(1) Todd Blackledge is an excellent commentator. It wasn't till late in the 2nd half that I remembered he played QB for Penn State back in the '80s. He was objective and classy throughout the broadcast. (2) Jordan Jefferson is a bad QB who shows glimpses of being okay. Glimpses aren't enough. He didn't improve at all this year and has probably maxed out his potential. So LSU fans are stuck with ho-hum seasons over the next two years. It takes solid QBs to win consistently in the SEC. (3) Chris Hawkins should not step on the field again as an LSU Tiger. (4) The officiating was atrocious. (5) The OL was inconsistent, but protected decently and opened a few running lanes. When they did open lanes, Ridley missed them. He has no vision. (6) Toliver runs average routes and has below-average hands. If he weren't tall and fast he'd be playing in a mid-major conference. (7) No passrush has killed LSU's D all year. Their blitzes are horrendous. They never get to the QB in time, even against bad teams with inexperienced OLs. (8) Time management was bad again at the end of the game, but the awful call on Hitt sealed the deal. (9) At least LSU didn't quit. Nice little comeback. But LSU's D, with all of its upperclassmen, couldn't get off the field in the end. (10) This will be as good an LSU team as we see until there is a new head coach, probably in 2011. No later than 2012.
pretty dark OP I am going to buy 3 of the best steaks I can find and watch the 2nd half of the Rose Bowl. LSU is a good team this year but not close to being a great team. We played 4 good teams this year and lost to all of them!! 2 of the 4 teams = great / Bama and Gators
I agree with pretty much everything you said. It's dark because we just lost in agonizing fashion...again, of course it isn't gonna be positive. The announcing was refreshing and good change from the CBS guys. And yes, it is clear that Jordan Jefferson is not the right QB for this team. The offense does not move the ball...at all with him. I'm more frustrated with Jefferson at this point than I was with Lee last year, because at least Lee could actually get the offense going. The D wasn't really anything special but it should have been good enough to win. It's still a shock to see how easy it is to get 1st downs and 3rd down conversions on us. Maybe I'm still stuck thinking about the 03-07 LSU teams that actually could stop people. Eh..crappy way to start the new year. It's obvious changes need to be made. Now...off to basketba....err baseball!
In addition, I did not like JJ pass motion, it seems most of his passes were low, short, or both, he had drops but it seemed most of the time if the WR caught the ball he was stuck where he was due to the throw. I can't believe Crowton did not do to PSU the samething they did to us with the short passes in open spaces. I am not sure what the QB's are like that did not play this year, but I would think that Lee transfers, and JJ will see significant comp in the spring. I PRAY, Shepherd isn't totally pissed and hauls azz to Texas or something. I hate to keep comparing LSU to TCU IRT to coaching but right now LSU isn't even on the same planet with Gary Patterson.:geaux: I totally agree with the Hawkins comments, I can't believe after last year he would play as much this year.
Jefferson=Jamarcus Russell... JR sucked until his senior year... Never really learned to be a qb, just got by on physical ability... JJ is a victim of a bad habit of Louisiana HS coaches to put their best athlete at QB and convince the kid that he is a quarterback... He should be playing WR or TE.. (And don't play the race card ****, because I can name some white kids that followed the same route.)
I wouldn't even give JJ that much as being compared to a young JR. JR had his issues early on but he was still a good leader and always money with the game on the line. I cannot say that for Jefferson.
Though skewered early and often when I have said it before, in both good times and bad...well in both not real bad times and bad, JJ lacks the skills of a CHAMPIONSHIP QB. This is nothing personal, and going 8-9 wins consistently, which he can probably do two more years, in the SEC is nothing to be ashamed of. I don't think he understands the DYNAMICs of football, so in effect, he is slow to pick up, and then, is in perpetual catch up or reacting mode. You don't win championships by reacting. You cannot. I believe this because (in no order) he does not run with conviction doesn't step up in pocket does not recover when flushed from pocket poorly passes frequently the option is beyond him seems befuddled easily both by defenses and by late play changes coming in I realize, having stated that, that he is probably the man for the next two years. I believe we have to deal with it. Unfortunately, to be the best, you have to do it all well. JJ does a lot OK, but then, you have an OK quarterback. Not gonna win SEC (or SEC west) by playing and performing, OK. One would hope that COACHING would mitigate some of these weaknesses, but after two years, that does not seem to be in the cards, either. hwr
We are one of the worst coached teams in college football. All I can keep thinking is Billy Gonzales saying, "Oh crap. What the hell did I get myself into???"
