When JJ demonstrates that he can consistently move the ball down the field from week to week. His performance to date has been far too erratic for him to be an effective threat. We'll know what we have with him and Kragthorpe soon enough. Fans aren't complaining about the record so much. They're complaining about a nationally prominent program with outstanding recruiting producing an offense in the bottom 20th percentile of all D-1 schools, and rightly pointing out that this is a major obstacle to winning championships. Les has addressed these problems. Let's take a deep breath and see what the product on the field looks like before anointing Jefferson or Mett a savior, or throwing one or both under the bus.
Fair enough. However, complaining about a bottom dwelling offense isn't being spoiled. I'm not saying we haven't become spoiled. I'm just saying complaining about very poor QB play, which is limiting our offense and championship hopes, is not evidence of this.
Judge for yourselves. Film from spring practice on the quarterbacks. Jefferson still has issues throwing long, Mettenberger still has issues scrambling, and Lee actually looks the most consistent in these clips. TigerRag - Summer Film Session: QBs
True. As always though, as we've seen the past 3 seasons, is that Lee looks good in practice, often better than his competitors. He makes good, sound throws against the LSU defense that isn't allowed to hit him, but put real in your face pressure of an SEC caliber defense against him and he crumbles. Hope he gets his degree.
Lee looks like he always does in practice. I wouldn't be surprised to see him in a few key situations this year (like Florida last year) and come through for us. Mett has some work to do, especially when throwing on the run. Admittedly, they push them to hustle as fast as possible in practice, and for someone that tall it's tough. Our O-line should be strong enough in a game time scenario to allow him to do what he's got to do when it counts though. As far as Jefferson goes, he continues to look good on plays that require some running and footwork.. Again, if our O-line is as good as advertised, I see no reason why Kragthorpe won't be able to use that to our advantage. I know people want to see an impressive air attack and high-flying offense, but I think the only way they will be able to do that is by dominating on the ground. We've got the backs to do it, and this will be especially true early in the season. After the team finds it's rhythm it will open up a bit, because the opponents will be concentrating on stopping the ground game. This is Miles' m.o., and I see no reason that it would change, regardless of who's taking snaps. Overall, I think the team will look better this year than last season. The sky is the limit.
I see a 11-1 with a very strong D and the best running attack in the SEC. JJ will start all 12 games and Zack will be waiting on 2012. JJ will shine in this system and only improve on what we saw in the Cotton Bowl. In the 7 season in Baton Rouge I don't think this SEC Champion season will fall on Nicks head and I am going to enjoy the anti Les bunch coming up with why Les is the worst coach in the SEC. Let the good times roll and our Tigers beat the Ducks, Dogs, Mountainers,Vols, Elephants and Black Bears - all on the road.
It's simpler than that. People want to see a passing game that is a credible threat, that's all. If we post yet another bottom-10 passing offense, then we will see the same thing. Teams will stack the line to stifle the run and dare Jefferson to throw. It's the book on stopping LSU and it was worked too often. I'm tired of seeing it. I want an offense that is a threat in the air and on the ground. Balance is the key to more points in my opinion.
