The "meerkat" style offense has been debilitating on so many levels to our offense. I believe it has the greatest impact on the effectiveness of our offensive line though. I'd like to know what some of you think about this. In order to be able to stand up and look back to the sidelines for plays, offensive linemen can never get down into the set position where they have a hand down on the ground. Once you're set, you can't move. Instead, they must stay in a ready position with their hands on their knees, slightly squatting a bit. This strategy is by default giving the defense an extreme advantage. Without being in the set position, our o-line can't use leverage and rise into their blocks of the defensive linemen. Instead, we have defensive linemen who are in a set position and are getting an absurd amount of leverage blocking upward into o-linemen who are in a ready position. Thus they are getting blown back off the line of scrimmage. I really believe these kids on the line are playing their hearts out. It's just an unfortunate fact that the style of offense is giving the defensive line an advantage that simply cannot be overcome! Meanwhile they are getting getting criticized as being terrible. This has to be put on the coaching instead. This style of offense must stop if we are going to be effective long term!!!!
When did all of this start? This season? Last season? I can't remember. And yes it's ridiculous we call in plays like this.
I am pretty sure LSU started doing it off and on throughout the season last year. While it was annoying then, it was only a change of pace type thing. I remember seeing Tennessee running this style of offense a couple of years ago and laughing. If only I had known what was to come for us......
I'll have to look at some of the games again to see if this is the case, but I doubt it. If it were true LSU would never have another false start penalty. Besides, the ball isn't snapped for at least another 5-6 seconds after they get the play from the sideline, so that gives the OL time to get set properly. Now what COULD be happening is that Jefferson is possibly not communicating the play to all his linemen and there's a communication breakdown, as others have pointed out with the receivers. Notice when Florida did it, Tebow had plenty of time to go to each lineman and tell them the play before the snap.
Well we are averaging over 30 seconds per play. That means if we kept the ball for 30 minutes, (half the game), we could only run 60 plays. If we were and option team, or a wishbone team this is fine. But we run a pro style offense. That means we are supposed to be fairly balanced. I'm not gonna say I know the average time per play, but I would guess it is closer to 17-20 seconds per play, since the average plays per game for an offense is around 80. Plus the lineman have to hold the spots longer, making them more tired. There is no get to the line and see whats across from you from the players point of view. They get to the line, let the booth see the defense, call it down to the sideline, get the play to JJ, then JJ to the line, and we have a mad dash to get the play off. I can't imagine a more clusterphuc way to do things. JJ has shown he can move the ball effectively when they just let him get to the line and roll.
This whole "standing up/looking toward the sideline" thing- started shortly after the Troy game last year...It upset our defense greatly. Took three quarters to figure that one out! Defense gets set, 7-10 sec. pause, and then the snap. Very Frustrating. Not working to well for us though- I believe Troy is who we got some of this from...
Yeah, it appears the Meerkat is the next evolution in the world of football. It sure looks silly, but yeah, Troy tore us to pieces with it.
thanks I needed that laugh, from this day forward I dub thee head meerkat. I havent laughed this hard in a week. Very accurate BTW, its sad but you gotta laugh... :lol: this is almost as good as coach O's yaw yaw yaw yaw foo baw! routine lol Edit: watch JJ's expression in his Meerkat stare, he scrunches up his face like he just took a dump or is about to. I think it is causing him physical pain to do this. The coaches are oblivious to meerkat pain I guess.
Not sure when it started but LSU is not even close to the first team to do this. There are numerous programs in HS and college that more than make it work. There is a larger problem with techniques or what is being called and perhaps to a certain level the players attempting to make the plays. When done correclty this offense is virtually unstoppable. That being said Oklahoma was much better last year with the offensive line they had versus the one this year.:geaux:
