Outlook on D 2010

Damn fine post Hawker!!! Give that boy a Gold Star! Where you come up with those season stats, you're a world of knowledge (you don't have to answer the question, I was just sayin...). We're lucky you come by our place!!!

Now, about that "risky" defense, you wouldn't be referring to a certain Bowl Game a few years ago, would ya? Naaaaaa.... :yelwink2:

 

That's a point many here just can't seem to wrap there mind around for some reason. Plus the fact that LSU just didn't have the front 4 to generate an even semi consistent pass rush. Last years defensive philosophy fit the personnel LSU was able to field and it served the purpose fairly well. The defense was not the problem with the 2009 team.

 

If you don't like a bend but don't break defense, you ain't gonna like Chavis anyway. Not bangin' on him, 'cause I like him and LOVED the hire. But they don't call it "3rd and Chavis" for nothing.
-
The defense did their job last year. The offense didn't. This isn't debateable. Face it, we were in the bottom 2...bottom friggin' 2...on offensive plays run. Unacceptable. The defense WAS worn down at the end of games...because they were never given a rest by the 3 & out machine that was our offense. Sustained offensive drives will give a bend but don't break defense all the rest it needs.

 

I bet the difference was that damn "Meerkat" system of play calling we had last year. It took ungodly amounts of time to get a play in and we were often even penalized when the opposing defenses wouldn't cooperate by immediately getting set so Crowton could see what they were up to before calling a play.

We complimented our "bend, don't break" defense with a "play calling mistake" offense. :rofl:

 

Yeah, it's baffling to me that Crowton and company thought that Jefferson was mature enough to look to the sideline and call plays at the line of scrimmage before a delay of game, but not confident enough in him to give 3 plays and pick the play out of those 3 based on what HE saw at the line of scrimmage.

 

This I agree with. Maybe I wasn't clear. My post may have appeared to be placing the cart (D) before the horse (O) as to blame. Which wasn't my intention. The O's inability to sustain drives is the biggest problem, but the bend don't break mentality of the D is also something that we need to work on. I know that Chavis is known for this type of philosophy, and there is nothing wrong with it, but if the D can get off the field with more 3 and outs the O will have more opportunities to make something happen, and allow the D to get some rest. It works both ways, and if the D is rested even 5 mins extra in a game the necessary energy to close out the game might still be there. If you remember we were in most of our games to the very end, and in some cases had the lead, but the D was worn out and couldn't hold on to it. Not to say the D is to blame, because they aren't. It is just that both the O and the D need to make sure we are in the position to either win or hold onto leads late in the game.

 

Chavis fielded some dame good defenses at Tennessee for years. I think a lot of the bend but don't break label is based on last years D and not really based on the facts of the defenses he had at Tennessee. I think once LSU gets the D line problems solved and the offense isn't quite so offensive to watch the label will disappear.

 

Doesn't sound like a bend but don't break philosophy to me, but that's just me. You have to work with the players you have. Sometimes you have what it takes and some times you don't. Let's see what he does when he gets the players he needs to run his D.

http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=5200&ATCLID=3640589