Based on what information we have now, what do you think is our biggest concern going into the 2011 season? Could it be our Linebackers? I think that would be the short answer. Of course, I think it's safe to say everyone is worried about the QB situation. After all, we won 11 games last year in spite of our dismal passing game. So, the passing game has to be a concern. It just feels like JJ will be the starter, but at some point we will move to some sort of 2 QB system, for better or for ill. RBs . . . what a problem to have. We are absolutely set there. We might have the best combination of RBs in the country. I hope I'm not getting ahead of myself there. Strong, effective returning Offensive Lineman--Lonergan, Dworaczyk, Blackwell, Hurst, Faulk . . . should provide much needed protection and open some space for our talented running backs. Too, I'll be very excited to see Deangelo Peterson have a successful year. He was hurt a good bit last year, and I always thought of him as more of a large WR that should really be able to make an unsuspecting linebacker pay dearly in coverage. Ok, I won't cover the entire team, but I'm a little worried about our secondary. I realize that we are teeming with talent . . . Loston, Claiborne, Mathieu, Reid, Brooks, Simon etc. But we watched the incredibly talented Mathieu get burned in man to man last year a few times. Also, Claiborne, Loston and Reid looked lost at times and gave up some huge plays. That said, most of those kids were Freshman. They are incredibly talented; so, I think we'll be ok with Chavis at the helm. I'm probably most excited about Tharold Simon (remember him manhandling Julio Jones on a key 3rd down play last year?). Whatever the case, I hope Chavis has a plan for the triple option read of Oregon. In closing . . . What are you guys most concerned about? What are you most excited about? LSU!
1. I am most excited about having a QB with pocket awareness. Everyone looks good in spring practice with their green jerseys on. I can't wait until the live scimmages happen, where QB's hae to make reads under pressure. I know that they still wont be contact eligible, but the full speed simulation will really start to separate the right man for the job. So unless Jefferson and Lee dranks some poclet awareness juice, I just don't see them out-dueling Mett for that starting job. 2. I'm worried about our second second outside LB. I not to fond of Hatcher or Francious. Baker is an animal, and I've seen enough footage on Minter to know that no one on this roster will beat him out. He strikes his opponents, and they always go down. I think that once J. Rasco hits campus, he will be auditioning for that OLB job opposite Ryan Baker.job. Bake, Minter and Rasco would be a dynamite LB core in my opinion. 3. Can't wait to see what Rueben Randle and Sheppard do with a QB who can actually get them the ball. Many have wrongfully slighted Rueb and Shep for having sub par numbers.... MEMO: Its hard to put up any decent #'s when you have Beavis and Butthead at QB. Full disclosure: Yes, Rueben and Russell had a # of drops in 2010, but their opportunities to be successful were very slim based on the skills of the QB. 4. We have too many d-linemen to count. I LOVE IT!! 5. Can't wait to see Ware and Ford run wild on our opponents. 6. Our Secondary is beastly. Matheiu did get beat a few times in man to man, but everyone does. Even Peterson. Think Capital one bowl vs. Penn State. All db's get beat, no matter how talented. The question for a DB is: Can you make more plays then you give up. If the answer is yes, then I want that DB on my team. NFL Example: Asante Samuel is know for getting beat on double moves. Yet he has more picks then anyone in the NFL over the past 7 years, and has the rings and Team record to show that your team is better off because of him. For every big play he gives up, he makes about 4 game changing plays. I want Matheiu on the field, every play, of every game. Don't be spooked because you saw him get beat twice (West Virginia, and Arkansas or the two that I remember). Think about how much worse our Record would have beem without the many game changing plays that he actually made. Simon will be a beast, not because he made one good play against Julio Jones. He will a beast because he is 6'3, has crazy agility for a wirey guy, and has the hands of a WR. If the ball is there, and he can get to it, he will catch it. I see at least two NC's in the next 4 years for our tigers. We or stacked with both veteran talent and an abundance of capable freshman and sophomores. Geaux Tigers!!!
