I know that RWilliams and myself are on the same page on this. But one can't help but wonder what would have happened if CLM would have left JJ on the bench when he came back, as opposed to opening up the position for "competition" and working JJ back in. Jarret Lee started declining the minute JJ came back on the team. It's not a stretch to assume that his decline was directly related to a blow in his confidence, having to look over his shoulder, knowing that the cards were stacked against him given that JJ was CLM's teachers pet. I wonder how JLee would have performed in the Nov 5th game if JJ would have been kicked off the team or permenantly benched??? I wonder how JLee would have performed if the offense would have been designed for his quick release, as opposed to being designed for JJ?? I wonder what the final results of last night would have been if the JJ factor would not have been an issue at all for Lee this season, and Lee would have started??? ... heck .. for that matter, I wonder if we would have even been playing Bama ... as Lee might have beaten Bama by a significant margin the first time if the coaches would have "coached to Lee", as opposed to looking for the first opportunity to stick "Boy Wonder" in the game. Oh Well .... thank god it's all over, ... bring on the Mett, and let's hope CLM doesn't screw him up as bad as he has JLee.
Lee was no panacea for the QB position. He made good throws when he had good pass protection. When a team took that out of the equation, like Bama did, the results were a disaster. And honestly, if your QB's confidence is so fragile that competition at the position can cause a drastic downturn in performance, is that really someone you want leading your team? Jefferson clearly doesn't have the brain or natural talent for the position. But he had 2 things that Lee didn't: confidence and athleticism. And I suspect that is why he was Les' favorite.
Miles' bewildering infatuation with Jefferson cost him, LSU and LSU fans the greatest season in college football history. He's a good coach. We wouldn't have the record we have otherwise. But I've never seen an offense so ill prepared for a game and an offense that was so poorly coached in a game in my life.
It is clear that CNS had our number last night. If football is a game of some strategy--and not just about strength--then starting JL would have been a strategy that I would have used right out of the tunnel. When something is not working, a great team (directed by a great coach) is obligated to find a workaround. If they do not, they get, well, um, er--SHUTOUT! I read the word "nightmare" many times after the game--a common sentiment, because in one, the bad thing that is happening cannot be fixed--we see it going down, again and again--and are powerless to effect a change. And there is no getting away from the fact that CLM IS a great coach--because we went 13-0 without a dominant player in the QB position. Last night simply exposed that glaring fact--and we will never, never know if putting JL in for JJ would have been just the 'rock in the grinder' to have upset the entire Saban Defensive Prep. So yes, I am onboard with your comments 100%.
I hate this to break this to everyone. But Bama was the only team who the media and voters would have given a chance to have a "do over" Had LSU lost that game in Nov. We would have never been afforded that opportunity of "Wait Wait, your bad, try again" It would have been OSU and Bama in the NC game.
I agree with you. I think that Bama's presence in the NCG, edging out State by a tiny fraction of voters, was a grand bit of politics leaving Little Nicky with bruised knees and owing favors for years to come. I will never believe that we and the entire CFB Nation were not manipulated and deprived of a true battle between Conference Champions. We OWN our Body of Work this year. A shame that it had to come down to an audition for "The Walking Dead" last night.
I agree with you 100%. I stated the very same thing on a couple of threads last night after the game. ESPN wanted this matchup. They were banging the drums for it right after our winning FG on November 5th. If the tables had been turned, LSU would not have been in NC game. Makes me sick thinking about it. :geauxtige
I don't know that we would've lost the Nov 5th game. Had the coaches been forced to game plan for Lee, coached to Lee, won the game with Lee, they would have found a way to beat Bama with Lee. But that was not the case. .. the coaches were chomping at the bit to put JJ in the game. He wasn't really anymore spectacular in that game than last night .. he lucked up on a busted coverage to Sheppard to get the ball in FG range. .. that was the only score he produced. As Saban has illustrated, you can take an "ok" QB and call the right plays to defeat even the best of defenses. Lee was "ok". He was a good passer, and there are pass plays that don't require a ton of time in the pocket .. in fact, Bama ran a bunch of them last night. LSU ... not so much. Lee's quick release was a strength for such plays ... JJ .. not so much. His release was so slow that he couldn't help but telegraph the play .. if he could get it off at all. Like I said .. one wonders what could have been had CLM left the QB thing alone. But .. I guess he just couldn't help himself. OH .. and people keep talking about how much of a "better athlete" JJ is than Lee ... well ... just goes to show .. athletism doesn't amount to a hill of beans if you can't execute. I"m sure JJ is a better "athlete" than Drew Brees ... but I don't think the Saints would use such flawed logic to replace Brees with JJ ... .. scratch that .. I KNOW they wouldn't trade Brees for the better "athlete" known as JJ.
