Bill King of Rivals Radio always says, "You have to be able to shop for the groceries and you have to be able to cook the meal." Right now we can shop with the best of them but it aint Emeril back there making the Jambalaya. The meal is decent because it has the finest ingredients in the land but it should be a lot better. Measure this team against itself. Has this team lived up to it’s potential? Consistent top 5 recruiting classes should result in teams consistently delivering Top 5 performances. That is the bottom line. That is the responsibility of the coaching staff. It is what they are paid, handsomely, to do. And this is where I scratch my head. Miles showed in the first 3 years of his tenure that he can coach talent. I don’t care whose recruits they were. A talented team is a talented team. Since that time he has continued to feed the team with high caliber talent. The results, however, have not been the same. There have been some bad decisions in the staff and there has been some mismanagement on the field. So, can he cook the meal or not? Largely it would seem so but what changed? Why is he suddenly struggling? I look at this team and wonder what our record would be if someone else was holding the reigns. That is not to try and compare the different systems or approaches but just to answer the basic question of where should we really be with this kind of talent? Would someone else produce different results? What is the true potential of this team? I believe we have championship caliber talent but we are obviously not getting championship caliber performances. I'm not convinced by any stretch of the imagination that our talent has been used effectively. Defensively I believe we are headed in the right direction. We have not always turned in the best statistical games. Our opposition has been able to put up some good numbers against a bend but don’t break defense. In every game this year, however, we have been in a position to win. In a year with a new coordinator and a new system, you can’t ask for much more. I’m not thrilled with some of the numbers we have given up, but I cannot be disappointed in their body of work. Next year I’m expecting bigger and better things and I believe they will be there. Our offense continues to be a guessing game. This side of the ball is piled high with confusion saturated talent. There is no rhythm, there is questionable confidence and I can’t tell you who is in charge. The offense has failed to develop an identity, has failed to live up to it’s potential and the staff has failed to put the kids in a position to win. As these kids try to learn, grow and develop, they have to be helped by their coaches. This certainly has not happened. Their absence of confidence and lack of trust by the staff was painfully obvious last night. Jordan Jefferson should not have to look to the sideline for answers when you are under a minute and in position to win the game. That is the time for execution, not what do we do now? The head coach obviously owns all of this. It is his responsibility to put this together and make it work. I am a Miles Fan and have been extremely supportive of the guy since his arrival. However, if I’m an AD I don’t allow him to be loyal to his staff and wait for a soft landing for his coaches. I walk down to his office and tell him that he can do it or I will do it but changes are needed now. The Crowton experiment is over. No consistency, obvious play calling, failure to sufficiently develop or utilize talent, little game management and an overall ranking in the basement of the NCAA. There should be no question and no delay. Finally, Miles himself needs to get in charge of this team and get aggressively involved once again. Maybe I’m being affected by my current state of mind but right now I can’t look at Les and feel confident that he has it under control. He himself seems to be lost and confused. He needs to take a step back, take a few deep breaths and decide what he wants to accomplish. I don’t know who the man is on this team right now. I know Les can be but I think it might be time for the coach to do a little soul searching. When he stood up at that famous press conference and emphatically declared that he was the coach, is the coach and will be the coach at LSU his team went all the way to the top. This is what is needed for him right now. That is an identity and that is leadership. It begins and ends with the coach himself. Miles has shown the ability and the guts to make the tough calls and difficult decisions when he has to. He has also shown the ability to stand up. I would say the only difficulty here is whether to let Crowton go before the holidays or after. If this doesn’t happen then I think you start looking around the country for the next head coach at LSU. His records and his crystal football are enough to earn him another year in Baton Rouge. He shouldn’t get more than that if significant changes and improvements are not made. :geaux:
I definately think Crowton should be given another year but that is all. This is the second year in a row where the offense has been below par. If we see a repeat next year we start looking for a new OC. But Miles deserves more consideration. He is one of the winningest coaches in the nation. You just don't fire someone with his winning record. It would be tough to find someone better. One can only wonder where we would be if Saban had not left. (Sigh)
I agree with the call on CLM's staying but 2 years of bad offense needs to be change as soon as possible, we dont need another year of 108th ranked offense, why waste another year when he has had 2 years now to show some hope and it just keeps getting worst, last year was a given with new quarterback's but they should at lest show improvement some time this year and it just keeps getting worst, I say Crowton needs to go this week if possible but I am sure they will let him finish this season. if he stays another year Crowton and Miles needs to go before spring ball because Crowtons' poor offensive coaching and Miles not being able to see that, just my thoughts!!
