The QB blame game can only go so far as you stated. Why did Randle and Beckham catch about 40 passes apiece last year and TE Peterson catch more than Shepard. Did they have a different QB throwing to them. Of course not, the problem is that Shepard is an unreliable receiver (running routes, catching the ball, etc). Who is the QB going to throw to...a guy he trusts to make the play or a guy who might make the play occasionally. Yeah, I think I am just as tired of hearing "LSU just doesn't know to use him right" than I was about the Jefferson/Lee deal. He wasn't close to a QB and so far he has yet to prove himself more than maybe 5th best receiver on LSU's team. As far as running the ball, hell LSU has 4 or 5 above average running backs who I would trust with the ball in his hands more than RS. He is a very fast guy without a position....simple as that. I honestly thought early on he would be a return guy but if you can't catch the ball receiving, last thing LSU needs is another Trindon Holliday adventure back there trying to catch either a punt or a kickoff.
I would like to know how you came up with this. He is not the best RB He is not the best WR He is not the best Return guy He HAS NOT produced anywhere near his 5 star hype....
Can't argue with that and under Coach Miles, Shepard has yet to be a starter (might have started 1 game, but I don't think so). And Shepard won't start this year either according to every depth chart I've seen. Maybe the 6th best RB (I think Jeremy Hill is going to be a beast this season). I have him as the 5th best WR but most people probably have him 4th (Beckham, then Landry, then Wright, then I have Boone, then Shepard). Return guy...hard to quantify but my guess is about 5 guys would have to get hurt for him to be a return guy...can't trust the guy to catch the ball. I do think his ball security has improved over the years.
Personally I'd like to see him run the ball more, but the reverses are being read from a mile away and being stuffed. Perhaps some misdirection type stuff out of the backfield, but wtf do I know, I'm an armchair QB, not a head coach.
Hmmph, even I know this one. He started four games last year alone and more than that in 2010 in the SEC slate.
I think with now at least having the threat of a deep ball it opens the door for more of that. It's hard to hit a little guy in space when there are 9-10 men in the box and your QB is inconsistent at best.
Russell Shepard will look exactly the same. I keep asking this ? and no one answers it. Given the LSU QBs were probably backup quality but still how does Randle catch 53, Beckham catch 41, Deangelo Peterson of all people catch 18, and Shepard with only 14? Did Lee and Jefferson throw the good passes to the first 3 and have it in for Shepard? The guy catches few passes because he simply isn't an SEC caliber WR IMO.
