Here's my take on the offensive woes. JJ doesn't have the "feel for the game" that I like to see in the natural leadership position of QB. I don't think the game has completely slowed down for him yet, hopefully it will come. It does bother me that he holds on to the ball too long and didn't have the presence to recognize he couldn't spike the ball with 1 second on the clock at Ole Miss. He has to become a better game manager and distributor of the football. That being said, the blame for this lies with Miles and Crowton. Miles & Crowton have done a poor job recruiting QBs to fit Crowton's offensive style. JJ operated out of the spread at Destrehan, he's comfortable in the shotgun and operating out of the spread. One reason he's looked erratic at times and the offense become so pedestrian is because he's uncomfortable operating this multiple scheme. The quandry now is if Miles and Crowton opt to go to the spread to help JJ, then next year's likely backup Chris Garrett is not a spread QB. So, if JJ were to get hurt and Garrett be called into duty, LSU is in a similar predicament to this year by using an offense not suited to the QB running it. Then on top of all that is they still can't figure out what to do with Russell Shepard. They obviously don't trust him enough to put him behind center on a regular basis. So, IMO they've done a poor job of recruiting QBs for their system. Sticking with this theme - Crowton also deserves the lion's share of fault when it comes to being the QB's coach. I've already cited JJ's poor development, but Crowton must shoulder the blame for the complete train wreck that Jarrett Lee has become. If I remember right, Lee was a 4-star recruit out of Texas and unfortunately was thrust into a starting role way too early, but that's Crowton's fault for not developing him and having him ready to go. Everyone knew what a terrible risk Ryan Perrilloux was, so there was no excuse not to have Lee groomed and ready to go. JL would now be better off transferring to Sam Houston State or Texas State and finishing his college career. If Crowton avoids the axe, which I believe he will, do we see a similar offense in 2010? If so, then Miles' is putting his career at LSU in the hands of Crowton and Jefferson. However, if Miles brings in a whole new offensive staff how long will it take LSU to operate that new system? Tough questions that a coach making nearly $4 million must answer. What's really disappointing to me is that LSU obviously has the talent to be competing for championships but can't seem to win the big game the last two years - 0-6 vs. UF, Bama and OM.
