I have seen some criticism of the play calling, in particular the double reverse near the goal line vs Vandy. Here is the explanantion. Coach Saban was asked about the play calling inside the 10-yard line when a reverse and a double reverse were called. Coach Saban said LSU was expecting Vanderbilt to be in man-to-man coverage down close to the goal line, but Vanderbilt was playing zone and the play was called wrong in the huddle both times. The coaches call the play. The players didn't execute.
The first problem here is if the coaches think we have to run a reverse to score against Vandy inside the 10. If they were expecting man coverage why not try a fade to Bowe or some type of pick play between a combination of Jones/Bowe/Addai/Davis - any of the two will do. Those guys are physically superior to almost anyone covering them. Inside the 10 yard line you would think we could come up with something better than a reverse. That's like saying we can't throw it on you, we can't run it down your throat, so we better trick you. Against Vandy that ain't good.
Are you actually saying that Saban that the play calling was the players fault? I can understand him being upset if it was the QB's job to read the defense and call a T/O or change the play to somthing already agreed upon, but it doesn't sound like Saban at all to say something like 'I called the right play, but the players got it wrong'. That sounds more like something I would expect to hear in the Jeff Bowden press conference.
We averaged 6.2 yards a carry against Vandy. I would say that is running down there throats. I liked the reverse call, it just didn't work. Now everyone we play will prepare for that. If we would have scored, then all of you would have been saying what a "great call." :thumb:
What Saban was trying to say is that the game was not as lopsided towards running as the plays were called. He said 8 to 10 of the pass-designed plays Jimbo called broke down when Randall or Russell took off running... Now, we would have to see Video to see whether it was the WR's not getting open or the QB having itchy feet...
If everyone we play isn't already prepared for it they should be fired. Just ask Ron Zook. :wink: Our play book is about as thick as the hair on Skip Bertman's head.
Quarterbacks? I don't know how long you have been listening to Saban but he has always put the blame wherever it is deserved. Remember Booty in the UAB game? In reference to the double reverse. It is the quarterback's responsibility to get out of a play, once he reads the defence, and knows it has no chance of succeeding as it has been called. If Randall was a true freshman, like Ainge at Tenneessee, one could overlook the lack of awareness but not a fifth year senior.
