Hatch. Many weapons next season. 2) You are only losing two starters out of 11. 3) Only point of issue for next season. Hopefully the dual DC goes away. I tink that is the fix. 4)Holliday is #5 in the SEC in punt returns as is LSU overall. Kickoff returns could be better but I don't see it as a problem if we are scoring 30+ points again anyway. Just pads stats for the offense. Hope you feel better.
The gas that currently feeds the fire of my negativity toward LSU is watching the Florida Gators. How come those punks wind up with a QB who plays an important role in a national-championship as a true freshman, wins the Heisman Trophy in his second year (while our guy Lee throws 7 pick sixes in his second year), and is well on his way to a second national title and perhaps second Heisman in his third year?! How come the Gators' world-class sprinter, Jeffrey Demps, scores multiple touchdowns a game, while the Tigers' world-class sprinter, Trindon Holliday, can barely field a punt?! How come when we beat the Gators, it is by 4 points, and when the Gators beat us it is by 30?! How come there hasn't been a nuclear explosion in Gainesville, Florida! I fear that Florida, under Urban Meyer, is about to take control of the SEC the way the Gators did under Spurrier in the 90s. And that is a sickening thought. :lsup:
relax, Florida lost 4 games last year, including a bowl game to Michigan. They are at the apex of their run, just like us last year. We gotta climb back up the mountain but we'll be right back next year or the next.
I'm not saying that our defense--specifically the job the DC's are doing--is anything CLOSE to what we want, but we need to temper ourselves somewhat. Now, before you jump on me and think I'm defending the co-DC's, I'm not. I think their job thus far leaves a LOT to be desired, but when you have a coach like Miles, who's lost only 7 times in 48 chances, has brought us our 2nd BCS title in 5 seasons and closing in on yet another top-3 recruiting class, we need to show a little more acceptance and confidence in him that he's going to ultimately make the right decision for the team. While I absolutely dispise our defensive play this season, I don't think it's been completely horrible to the point where we have to make whole-sale changes after 10 games. Now, if we're still experiencing the same results at this stage next year, then yes, I'll be one of those leading the charge for change. I don't know if anyone can pinpoint exact causes. I think we're in a "catch 22" stage. Is our defense put in poor positions due to all the turnovers by the offense; putting them on the field more than they normally would? Or is it the defense failing to hold opponents that has caused us to rely on an inexperienced QB group to pass our way through games thereby leading to more turnovers?? One could make a case that in our loses, our defense has let us down (Florida), the offense let us down in another ('Bama) and then they BOTH let us down in the 3rd (UGA). But make no mistake, I'm one that LOVES shut-down defenses and am a FIRM believer that offenses win games, but DEFENSES win championships. We NEED to get back to dominant defensive play, but the truth is, none of us know exactly what's going on behind the closed doors of the football operations building in the days leading up to the game.
