I agree. Remember after the 2010 season, we lost Kevin Sheppard, Drake Nevis, PP7, Francois, Pep and Jai Eugene, along with a couple more. Brockers went from making 25 tackles, that year, to a first round draft pic. Reid went from 32 to 76 tackles. Some will step up, it happens every year, thats football.
I especially like reading these posts because the older I get the less I remember. Thank you guys for reminding me who we have to once again form a formidable defense.
LSU's coaching staff has the ability to develop the incoming freshman DLs....but I'm still pissed about Sam Montgomery taking plays off against lesser opponents, as he admitted last season. That is not total BS to me but it was kept under wraps and out of the media and I wonder if that attitude that was displayed by someone who was supposed to be a leader will be around next year. I'm also concerned about complacent attitude in the locker room especially after the Jeremy Hill saga. The players should be angry at Hill for letting them down, but I bet they aren't. I think there's a secret attitude problem about complacency/cockiness in the locker room that the coaches need to address.
With Sam, there was a reason he didn't start the first game, NTS, then again not starting against Moo St and Old Mrs. Teams will waste a pick after the first two rounds (Sam and TM7). Both Sam and TM in the 3rd. You know who the DC is with the Texans, he will light a fire under him. They have what they call incentives (This is like one coach I know calls, putting a thumb on a player), he will have to earn his money. The Hill story is another one. Many don't know what Les does with kids off the field. He will help you, but at the same time, if you want to hang yourself, go ahead. Its hard to maintain order with over 100 kids, having all in dorms years ago, helped a ton. Les does a better job than most. Way better job, some just don't know, I do.
how was anything Sam did on-the-field "kept under wraps and out of the media" when it was all televised for all to see? i started a thread on here after the North Texas game criticizing the sub-par play of our DL. you posted in that thread saying: "They didn't play well, but I'm not too worried. I'm glad we don't play Bama next week though !!" Sam got most of the attention in that thread with people even wondering if Sam was hampered by injury, before bhelmLSU pointed out that he wasn't. Some quotes from that thread: StaceyO he (Sam) was not his usual, dominating self. I love me some Sonic Sam, but he was very much upstaged by the also-wonderful KeKe Mingo last night Red55 he (Sam) didn't register a single tackle, assist or sack. That's not exactly an All-American performance. Red55 he did not look like an All-American on Saturday martin when you are destroying a team that is your inferior on every level, it probably isnt worth investing 100% effort. martin In a game where the game is essentially over before it starts, you can't make all the normal judgments. North Texas is like an nfl preseason game...It's not like Sam Montgomery is suddenly lazy martin the good news is that the scouts also know that the game was meaningless. they will monitor it when he is breakin fools in the SEC. there is no point in mockin north texas Tiger_fan meaningless to you, not scouts. ... if you can't do s-word in your first game against a bottom of the barrel Sun-Belt team, then I don't blame NFL teams for not wanting him if the draft was tomorrow. we shall see, we shall see, like I said 11-13 games left anyway, after that North Texas game, Sam got 2 sacks, 3 QB hurries, 5 TFL, 11 tackles over his next three games (Washington, Idaho, Auburn), so we quit complaining about his effort. in game 5 vs Towson, he had 4 tackles. then next 8 games (all vs the SEC and Clemson), Sam had 6 sacks, 6.5 TFL, 22 tackles, 2 forced fumbles i think the only reason Sam claimed that he "took games off" was because he wanted to save face after he realized that he wasn't going in the first round like he originally thought (remember the bet he made with Mingo?) for ex, this is a scouting report done on Sam by an ex-NFL scout that evaluated all his film. it says that despite his outstanding effort, that his lack of athleticism will keep him from being a 1st Round pick or a star player: STRENGTHS ...lacks explosive quickness...consistently takes on OL run blocks strong at the POA, carries out responsibility, sheds and makes tackle. When offenses try to run block him with a TE, not only can he easily make the play, but he flashes the ability to dominate TE and blow up play behind the LOS. While he lacks premier speed, he has good enough playing speed.... His playing strength enables him to jolt and drive OT backwards ... In addition, he shows his strength with a strong and violent outside "club" move to jolt OT inside so he can get around the corner. Even when his initial pass rush move is not effective he often gets pressure on the QB through a combination of great effort, intensity and strength. He has versatility to be effective as DE in a 43 scheme & as an OLB in a 34 defense. WEAKNESSES - Montgomery is more a smooth and fluid athlete than an explosive one and is productive due to effort, strength and use of hands. He lacks the explosive first step and speed to threaten the corner as a speed rusher. He has no real variety of pass rush moves and struggles to consistently pressure the QB vs strong OT's; especially on quick hitting passes due to his lack of explosiveness. When he defeats a block, both pass and run, he lacks the elite speed and explosive closing burst to finish plays outside of a small area. Although he has some experience dropping off the ball into coverage, he is not smooth or fluid playing off the ball and looks a bit stiff and mechanical. SUMMARY - Despite being hyped as being better than Barkevious Mingo entering the 2012 season, we have always felt that Mingo's athleticism gave him the edge. Strong and powerful at the POA, Montgomery is very productive against the run to his side and gets pressure on their QB through effort, hand use and playing strength. Overall, I do not expect Montgomery to be a first round pick because he reminds me a ton of current Ravens' OLB Courtney Upshaw (of Alabama, 2nd R pick) and Chargers' OLB Jarrett Johnson (also of Alabama, 4th R pick). He will likely never be a star player, but Montgomery has what it takes to be a productive starting OLB in a 34 scheme or DE in a 43 defense. I would not be shocked if the Patriots drafted him because he could be a good starter at OLB and could drop down into a 3-Pt stance when they switch into 43 alignments during the game. .
You were more perceptive than me....so were others. I just can't imagine that someone on the LSU team wouldn't give 1,000 %. I can't imagine someone letting the team down. That was my biggest beef against Mathieu. I smoked pot and drank at LSU, but I probably wouldn't have if I was on the team. I'm just wondering how much the team puts up with and tolerates this kind of stuff....especially when team leaders like Montgomery and Mathieu did it. That's the "poison in the locker room" I mentioned in my comments about Mathieu back then. I'll never understand what youths these days are thinking...what their idea of "cool" is...why they do the things they do. I can't fathom why someone would bring a gun to a second line and shoot up 20 people trying to settle a score with one other person either. It's a different generation now and I'm not part of it...my kids are grown. The youngest son plays basketball for Fontainbleu High....he's not the greatest, but he gives 1,000 %. I raised my son and daughters as best as I could. Now, me and my generation have to pass the baton to the next several generations. I just hope that the talented youths Miles recruits play and practice with the intensity and dedication my son has. Nothing came easy for him...he worked in my restaurant kitchen every weekend to earn the money he had to pay to play AAU ball so he could make the team. Got to love him for that...he worked hard for attaining his goals.
I heard Les say on College Football Live that the defensive players are getting tired of hearing that the defense might not be as good with all the losses. While that type of motivation usually only lasts the first qtr. it still can't hurt to go into summer workouts with a little bit of a chip on your shoulder, feeling like you've got something to prove. I think that attitude worked well for the 2010 team, seeing all the "back to the pack" predictions that year
My view is that what makes Bama's, UGA's, UF's or even ATM's freshman/sophs better than ours? Bama lost just as much as us as well as ATM. Hell, UGA lost basically their entire D.
