Before Les starts working over the offensive coaching staff (as he should), the first person he fires needs to be Tommy Moffitt. The second person he recommends to Alleva to fire is Jack Marucci. The players that went down in the Peach Bowl were not a new thing. For the last two seasons we have seen players laying down on the field hurt, cramping, limping, etc. Injuries are a part of the game, but as I listened to Clemson fans boo every time an LSU player went down in the 4th quarter, I thought it was classless, but I kind of agreed with their frustration. I do not think LSU players are taking a dive to slow down opponents...if they are, then that is on Les & he needs to be fired for it. Instead, I think it shows a clear lack of strength & conditioning. These men play in the upper tier of the greatest conference in college football. They need to be at an NFL level. Bench pressing 700 pounds is not enough & it is unimpressive if the slightest hit makes you go down holding your ankle. They need to focus on the conditioning piece as much as the strength piece. Get these guys to where they can take a hit from a Bama, South Carolina, Georgia, or Florida linebacker & get back up. As for players going down with cramps or other conditioning issues...we play & live in South Louisiana. The only thing we should not be prepared for is snow. Fire Marucci & Moffitt now & get some guys who will be serious about strength & conditioning.
Explain to me why they should keep their jobs when we can't go 10 plays without the training staff having to run on the field for 8 of them. And "They have been here for 13 years & are well respected" is not a good answer.
PP7 -- Dude cramped twice a game and was the most in shape person to step on the LSU field. Ever. Nuff said. You donot understand how hard some of these kids push themselves on EVERY play...
Look Gilligan, Tommy Moffit is the Strength and Conditioning coach, OK? He and his staff's job is to make the Tigers strong and explosive from workouts on the field and in the weight room. He is widely acknowledged as the best in the business. The Tigers field some very strong, powerful, and fast players. He is not repsonsible for keeping the players hydrated. That is the responsibility of the Trainer Jack Marucci and his staff. They tend to medical and health issues before during and after games. I think the Trainer does have some explaining to do about the number of cramps that happen in several games each season recently. There is no excuse with the facilities and staff that LSU has at home and on the road. Maybe Marruci needs to resign and tend to his million-dolar bat business. But put the blame where it belongs.
Someone show this dude the before and after pics of Michael Brockers and tell him to have a great day.
I think the biggest fallacy is assuming that these players were actually cramping/hurt. A much more logical answer to me was after 90 plays on the field players jut couldn't go anymore. I know everyone wants to think that our players are above slowing down the game by faking injuries but, can anyone blame them?
Don't confuse desire and preparation. The mission of the strength & conditioning staff is to prepare them to go out & give 100% every play for 60 minutes. I did not play football for LSU, but I understand how much they put into playing the game. And I'm sure that the Clemson players were going out there & giving it 100% every play, yet their players were not laid out on the field after every play, nor were most of our opponents this year. The blame belongs to both of them equally. Yes, Marucci has to keep them hydrated, but hydration helps cramps (which is an acknowledged issue), but it's conditioning that prevents injuries due to something like getting rolled up on or hyper extending a knee on a cutback. Don't just blame Marucci because he takes a fat kickback from Muscle Milk when Moffitt is seemingly more focused on getting players big & strong & focusing less on player flexibility & their ability to withstand pushing their bodies hard every play. I play softball with a guy who is built like a freakshow. He is a solid specimen of muscle. The problem is that he has the skeletal structure of a bird. He runs the bases at one-quarter speed because he has rounded first and come up limping more times than not. Muscle is well & good, but the ability to take that muscle & withstand injury is something completely different & that is what is lacking in the weight rooms at LSU. That's a great point, but why are the players from our opponents not having the same issues? They are playing in the same conditions. For every play our defense is on the field, their offense is on the field, and vice versa. Why are they not laid out after every play? What is so different about them and their preparations?
try playing 100 plays and see if you don't cramp up. on the other hand, i believe i saw 2 offensive players cramp up when they ran off the field at half time.
