Next Three Games

are going to define our season in my mind.

I'm confident that if our defense and special teams continue to play at the high level they have played we've got a chance to win all three games.

Unfortunately I can't say the same for the offense. 10 for 16 for 97 yards and no TDs isn't going to cut it against West Virginia, Tennessee, & Florida. We need improved blocking from the offensive line. We need to find a way to get the TE a few balls. Has the screen pass disappeared from the play book?

If Crowton & Miles have purposedly kept the offense vanilla and under wraps it's time to turn 'em loose. A potentially great season hangs in the balance.

 

I hear they are holding back on O often. I assure you that they are not and this is what we have. Just take it one game at a time and hold on.

 

I agree. Another thing is we are already becoming reliant on something that worked very well in the first two game but didn't do much of anything last night because the defense keyed on it: RS runs to the outside. It's a good play, and should be used to offset, confuse, turn the tables, and trick. But not repeatedly when it doesn't work. The rest of the offense (JJ or JL, don't care who at this point) will have to come along very soon or WV and Florida will be two very ugly games.

 

That perturbed me when I looked at our season. Given a young team, and with six top 25 teams on the schedule, It probably would have helped smooth out wrinkles early on.

 

I suspect that's a question only Verne can answer. Next year we would have opened with Northwestern St., but getting picked to play in Big D over rode that. The only other potential cupcake I see on next years schedule is Western Kentucky and they are the tenth game.

 

I don't think LSU is holding back much. It is what it is, and I think it will continue to improve. I also think LSU has a tendency to play up/down to the level of competition, which results in not so impressive wins over teams they should destroy, and close wins/losses with better teams. It's frustrating to me.

The defense and special teams play this year have been great and the O-line/running game has improved, I think.. If the passing game does begin to catch up, this team would be dangerous. To be continued...

 

Make of statistics what you will, but the fact that we are ranked 115th out of 120 in passing offense isn't going to cut it. We have to see immediate improvement in the passing game.

 

Agreed! Did we throw over the middle - crossing pattern - at all last night? Did we try and it was covered? I get we trying to nurture our QBs confidence but you have to try to grow. We should have more medium passes to TT, RR, and RS that hit them IN STRIDE so they can use their athletic gifts.

 

Short of finding Bert Jones on the bench will probably be the offensive identity this year. All in all, this is a pretty good SEC team that looks like is improving. I think they will play close games this year, but will definitely have more talent in all but a few games. With W. Virginia at home and Florida looking lost on fundamentals, it's doable.

Besides, we get them first in Tuscaloosa. We'll try to soften them up.