Re: DC Watch: John Chavis I think the dude touched on a real big problem that I'm not sure was discussed much yet when he said "-the rest of the team quit on him like they did on Lee". I'm still real puzzled with the assumption that the coaches need to assume most of the blame. Don't get me wrong, the coaches have to shoulder the responsability and the ultimate accountability especially coach Miles himself. After all, when someone gets an inferior meal at a restaurant they don't say "stupid line cook" they say "stupid chef" or "stupid owner". But with all the talent on this team, the players really packed it in early in the season. Someone posted that the real leaders that kept the loose cannons in check all graduated and now the loose cannons are in charge. Everyone questions play calling in the Arkansas second half when LSU ran up the middle on that last posession, but that run was called behind Probably the best offensive line in college football-and they failed. Arkansns' patchwork D line just flat out stuffed us. The players quit on us this year. There was not one player that I can think of that even remotely resembled a Jacob Hester.There was one player who did not quit and kept trying no matter what; who, even though he was terribly ineffective and confused, always seemed to be willing to answer the bell; Jarrett Lee. Sure he stunk productionwise, but where was the rest of the team that was supposed to be watching his back? Where were the receivers on those pick 6's? The team obviously didn't rally around him. Why? There was something intangibly wrong lurking on the sidelines this year and it was attitude. Maybe Ryan Perriloux was not the whole problem but was symptomatic of a deeper problem that new coaching might not automatically solve. So maybe the "changes" coach Miles talked vaguely about concern more than just the coaches.
Re: DC Watch: John Chavis Well don't be too confused Steve. Most of the blame should go towards the coaching staff. All of a sudden what appeared to be a great career for Chad Jones (see Freshman season) and now he doesn't know how to play the game of football? Beckwith no longer knows how to wrap somebody up? I do agree that players like Byrd quit on Lee. I will most certainly give you that. But then again, why the phuck does Les Miles trot out Byrd as the starter game and game after game, with a very talented Terrance Toliver waiting in the wings? Terrance Toliver started to tear it up when finally given a chance. And of course the all too famous "Jefferson gets to play ONLY because Lee got hurt". Do you realize had it been up to Les Miles, Jefferson would have not seen any significant playing time going into next season, giving Lee the huge nod going into Spring? That's just crazy. Plenty of blame to go around to the coaching staff, in it's entirety. The busboy didn't ruin this meal.
Re: DC Watch: John Chavis We ran more in the first half. And I didn't lay blame on JJ for the loss, I laid it on the team. JJ played well, but looked like he what he is, an inexperienced QB that doesn't know the entire offense. In spite of that, he played well, but obviously he didn't blow things up or win the game. As to drops, Lee got punished with plenty of drops this year too. In every game. I don't think our receivers stepped up this year to help out their young QBs. Perhaps they did the best they could. And CajunPunk, if you can't disprove what I say, you choose to get personal? Whatever. Choose better arguments or take it to PM if all you wish to do is insult.
Re: DC Watch: John Chavis Do you have some kind of man-crush on JJ? Is there something you want to tell us? You really must excuse some of us for believing that Coach Miles wanted to win more games this year. I guess we're just being naive. How silly of us to think a freaking coach may have more insight into a players preparedness than us fans. Obviously we know better...and obviously Miles didn't really care about winning. That bastard. I wonder if he's being paid under the table? Maybe he's a racist and just wanted to play the white guy... :rolleye33: In my humble opinion, we haven't seen near enough from JJ to get a good read on his abilities. Since we're not on the coaching staff, all we can do is trust that the coach will play the guys that he believes will put us in the best position to win the game. Go ahead..tell me how I must be blind. Show me a bunch of "what if" numbers that "prove" I have no idea what I'm talking about. Just don't think that you're going to change my opinion. Call me silly but I truly believe Miles knows more about his team than you do.
Re: DC Watch: John Chavis So being totally honest, do you believe the LSU coaching staff gave JJ a "fair" shot at "blowing it up" in the final 25 minutes of that game? He certainly blew it up for the first 33 minutes of that game. Playing not to lose usually ends up in a loss.
Re: DC Watch: John Chavis You're not blind nor silly. Miles is certainly not a racist. I am just asking you to sip just a little less of the kool-aid is all. Just a little.
Re: DC Watch: John Chavis They did go conservative in the second half, but JJ didn't exactly light it up either. He is definitely a very raw and unfinished product. He did earn the right to start the bowl game and hopefully he will progress in the practices leading up to the game.
Re: DC Watch: John Chavis How am I on the kool-aid? I believe all three QB's had some serious issues this year. I'm not on any one of their bandwagons...I just want the best guy to play. Since I'm not on the staff, all I can do is trust that the coaches will play the better QB. Miles is our teams leader. He hasn't given us any reason to not trust him. Until he does, he will have my support. That includes supporting the decisions that he makes about who gets the playing time. Second guessing every call will only make us miserable as fans. We were in a bad position this year. The duel DC experiment didn't work. The young QB's got beat up...it happens. We have to trust Miles to make the adjustments. If we can't trust him to do that then we should find a new coach. I for one trust him.
Re: DC Watch: John Chavis We did the same thing to Lee in a couple of games. Start off the game very conservatively and have that "don't kill us with a bad play" mentality certainly didn't work (see the Troy game as a prime example). A QB knows when the coaching staff is starting to get conservative and feels the pressure that much more NOT to make the big mistake. JJ got tight because of the play calling. He looked like 2 different QBs because of that. I am not dismissing the fact that he didn't know the entire playbook, but he sure as hell knew enough to keep the Arkansas defense off balance for 60 minutes.
