I am not worried about the offense, I think they will be fine especially as Lee improves but the pass coverage especially to the backs out of the backfield is a problem and that goes back to last year and the staff has'nt been able to fix this.
Fixed. Definitely a concern. But not something new either. That's the play Florida used to beat us back in '03. Arky used it in '02. Would love to be able to defend that thing.
If we know Les Miles like we think we do, this will be fixed during the bye week. Its more of our linebackers and safeties. If you can remember, it was the tight end that got loose during the Auburn game. This time its the running back in the MSU game. So I think its not having Beckwith, combined with McCray being beat alot. I think Chad Jones has all the tools, so his problems can be corrected, not so much with McCray. Also, Sheppard should be covering backs and tight ends, not Cutera or Riley. Other than that Hawkins and Eugene are playing very well, imo. Eugene is a great tackler.
jones is constantly missing coverage always looking to level someone in the backfield. just not recognizing the situation it seems. imo, much more of a cause for concern than mccray for me. just have an all out safety blitz for jones til he gets it right i suppose.
After watching the Miss. State game it appears that the coverage issues were usually one of two things. Either a back slipped out of the backfield and a linebacker was late getting over to cover or McCray got burned by a receiver. Our CB's actually seem to be playing much better than I thought they would at this point. Of course it helps that we haven't played a team with a great down-field passing game. It's our LB's and McCray that appear to get caught flatfooted on run/pass downs. I wonder if this is due less to the skill/effort of the individual player and more to do with the scheme. It looks like McCray hesitates a second before turning around to cover b/c he wants to make sure it's a pass. Same with the LB's they hesitate before covering the back/TE out of the backfield. Admittedly, I am no coach or expert, but it doesn't seem like defense is reacting as quickly as last year. The LB's are new so it could be that, but McCray has been playing for three years now. I don't really know what to make of it.
I think State was successful in getting running backs man-covered by linebackers and wide receivers being covered by nicklebacks. LSU adjusted to this better in the second half.
