The 7th best! 7. LSU (4-1) L, at Florida 51-21 next game: at South Carolina The Ranking Should Be Higher Because … Florida really might be the nation's best team. The Tigers ran into a Gator buzzsaw with everything working to near-perfection. That's not to say it wouldn't be a far different story if this was played in Death Valley ... or in the SEC title game. The Ranking Should Be Lower Because ... all of a sudden, the quarterback situation appears to be a bit of an issue. It's not like Jarrett Lee and Andrew Hatch were awful, but they weren't playmakers. The supposedly strong LSU defensive front gave up 265 rushing yards. Does Ricky Jean-Francois really mean that much to the front four? :thumb:
Lengthy Post Warning... What is really funny about this thread(and many others), is that everyone this summer seemed to predict 2-3 losses, because of new QBs, LBs, and CBs. So we proceed to win 4 games, one at Auburn in dramatic fashion, ignore that they and MSU scored a lot on us(despite anemic offenses), Florida looked vulnerable, and now many are in meltdown mode because of a loss. Criticism is deserved, but there is plenty of talent on this team. I encourage everyone to go back and watch this game play by play, in slow-mo and watch before the snap to see the confusion, watch the Dline and lack of penetration, watch the LBs and see their hesitation. As far as the CBs, they actually played pretty well. It was our safeties that blew several coverages. The safeties made good plays too, but the blown coverages were on them. Combined with rather pedestrian defensive formations, we got our butt handed to us, as we should have. After watching the defense again, I am more inclined to lay it on the coaching staff with either inadequate schemes, improper schemes, or confusion on the schemes. It is the job of the coaches to teach at this level and our players looked a bit overwhelmed. The unit that was the least effective were the LBs, but not because of a lack of speed or talent. They were tentative most of the time and rocked back on their heels quite a bit because of a lack of play recognition. That is only going to come with game experience. When they did try to shoot the gap, they either guessed wrong or had a hat put on them. We will have to see if the DCs make sufficient adjustments in the next game, and we will certainly know by Georgia. As to dumping Lee for JJ? I think that is a bit of an emotional statement and I do not agree with it. I also watched Lee in slow-mo, and he did throw off target several times, but there were 5 drops that I counted that were on target, including the very first play of the game! When you go on the road against the team favored to win the SECC, with a frosh QB, the junior/senior receivers have no margin of error. Our Oline also did Lee very few favors, and Scott even fewer. I like Barksdale but they picked on him and beat the right side all night. Many times, he just misjudged. I do not expect the line to continue to play like that either. In the end, Lee's stats were pretty darn good, and considering the pressure on him as a result of playing behind, he did very well. What happened to the consensus that we only needed a QB to not lose the game? I know he got picked twice but that sure as heck did not lose this game. The upperclassmen on this team better step into the gap, show some pride, and start getting it done. And anyone that says Saban's players are gone and that is the root of our problem simply needs to take up needlepoint because you clearly know zero about football. We have recruited just as much talent as Saban did while here, and the players left by Saban received virtually no coaching from him. Instead Miles has coached them all. This argument might have validity in the first year, but not in the 3rd and 4th. It's just pathetic and I expect this only from teenage rival fans. It has little place in serious football discussion, as it merely illuminates your own ignorance. Plenty of things to bash on without ever bringing up Saban again. He has absolutely nothing to do with this team and has not for four years. Please just get over it. Thus endeth the sermon...:hihi:
I would like to see all three playing , but that is me , and I am old . If the team could handle that much of a change . . This maybe dumb but let Hatch be in the game some as a 2nd qb, with the run option off of the hand off. JJ maybe fast enough to get outside and catch a short toss out there and be open half the time > If that is bad it is because I am 61 years old and have mini strokes < Geaux TIGERS !!!
I've said this before, and I guess I'll have to say it again. It's not so much that we lost (most probably picked us to lose this one), it's that it wasn't competitive... not even close. THAT is why people are pissed. IF we play this way the rest of the season, there could be more than 2-3 losses for the season (Ole Miss, USC, UGA, Bama, and even Arkansas who just beat the terrible AU team we barely beat). I don't think we will lose that many, but a lot of times it's HOW you lose. LSU looked like a high school team. By putting Hatch in, we all knew they were running an option. Why not put in Jefferson to get the D thinking it's an option, but instead bomb it? Everything was predictable and Lee was telegraphing all of his passes. I know he's young, but sheesh...
Kinda how OSU looked against Florida and LSU, huh? Yep, we played poorly and Florida played like the perfect storm. It was a very bad loss, and one that I ultimately believe will benefit these younger players greatly. Many of them only know LSU as a big winning program and Miles has shown them more of the same. Some of this is on the coaches, and some on the players. Maybe these kids will work a bit harder in practice or the film room from now on? Maybe our coaches will too. Either they will, or they will be gone. My point was to dispute the OP's claim that Lee needed to be benched for JJ, and another poster who said(in another thread) that "saban's" players were gone. As Miles himself said, there is plenty of blame to go around, but ultimately, I was damn impressed with Lee. That was probably the nastiest game he will ever play in, and his stats were not far off of Tebow's, and he is still posting better numbers than our NC winning QB from last year. That kid never hung his head, and fought until the end. The kid has skills and onions, and I guarantee you everyone in the SEC is going to hate facing him the next two years. Despite zero run game, he still scored more points than the offense that sent three players to the NFL in the first round two years ago. Pity his Dline and Oline could not back him up.
it happens. deal with it. you'll have real reason to worry if they lay an egg @ Columbia. getting whipped by a pissed off uber-talented team is going to happen. especially if you're the defending national champs with an undeserved attitude entering the swamp. get real people. these things happen.
That is not at all the basis for this thread. The very title is calling for a QB change...not sticking JJ in to throw a bomb here and there. Why can't people look at this young man's stats, then compare them to other QBs that we hold in high esteem at the same point in their careers...and even 5th year seniors like Flynn last year...and see that he is not even close to being the "problem" with this team??:cuss:
Because, people are looking for someone to blame and not thinking clearly. Tiger fans are some of the best, but they're also spoiled from all the winning the past 3 years. . .some don't know how to react to this loss except by blaming anyone and everyone.
The one stat that matters that we cant compare is YAC. THIS IS THE POINT of this thread..or at least it started that way.... NERVES or not if Lee can not make passes that allow the WRs to make plays then their needs to be someone that can. According to clair the only person here that has seen Jefferson, he is not ready. I havent seen him along with pretty much everyone else. WE HAVE ALREADY BURNED UP HIS REDSHIRT..WHY????? Why burn the kids redshirt if he isnt gonna play this season. LSU teams in the past have been able to put teams away with "THE BIG PLAY" but if Lee can not hit the recievers in stride then "THE BIG PLAY" is never gonna happen!