I don't think so. They won;t be as strong as last year, but I don;t expect them to be a liability. We won't get away with that this year. If Mettenberger does not work out, we will be lucky to get 9 or 10 wins. The schedule is rugged. We are all optimistic with the talent available, but one must step up and be a marquee back. And we have no idea who that might be. Big in size and big in talent, but not a lot of experience behind the starting 5. I wish Studrawa played more youngsters to develop experience in depth . . . like Brick Haley does. I fear Peterson is a tweener. Too light for tight end and too slow for wide receiver. The coaches will have to use him cleverly. Special teams. We lost an All-American kicker, and All-American returner, a steady senior punter, our special teams coach, and our headhunter on coverage. Special teams kept us in great field position last year which helped cover for a pathetic passing game. We will not likely have that this season, breaking in a bunch of new faces. The schedule. It's made for a championship season with likely 7 top-25 opponents in the regular season . . . we can run it. I think the defense is sound. If we have found an SEC-caliber quarterback, a kicker, and a punter that are above average this could be the year. Big IF.
I worry about the loss of key senior leadership, particularly in the form of Kelvin Sheppard. Honestly, I hope he becomes a coach and we see him on the sidelines coaching our Tigers one day. He was an incredible motivational leader. We'll miss him. Who will step up to be "that" leader? That was arguably what was missing most in '08 and '09--a leader of men out there on the field. Will Russell Shepard, as a junior, finally be able to step into that role? I'm honestly not that worried about QB. When Crowton actually called pass plays as the season wound down last year, Jefferson made some great plays. If Kragthorpe calls good plays, I think Jefferson has the ability. That being said, our schedule is beyond brutal.
What a great reply. My mind is a little more reassured about Tyrann and the secondary in general. You make some great points. Even the best get beat. Mathieu's positive definitely outweighs his negative and yeah--I want him in on every play. Agreed, Simon is a beast and for more than just that one play. He's quite a physical specimen. I feel great about him. It would seem you pretty much agree with me about the LB situation. I mean, a really smart solid linebacker like Sheppard is difficult to replace. That said, Chavis is a linebackers coach; I hope that translates to quality LB play from the new guys. Ok, I'm fired up. I"m so ready for the season to start already. Not sure how I'm gonna make it through the Summer. All the potential for a special season is there! Geaux Tigers.
Thats what gets me so excited about this season. Just to revisit. We had an 11-2 team with a QB who barely threw over 1000 yards and had only 4 TD's and 9 ints through 12 games. Add to that that this team only lost to teams who were QB'd be superior talent (Cam Newton and Ryan Mallet). If we would have had a mediocre QB last year we would have been Champions. No slight or disrespect to the hard work that our athletes put in, but I'm willing to bet good money that 50% of the posters on this forum could have thrown more than 4 TD's through 12 games. And the sad part is, Crowton really gave JJ the opportunities last season. We cut our option game by about 90%, which was a joy. More downhill runs and inside tosses. Won of my favorite run plays. So I agree, the running game will be there. The defense will be there, and whether Krag coaches JJ past his inadequacies or not, I've seen enough footage of Mettenberger (Prep Footage, Georgia Sping Game, and Junior College film to know that Mett is anything but mediocre and light years of QB awareness ahead of any other QB on our roster. The bonus is the depth we have a QB. Jefferson has a ton of experience, so with good coaching, anything better than last season would be a positive. Man I can't wait to see this spring game! :geaux: :tigereye:
I don't know if I'd call this a worry so much as a concern, but it's time for Billy G. to start showing us something and get the WR corps to play up to their potential. The QBs get the big target painted on their back, and for good reason, but the inconsistency extended to the receivers as well, not to mention an embarrassing number of dropped balls thrown right on the money. It seems like LSU hasn't had that hard-nosed type of receiver like Michael Clayton for a long time, someone reliable that almost thrived on laying hits on defenders. Toliver had the right body, but it always seemed like he'd catch a case of alligator arms in crucial games and seemed almost afraid of contact. I'd like to see LSU develop a go-to receiver like Early Doucet, and bring some intensity back to this unit.
LaFell was pretty good about laying hits. Boone and Landry both remind me of Early. Hopefully, they both turn out to be as reliable as he was.
