Something I heard threw media and such is how LSU is set up like a pro team in so many ways with the coaching and what not. Thinking of that and watching the game does make since and watching how the coaches do not even get into the players asses. It was like it was the hole teams game plan to just get a W. It is why i don't watch the NFL. It seems some games, players just dont wanna play or coaches just want to go home.
It's one game guys, the first game in a brand new system. We have numerous players on D playing new positions and adjusting to a different style. Just a few things: 1. Jake Locker is the REAL DEAL. I'd go so far as to say he's a better QB than Tebow. He's much faster and has a better arm. 2. Washington is a much better team than anyone thought. Very good skill players and a solid defense. They should definitely finish above .500 in conference. 3. The O-line needs a LOT of work in pass protection. There's no way that D-linemen and LBs should blow right by our tackles untouched. Jefferson had to scramble far more than he should have. 4. Someone needs to explain to me what the hell the point of those 1st half timeouts was, especially after UW picked up a first down prior to that long pass. LSU maybe would have gotten the ball back deep in their own territory with 10-15 seconds left in the half. Pointless. 5. Why continue running up the middle when we had so much more success stretching the field? The coaches finally seemed to figure this out on the last long drive. I understand keeping the playbook simple for the first game, but not at the expense of refusing to make adjustments when necessary. 6. Toliver and Peterson are studs in the making. That is all. :lol: 7. Among all the justifiable criticism, a game like this can do us a lot of favors. UW's offensive style is the closest we will come to seeing one like Florida's until that game, with arguably a better QB and better receivers. This game can teach a lot of lessons on defense. 8. Finally, to the point about UW being fired up, think about it. You're playing at home with your secret weapon QB, as a huge underdog, with the motivation of breaking a season-long losing streak against a top-ranked team. UW's got nothing to lose, and LSU has a lot to lose, particularly with the distance and weather conditions. It doesn't get any simpler than that to figure out.
Definitely have to give credit to Washington too. Their crowd was fired up and the team played well despite obviously not having the talent that we have. I was very impressed by Locker and Polk. Polk looked impossible to bring down, kept bouncing out of tackles. And Locker made me curse a billion times when he'd take off and convert a 3rd down. He also is a very good passer, great player overall.
Dude, chill out. I'm just not as complacent as you. I bet you were saying the same things last year, game after game.
Polk only looked impossible to bring down in the first half do to our entire defense playing tag and trying to shoulder people to the ground. In the second half they did a much better job wrapping up and taking W players to the turf, even Polk was kept in check. Locker did good scrambling but damn when your safeties seem to be 25 yards behind the LB's there will be open holes all night to keep picking up 3rd and 8 so I'm not exactly ready to crown his ass yet.
Correct the sloppy tackling alone, and the ball game would be much different. The team we saw tonight hasn't gotten it all together yet, but they will. I think they did what they had to do to win, but nothing more. Toliver looked good. Jefferson played well. The defense seemed to be where they needed to be a lot of times, but just didn't tackle worth crap. If they can tighten that up they'll be ok. Besides, we still haven't even seen any of the "new" talent yet. Miles isn't going to show everything he's got in the first game. If the defense tightens up and stops missing tackles, we'll be just fine. I won't start worrying yet.
This grading stuff is sorta pretentious of us since we're sitting here, drinking and screwing around and the players are all working their azzes off. But that won't stop me from playing the game. Overall grade: D. This game leaves me with TONS of new questions and very few old questions answered. Overall Offense: C. Jefferson: C. He did not look comfortable, made some poor throws with no pressure on him. I'd give him a worse grade, but the play calling set him up and he actually made a couple of nice decisions to throw the ball away (and some nice runs). RBs: B. Keiland Williams gets an A. Scott a B. Holliday an F. Just stop it with the Holliday in the RB spot already. WRs: B+ Tolliver gets an A+. Lafell gets a B. Dickson gets a B- (dropped one he usually catches). OL: D- No way UW is that good. I know there's some talent there, but holy crap. Overall Defense: F. I'm not even going to break this one down, other than to say Peterson got some attention tonight (good for him) and Josh Downs made his presence felt when he was in the game. Very, very disappointed in the defense. Locker is NOT that good (he's good, but he's not THAT good). The good news: no way this team will look past Vandy. I think they feel the same way most of us do - they feel disappointed this was even a football game.
Offensive line gets an F from me. They gave Jefferson no time, they didnt open many holes against a washington defensive front simple as that. Defensive line gets a C-, Nevis, Alem, and Downs played their asses off. They need to find someone else to start for Levingston. Jefferson gets a B+, because he threw the ball away when he needed to and made some nice throws. I wasnt impressed with the running. But the play calling killed him. TT gets an A+, this dude showed up early and often, he will be a star. Running backs C, they looked tired and slow, no burst at all. The only people who showed up on defense last night was Cutera, Nevis, Peterson, Sheppard, and Coleman The rest can kiss my azz. Defense gets an F.
Actually, you're exactly right. It's not Trindon's fault. He's simply not a RB. I guess I was lumping his ST returns in there as well.
