Gerogia Tech is #116 in the NCAA in passing offense, just ahead of Army, Air Force and Navy at the bottom. They average 95 yards per game. If GT can't pass the ball, LSU can stop the triple option. I thought you were keeping an open mind. LSU has won three straight bowl games, all blowout wins. I expect #4 this year. Have you even looked at LSU recruiting? We're going to have a top-3 recruiting class, perhaps #1.
TC, we all should be worried because there is a big problem on LSU's team that needs to be corrected (and I'm sure IS being corrected by the coaching staff) - the problem being the quitting attitude on defense that was brought out by the Times Picayune article you linked us to. "November: As the Tigers leave the field at Arkansas after squandering a 16-point second-half lead, senior linebacker Darry Beckwith cries openly and confronts some of his teammates. Fellow linebacker Kelvin Sheppard steers Beckwith toward the locker room as he hurls general accusations of gutlessness at fellow defenders." "At the end of the crushing defeat, he (C Taylor) chided some of his teammates about their failures after he had been deemed a weak link." "Some players and coaches have tried to spin the ugly ending in War Memorial Stadium and the unmistakable aura of bewilderment and anger that enveloped the team as some kind of frank and open communication by a true team. That argument would carry more weight, though, were it not for Beckwith's tears, or Taylor's glee at his mates' misfortune, or even his refusal to show up for interviews once he lost his starting job to McCray." I have said before that getting rid of R Perriloux, although necessary and correct, may have exposed an even deeper attitude problem that needs to be dealt with in the privacy of the locker room by the coaches. "That spine, or lack of it, is also something that can't be tied specifically to coaching." Right now the entire coaching staff is being held accountable for the catastrophic failure of the defense-moreso than the shortcomings at QB. I really believe they have a true pulse on the team and are capable of handling this cancer behind closed doors. I think these are the first "adjustments" that coach Miled alluded to and I believe the adjusting starts tomorrow when practice begins (if it hasn't started already). Coach Miles probably doesn't want to have any new coaches walking into a situation in which there's learning curve time to be wasted. One great sign is that none of this seems to have affected recruiting.Had this happened to most other programs I'm sure there would have been several important decommitments. We'll see after the first couple of possesions in the bowl game if the adjustments have been successful. And we'll see after we beat GT and get into the offseason if the ship is really being righted. I have confidence that it will be and obviously so do all the recruits.
Why wouldn't he? If the defense isn't going to show up, what more does LSU have to lose by opening up the playbook and taking Jefferson/Lee off the leash? This is an opportunity for young players like JJ and Tolliver to show what they can do. Besides, look what conservative playcalling got us with Arkansas.
My concern is our D's inability to secure gap control all season.. The biggest key to defending the option. Also, does our D care enough to put for the effort. I just hope JJ has a good game, and heads into spring with confidence. We all know what we are waiting for is to see what Miles does, more so after, than the actual game itself!
I am sure the players were disgusted with the way the defense was playing. If they understood that a lot had to do with missed assignments, I hope they would work hard on playing discipline ball; hopefully some more senior players would take charge and make sure everyone does this. You can bet Miles will be hopping on the D coaches about communication and cut down on the damn confusion.
I do believe with the rest, and refocussing, they will put in the effort. They ARE capable of playing well, as we have seen in spurts during the season. The question is are they able to sustain the level of play, and how well the DC's are able to scheme the defense.
I think the outgoing seniors are playing for draft spots and the other guys have to play for there spot on the field next year. Miles has shown he is not afraid to put someone in the dog house, and if play does not improve new names will be on the field next year. I really don't think a bad attitude is going to continue on defense.:dis:
