The last two years I've often wondered how a team with as much talent as LSU could achieve so little on Offense. From watching this year's team, I suspect Les Miles was thinking the same thing. So what does he do? Get rid of Crowton and work with Krag & Stud to simplify the offense and let our athletes go out and just play football. Think of our offense this year versus the last 2. Last 2 years under Crowton: Multiple Formations Mass substitution of players between plays Difficulty getting the play and personnel on the field in time Down the line option Read Option The Pistol 5 Wide Receivers The I Formation with 2 Tight Ends The Wild Cat No Clear Offensive Identity This year: The I Formation with 1 or 2 WRs The Shotgun with 2 or 3 WRs Clear Offensive Identity The players are responding to the new simpler approach. The execution is much crisper. It may be old school, but it still works. Of course, the other example of addition by subtraction is replacing the modern "dual threat" QB Jordan Jefferson with the "old school" pocket passer Jarrett Lee. :LSU231:
Does it make it any easier for the opposing team defense to defend against such "simplistic" offense?
I would guess complex gimmick offenses are for teams that can't match up physically. Teams that have the personel can play man up. The offense we are using resembles an NFL offense. Most gimmick offense can be exposed by good defenses. A more simple offense ran very well is hard to beat. Like lambardi ran the sweep over and over. His team ran it to perfection and it was hard to stop. If your offense does it's job, if every player does his part to perfection, simple doesn't matter. Just my opinion.
Not if they can execute it. Clearly we couldn't execute the old offense effectively so to me that's easier to defend than a simple well executed scheme.
Nope. Perfect example is the 50-yd TD pass that put LSU up 20-7 against WVU, on 3rd and 1 from near midfield. Every last person on that defense thought it was gonna be a run straight up the gut, then Lee hits them with play action and they all bit. Crowton's offense had the dual problem of being confusing to the players, and having predictable playcalling based on the formation and personnel. The beauty of basic 2 TE and power I football is nobody knows when you're gonna pull play action out of the bag, or hit a tight end like Peterson for a big gain when everyone is thinking run. I'll be very interested to see going forward if defenses will continue to stack the box against LSU now that they know Lee can make them pay.
Would the power I with 2 WR formation not work as well if the opposing team has lock down corners going against LSU's two best receivers?
Sure, though I'm not sure how many teams have 2 lock-down corners. But you can always sneak out a TE on a post or crossing route, or even a RB in the flat. A good defense can always find ways to shut down the O if they know what's coming. LSU has shown that they can get a defense off-balance now that Lee is a viable downfield threat.
