Coaching: Miles: I still believe he is a good coach. He has had his mistakes and moments of what was he thinking, but overall I think he is a good coach. He knows when to take a chance and gamble and is usually successful. He believes in his players in making plays and he has made some good hires for assist coaches in Pelini and Crowton, even though I have issues with them now. After this loss, if the UM job is offered he is definitely gone because the title hopes are all but lost. If we were ranked #1 and won the SECCG, I think Les would think twice about accepting the UM job. Now the decision got a lot easier, IF he gets an offer. Pelini: He has put together a great defense 2 years in a row, but has had some questionable games. UK, UF, and Arky are some that come to mind. Arky is one dimensional but come at you with many different options for one look because they know they are one dimensional. The run defense has been our strong suit this season yet it failed miserably this week. Yes Arky has amazing RB's and a FB. The FB got more action than ever. I still think we should've been able to stop them. Other teams have and they are definitely stoppable or they would be in the top 10. Dorsey, probably should've been pulled because he had little affect, except for soaking up some double teams. Our injuries hurt the defense a lot but Dorsey was ineffective, McCray got burned several times. I think Pelini has to take a lot of the blame for not having a better plan for Arky. As I brought up, almost 2 mnths ago, I had gotten word from a friend with Neb booster connections, that Pelini would be announced the NEB HC after the SECCG. The cards have fallen into place for that. Whether this plays a part in Pelini's game planning, who knows. But meeting with officials instead of watching film and coming up with a game plan will effect the SECCG. Crowton: I have been thrilled to have Crowton for an OC. I think he is great and love the way he has mixed things up and gotten so many players involved. I wish he would shade a bit more towards running because we have so much talent there and are generally very successful at it. Instead of being so evenly balanced on run/pass, I wish he would go a bit more towards running. It would wear the defense down and help with time of possession. I do have an issue with calling for a pass play when going for a 2 pt conversion on the 3 yd line. We gashed them for chunks of yards when running the ball. You have a crowded and short field when on the 3 yd line, why pass. A pitch or counter would've gotten in with Hester, KW, or Scott. I didn't understand that call at all. SECCG: I'm not expecting LSU to win this game. Pelini is distracted and will come out with a vanilla game plan because he is setting up a deal with Neb this week, IMO, according to my friends booster connection with the athletic office. Tenn & Ainge will pick the LSU secondary apart with a similar game plan as UK did. This will open up a strong running game with Foster and with Dorsey not healthy, we will feel the effects of it. I would suspect the players will be ready to play to avenge the loss and show people what they are made of. They are resilient but with the distractions of losing a DC and possibly a HC, will they be prepared mentally and will the coaches give them the game plan and tools to win with? However, the players could really be hurting in confidence in themselves and the coaches with the coaching distractions and these games take so much out of you. I know I'm not very confident in the staff and players right now, because everytime I have confidence and feel good about them, they lose. This team has met expectations at times then fell well below them. This team has made it to the #1 spot twice this season and that same week they lose the next game in 3 OT's. That has got to be hard. The defense needs to step up and Pelini included. Unfortunately with our injuries and Pelini spending time with Nebraska instead of getting ready for the SECCG, I think the defense underperforms again due to bad planning. The players will have to overcome this and win it despite it.
Wow, didn't realize I rambled like that......sorry for the long post. I haven't had computer access since the game and had a lot on my mind. Later.
I would just like to say...Friday's game was a very hard fought game on both sides! I think you just caught the Hogs at the wrong time....we are hungry for some success with all of the negativity in the fan base. I think it was a for the coach mentality. good luck againt tenn
Can't he do both? I don't understand this criticism. An interview lasts a couple of hours - he is still preparing for the game.
he's not enough of a complete package. he's too much like dale brown. personally (not that it counts for $hit), id rather have a coach and team that overachieves with less than underachieves with more. i'll admit there is a bit of a catch-22 here. in past years, clm lost the tough games and people said "he cant win the big games". this year, he wins the tough games, and loses two to clearly weaker programs and people say "he's not a good coach because he lost to them". i dont want to get rid of the guy, because the odds are things wouldnt get better. what sux though is that this was supposed to be the perfect storm season. there were/are very few holes on the team---as few as you can ever expect to have (right tackle, young receivers, inexperienced Sr qb, nickel db), and the tough games were at home. yet, still, LSU is staring a 4 loss season in the face. the question is----CAN CLM EVER WIN A NC?
Against UK on 4th and 2, they ran the ball...Didn't get the 1st down and the coaching staff was criticized...Against Arky, they need 2 yards for the 2 point conversion...Didn't get it, so they were criticized...Bottom line is if you don't make the play you're gonna get it..No matter what play is called...Which means that the players need to execute better in those situations.
When you run it up the middle for 4 plays, it deserves some criticism. When you have a 10yd field going for 2, the passing game gets much more difficult and less effective than if you had a long field. You have have everybody crammed in a 10 yd box for a 2 pt conversion. A pitch out almost is a guaranteed conversion either with Hester or KW.
