Does anyone remember LSU's first possession? JJ scrambled for a first down and then was knocked backwards. The sideline ref did not give JJ the forward progress and spotted the ball where he landed. 4th down. It was a really bad spot, and at that moment I just knew the refs were going to end up ruining this game somehow. It's a shame that about five good SEC games this year have made more headlines for terrible officiating than for good football.
I wondered about the spot on that play. It was either a BAD spot, or maybe the ref thought JJ was not down, and that he ran back a step in an effort to get away and maybe make more yards and he was downed after he took a step back. I'll look tonight, I wanted to see that again. If you're not down and you run back and get tackled, you don't get forward progress from the forward position. From my memory at the moment, its not clear what happened on that one.
I agree 100% with that. I also felt it was a bad omen. When playing an evenly-matched team, we cannot play the team AND the refs. AU in '04 and '06 come immediately to mind when I type this.
I was disappointed JJ didn't finish his run leaning/falling forward. Not saying the ball was spotted accurately but there wouldn't have been any question. I also understand he's our QB and can get hurt and maybe he was a bit gun-shy after getting his bell rung two games ago, I think it was. That said, I thought he looked SO improved. VERY patient in the pocket and looked like he was trying to find ways NOT to run and get the pass off. He's going to be special imo. Man, that loss hurt. Up until two weeks ago I'd pretty much counted that game a loss but as of lately I really felt like we had a legit shot...and we did. It's all good though, two- even three- losses ain't bad. Lookout next year, we goin to the ship.
I don't understand it when folks talk this way. When I look at our graduating Sr., I don't feel that way. I think we lose all of our LB (Riley, Sheppard, Cutrera), Alem (possible to get an upgrade as Rahim is not strong against the run), on Offense, LaFell, Scott, Keiland, Ciron Black, we lose a LOT. The secondary will be back and Very Strong, JJ will have another year under his belt and should be better as a Jr. (finally an upper classman at QB), we could improve at DE, some of the D line will mature (Josh Downs, Lavar Edwards). We'll have Ridley, Ford, and Murphy at RB, that's good I think. Have Tolliver, Randall, Shepard, and maybe a returning WR that tore his knee before the season. We need quality depth at QB, if it is not JL or RS, then it will have to be Chris Garrett. But we need to solve the quality backup spot. When JJ came out, JL struggled against Bama. Maybe playcalling was part of it, we abandoned the run after Scott went out and late in the game. But to win championships, you have to be good and you have to have quality depth so if you suffer an injury, you can put someone in and not lose too much. Anyone remember Steltz going down early in the Ohio State game, Coleman stepped in and we didn't lose a beat. We need a backup QB that can do that. It may take Crowton PLAYING somebody to give them that experience and keep them in game condition. I think we did a poor job this season of preparing a backup QB, and when we needed on against Bama, with all the chips on the table, he wasn't sharp. That may be JL, but if he was our guy, Crowton did him no favors by failing to get him in the game more this season and getting used to the speed of competitive SEC action. So, that's a critical area of need, backup QB, IMO. The only thing that I see as clearly stronger is JJ will finally have the experience he has needed, and it takes two years to get two years of experience, near as I can tell. The secondary and D line should improve, LB will be a work in progress. O line will need time to develop. I hope you're right, but its not clear to me we'll be that much better than this year.
We lose Coleman, Cutrera, and Riley, but we have Ryan Baker, Sheppard, and some young guys who will make a difference, look at how well Chavis has the linebackers playing right now. I have all the confidence in our linebacking crew. The same guys that sucked ass last year, have been amazing this season. Its amazing what good coaching can do. Hopefully Chad Jones will be back, Peterson will be back, we still have Eugene, Hawkins i think unless he is a sr. Claiborne, Loston, Taylor, and Ron Brooks. Defensive line i think will be better, Montgomery, isn't Mingo moving to DE? Nevis who has been the best lineman we have had all year will be back, Edwards, Josh Downs, Levingston, will all be back. O line should be ok, and wide receivers should be just fine. Jefferson will be better, the only thing i am worried about is the running backs. We don't know what Murphy will be like after the 2nd major knee surgery, and Ridley has looked great but what if he gets injured, we have an untested redshirt freshman, who i hope will be the real deal but we don't know. LSU will win the SEC next year, mark it down.
If you watch the replay of the game tonight pay close attention to the second half. After a TT catch and run past the marker the official actually tosses the ball back about a yard to the other official. It is place a the sticks are brought in. Fortunately for LSU the officials didn't move it back for enough and we made the first down despite of this.
I really don't get upset at bad spots and bad calls made on the field. The referees are not perfect and they are going to miss calls. Everyteam gets bad call and it all evens out. Part of the game. But a replay official making such a blunder is the sort of thing that has fostered a perception that the SEC officials have an agenda . . . and that perception did not start with this game. It's going to bite every team in the conference in the ass at some point if they don't get a handle on this.
Couldn't agree more. When I saw JJ's forward progress then saw the ref in the background step back a step when JJ got knocked back I knew the big screw was on.
