To me, this is nothing new that we have faced. IMO, we will face better D's from UF and Bama. We play these types of D's every year. It is a matter if LSU comes ready to play.
I didn't watch a ton of either team last year to be able to make an extremely informed decision. However it seemed like in the past that the Philly Eagles always ran screen plays using running backs very well. Against the NFC East, it seemed like teams always had strong lines and linebackers. It's not a traditional "running" game, however it worked well with Staley and Westbrook. It's technically a pass, but it involves a RB. Perhaps something like that would well with Shepard being able to get space to move. Another play that grew on me last year that Syracuse used was a sort of backwards curl. Two WR's and a TE would line up split out on one side. Put someone like Randle on the outside, have him come back to get a pass about 2 yards behind the line and you have another receiver and a TE out in front to block for him. If it works you have a play to take a linebacker out of the middle. If not, fake a pass and handoff to the side with the 2 WR's and TE. Based on last year's stats I wouldn't expect a traditional running game to work. However plays designed to go towards the middle and to attack the linebackers could work.
"Another play that grew on me last year that Syracuse used was a sort of backwards curl. Two WR's and a TE would line up split out on one side. Put someone like Randle on the outside, have him come back to get a pass about 2 yards behind the line and you have another receiver and a TE out in front to block for him. If it works you have a play to take a linebacker out of the middle. If not, fake a pass and handoff to the side with the 2 WR's and TE." isn't this play a wide receiver screen? I thought lsu ran this play last year several times.
Yes. I didn't watch much LSU last year so I didn't know if they would or not. I figure if they can make it work it will force a linebacker to keep an eye on that play and perhaps be vulnerable to a run directly at him.
This ...and this. UNC will go in with the expectation that our passing game is our offensive weak point and adjust to key on the run. I know we ultimately want to be balanced, but when the defense comes out overloaded to test your passing, you have to throw first. If we burn them good a few times early, then they will be forced to respect the pass and the run game will open up.
Well, makes you really wonder if Les knows anything about football when he says we are going to RUN,RUN,RUN. The problem was not running, the problem was passing and hitting a receiver in STRIDE and on time. LSU is a defensive coordinators wet dream. The chances of you being successful with running on 1st and 2nd down in the SEC with 8-9 in the box is very very very low. At least we have a couple of guys that can do more than just run straight this year, but I would hate to be a RB on this team.
It's probably mostly coach speak, Miles isn't going to give too much away this close to the season opener. However LSU was a horrible running team last year and needs great improvement there. A better offensive line and something that at least resembles a passing game would make all the difference needed.
The #1 reason why the Tigers were a bad running team was there was no passing threat, every team since the 4th game of 2008 has been putting 8-9 in the box. The #2 reason is Crowton telegraphs everything with player substitution, and downs. #3 Charles Scott was a FB playing RB and can only run straight. Sorry, unless you have all NFL bound OL, you are not going to dominate in the run game with 8-9 in the box in the SEC. I said so last year, and if they try that again this year it will fail as well. I said last year this would fail, and if they do it again it will fail time and time again. If Les really believes we need to RUN, RUN, RUN against 8-9 in the box... he is going to be looking for another job fairly quickly. IMHO Let me guess, if the defense puts 2-5 in the box he is going to say we need to pass? That is really what happened. 3rd and long and he goes to pass and the defense has almost nobody in the box. All the opposing DC has to do is sit back and smile.
Yes we can, will we be able to is the bigger question. As some have pointed out there needs to be a lot of improvement in other areas as well in order for us to be successful. I think this game will be a good tell sign for how our season will develop. If JJ has a solid game, the OL protects him and opens holes for the RB's, then we will move the ball effectively enough to win this game. My opinion is that we will be successful in all of these areas against UNC. It won't be easy, nor will it be a game that we are able to gage that we have turned things around completely, but it will let us see the direction and improvement this team has made over last yr. I am very optimistic about this game and the entire season. CAN IT JUST GET HERE ALREADY. Ok, calm down only 9 more days left, and only 1 Saturday without LSU football. Take a deep breath it will be here soon enough. :LSU231: :geaux: LSU! :geauxtige
I agree, but LSU's offensive line absolutely sucked last year and that contributed greatly to the lack of a running game. The running game didn't just not dominate last year it was just plain bad. Poor QB play, dazed and confused play calling and poor OL play all contributed.
