Ima be nice and TRY not to blame ANY particular person. I'm just gonna offer an opinion. SCHEME- What is LSU's scheme? Really...I have no idea. Are we a power running team? A read option team? What kind of QB do we need? I ask because of this. Let's take Rich Rod. He shows up at UM and Mallett splits. Why? Simple. Mallett isn't a QB that can thrive in Rich Rod's SCHEME. There is no questioning what that SCHEME is. Everyone knows it. I for one am pretty certain Rich Rod "advised" Mallett to split, because he doesn't fit into his SCHEME. If your scheme requires a dual threat QB, you don't take a pro style guy just because he's a blue chipper, or he's from down the road and always wanted to play QB at LSU. You go find the best guy that fits your SCHEME!!! Denard Robinson and Pat White would've failed in Petrino's SCHEME. For Mallett, well he fits like a glove in it. But Mallett would've failed miserably in Rich Rod's scheme. In college, you don't build programs around players. You build programs with players that fit your SCHEME. The kids aren't around long enough to build a team around them. It MUST be built around a SCHEME, and then you get the players that fit that SCHEME. So, what is LSU's offensive SCHEME? I have no clue...and THAT, friends, is the issue. Is it Crowton? Is it Miles? Who knows? Miles is the HC, and IMO, you don't pick a OC that doesn't fit your SCHEME either. Because if the OC is any good, he'll be gone quicker than players will be. So again, not trying to blame anyone, but Miles needs to determine what his SCHEME is on offense...and find the parts that fit.
This is where coaching comes in. Their success in HS was based on pure talent. In the SEC, you have to learn what to do with that talent. It seems nobody is teaching them. That's all.
I agree that this is the ideal situation, but teams can't afford to be too rigid and must accommodate special circumstances. Like recruiting a QB like Tebow. A coach will change everything to fit his strengths and then he wins 2 national championships. Other times a team will just not get the type of recruits they need to run a specific scheme, so OC's must be flexible and take advantage of what they have. Like LSU. Also, I think the game has changed dramatically. There are few teams that you can call "I-formation", "wishbone", or "spread" anymore. The college game has gotten so sophisticated and defenses so good that top program try to run pro-type multiple offenses if they are capable of it. I would love for LSU to have a wide-open passing game out of the pro set or spread that can post touchdowns effectively, as well as a ground-pounding, ball-control offense that can eat up clock, protect a lead, and keep rival offenses on the sidelines. It keeps sophisticated SEC defenses honest.
Valid points from you as well, but I will say that regarding your Tebow reference, Tebow went to an Urban Meyer offense, which is tailor made for a Tebow. Like I said, Mallett, a great QB in his own right, wouldn't have made it in Rich Rod's offense...and Rich Rod wouldn't have changed his style to make it happen. Vice versa with Denard Robinson and Petrino. That was my point. I believe I agree with you on what style of offense I'd like to see here.
A QB only get 3 sec to make a decision. You have to know where your people are and do your checks - they are open, you fire it to them. You can't work all the way down your progression and back up. Not enough time. You can't eye ball them either. He also has to learn that you going to be hit, so you make the play - that is the price of being a QB. Getting hit - the good ones make the play.
Well we're definitely an offensive line away from a championship for starters. QB play, obviously, is lacking. Probably a great secondary as well, but that remains to be seen. The young players might gel and help form one of the best defenses in the nation. And play calling. But that may go hand and hand with the QB play. If the QB steps up, maybe the playbook might be opened up to it's full potential. One thing I can say is the LSU Tigers have enough impact players to win a national championship this year. But to get the most usage and production out of these players is the burning question.
