I believe this is a legitimate question. The LSU offense and passing game is opened up against the lesser teams but in the big games the offense claims up. I think much of it is conservative play calling and Jimbo/Miles are scared to play the game the way played in the other games and try and try and try to get the running game going. We know what lost us the AU and UF games but when LSU was down and the current game plan wasn't working the coaches didn't make adjustments at all or waited too late as in the UF game. The defense is steady in the small games and the big games but the offense is great in the smaller games and suck wind in the big games. Much of the reason is the game plan and play calling and some of it is the players fault. The coaches are timid in opening up the offense and even JR gets timid in the pocket and throws the ball completely different in the big games. I think the conservative attitude and timidity in the play calling is filtered into the players. The conservative play calling was questioned when Saban was here and it is being questioned again in the big games. Jimbo was apart of them both, now is it Jimbo claiming up on the offense play calling or is it the head coach? By hearing Les' comments about needing to run the ball to open up the passing, I think it could well be Les pulling the reigns in and getting timid and not giving his players opportunities to make the big plays and put pressure on opposing defenses. LSU strength is the passing game. Come out firing the ball immediately and get JR comfortable and loose in the game as soon as possible and let that open up the run game. Put the pressure on the opposing defenses instead of putting the pressure on the offense to move the ball on conservative plays.
Exactly. Against the smaller teams we air it out and dominate. But when we play big games, we look scared and try not to lose instead of comin out and punchin somebody in the mouth. And that's exactly what we need to do vs. UT on Sat.
good point houtiger- that would be my theory. Not to mention "Style points" like khounba said. The game was a huge game for Boise, playing on National televsion, needing to prove they deserve a bid for a BCS bowl, a lot more to play for than LSU against Fresno. I didn't think Fresno's defense played as motivated against them as they did against us. On several plays, I saw defensive players looking like they were o.k. with someone else making the play. They were not playing until the whistle and gave up on pursuit. Like youcandoit said, Our questions should be answered Sat. Undestanding that Neyland is a tough place to win, we should still get a truer picture of our team. The ref hut us in the Auburn game, we played terrible in the Fla. game, but if we lose this one because we didn't play up to our potential, I would question if we are as good as I believe we are. I didn't expect us to go undefeated but I expected us to win one of those three games (Auburn, Florida, Tenn.). It's time to **** or get off the pot.
Does it occur to you that the "big games" are against defenses that would demolish a one-dimensional offense? Don't get me wrong. I agree that the game plans against Aub and Fla were very conservative, but I don't think it's out of fear.
If it makes yall feel better...theres a pretty good article on the advocate on the coaches trying to get holliday more involved in the offense which is good, a little late but good.
I thought Jimbo's play calling in the Florida game was very good, with good balance between run and pass and with passes going all over the field. We lost that game becuse of two special teams fumbles, which were not the offense's fault and a couple of interceptions that were not Jimbo's fault. You can't turn the ball over 5 times to a top-10 team on the road and expect to win.
That's the frustrating thing for me- at this point in the season I feel like our offense still has no identity. The lopsided victories are good in the sense that we get to play younger players but I feel our "A" team hasn't had enough playing time because of it.
I agree...LSU lost the game to Florida with turnovers (plus the no-call on the Tebow, so called jump pass). Just throwing that in, because of an irritation at the time that has not completely worn off. But, I still think Jimbo has a tendency to get the least out of the offensive talent. Part of the equation seems to be too much predictability. With that said, we certainly need better execution in big games.
I dont think Jimbo is the main problem. He has done a good job over the years at LSU calling plays although a little conserative in my opinion at times. I think we are a one dimensional team on offense against good opponents (FLA, AUB). We cannot establish a running game at all this season to help open up the passing game. I think we could use improvement at run blocking and maybe utilize some of our younger backs. If we can develop a running game I think that would open up the passing game and Jimbo could open up the playbook. Hopefully against Tenn, we will see Holliday in the spread offense as the only RB and utilize him out of the backfield. Also like to see Alley get some carries early in the game to see if he can run like he did last game. :geauxtige :geauxtige :geauxtige :geauxtige
